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Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.

Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?



 
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 1:39:50 PM -   #1 (permalink)
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Default Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

Hi
I plan on using my inkjet printer to make transfers then heat press them onto tee's and bags.
I have a customer already keen on 500 bags, the bags will be white and the design is a sort of blue spiral type thing.

Do i need a cutter to cut around every spiral or can i just cut a big quare around the design and have only the design show on the bag, not the excess backing?
 
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 1:52:41 PM -   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

Euan,
Most likely you will be cutting around all of those, unless you use image clip, and that takes some getting used to. If you have not used it before.
Also depending on the bag color, you may have to use the transfer paper for dark colors.

It can be done , but if you want professional awesome results,, I think I would consider a cutter, My opionion is that it will look clean,,,and awesome,,
I do alot of transfers myself,, but unless you are working on white bags,, there will be product left behind unless you cut it off.

2nd option would be to have ace or first edition make you transfers where only the print comes off, if i was doing 500, I would do that,, it should be the least expensive of everything also,
Let us know how it goes,,,
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 1:56:04 PM -   #3 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

vinyl will work if only one color...but I would outsource for the transfer...make sure the bag will take the heat...you might also look at digiprint from transfer express...ordering 500 would get you a good discount
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 2:47:12 PM -   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

The image is a 3 color water ripple effect so vinyl wont be an option, looks like ill need a cutter.

the bags are going to be white, what will be left aroun the outside of the design if the paper is also white?

From what people have said so far it seams that a cutter is essential for a transfer business?

Havent heard of image clip before, is that software??
 
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 2:52:18 PM -   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

I would order plastisol transfers for this job. A lot less time and work. The time saved will be worth ordering transfers. ... JB
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Last edited by COEDS; September 18th, 2008 at 12:11 PM.
 
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 3:54:02 PM -   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

yes, i agree , about the transfers, if you havent worked with ace of first edition, there are others but this will be your best, least expensive way, and with a cutter, you need to know how to run these things, Not something i would want to order when i have a order that needs to be done, soon, I would want time to work with the soft ware and the programs.
Just my opionon.
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 9:40:01 PM -   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

If you can spend the money on A cutter it will open other doors so you can make more money just A thought.
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Old September 17th, 2008 Sep 17, 2008 10:28:54 PM -   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

500 bags. Wouldn,t it be easier to just sub it out to a screen printer?
 
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Old September 18th, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 1:50:33 AM -   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

I would Use plastisol transfers as well. Then after making a good profit after a couple other jobs i would buy the cutter. Also just to let you know that for a cutter with good contour cutting features expect to pay over $1500 dollars. Goodluck.
 
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Old September 18th, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 7:30:03 AM -   #10 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

I think for this job as I stated earlier plastisol would be best. I think as MrDavid said a cutter would be a great addition and open other doors of production. The cutter will allow you to be so much more versatile. ... JB
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Old September 18th, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 10:22:13 AM -   #11 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

Yes i will definatly be getting a cutter in the future as a hope to be doing my own designs onto hoodys and would prefer to do vinyl instead of transfer.

If i got plastisol, the plastisol transfers would come back to me either on sheets with say 6 images on one sheet, or as 500 individual small squres. i could then press the square piece of paper onto the bag and only the design would transfer to the bag, i guess my question was would that be the same if they were printed with a inkjet printer onto transfer paper? Why do i need a cutter to cut EXACTLY around the spiral? What else will show if i just cut a big square around the design?


Sorry im trying to be as clear as i can i hope you understand what i mean
 
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Old September 18th, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 11:49:46 AM -   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

The ink jet will print the design and anything around or in that design will transfer too( like space inside the design). You can trim with scissors or a cutter with a optical eye. You can order plastisol too. There are many choices and the cost are much different with each( both labor and monetary). .... JB
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Old September 18th, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 11:54:59 AM -   #13 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

Unless you are planning on doing large signage, a small desktop vinyl cutter can save you lots of time in the future. Craft Robo from Graphtec is a very popular model.
 
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Old September 18th, 2008 Sep 18, 2008 12:14:03 PM -   #14 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DREAMGLASS
Unless you are planning on doing large signage, a small desktop vinyl cutter can save you lots of time in the future. Craft Robo from Graphtec is a very popular model.
I agree with Will,I think a cutter is a good addition. I think for the money a larger cutter from Uscuuter could be attained and be more veratile for futhure products. Good luck. ... JB
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Old September 25th, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 7:37:52 AM -   #15 (permalink)
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Default Re: Do i need a cutter/plotter for a heat press business?

I am still pretty new to this. However, I have a Roland GX-24, which I thought would end my cutting transfer issues. However, when I import art work from a customer and try to outline and extract lines for cutting I usually get jagged lines, which cannot work for cutting. Is there something I am missing??? Thanks...this site is a life-saver.
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