Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hi guys,
Ok i've done a quick search on here but not really found answers relevent to me, so I appeal for your help again.
I have a retail store and I am currently cutting vinyl as my only method of decorating t-shirts this method gives me a lasting result but does have it's limitations!
Problem is that I am turning precious work away!
I have customers which require multi-coloured designs on shirts, even photographs! Vinyl cannot do this!
So I need another method to satisfy this unmet demand. I have already written-off sublimation as I would like to offer dark shirts with my additional method. So transfer material it is!
Now for my question, laser or inkjet transfers?
Which method is going to give me the most competitive set-up and on-running costs?
Are inkjet transfers 'better' than laser transfers?
I will be grateful for your wisdom.
Many thanks in advance.
Color laser is your best bet. Look for a laser transfer paper called Trans Max Plus.
It works great but like all transfer papers it dosen't wash well. After a few washes it starts to fade as do all papers but the laser type lasts longer. Again, Trans Max Plus.
Both Laser and Ink jet have there place depends on the people using them and if you tell your customers the Truth about how they are done. I can only talk about the ink print side of this if you get Epson printer with pigment ink and use JPSS then yes it will last all transfer do fade in time.
__________________ Never say "no I can't" when you can just takes time and patience!!!!
Both Laser and Ink jet have there place depends on the people using them and if you tell your customers the Truth about how they are done. I can only talk about the ink print side of this if you get Epson printer with pigment ink and use JPSS then yes it will last all transfer do fade in time.
Thanks for your answer mrdavid,
I am quite happy to be honest with my customers as I know ALL printed transfers appear to have issues when washed several times.
I was speaking to a fellow t-shirt printer yesterday and we talked about my dilemma, this is where I decided to drop the idea of sublimation. This guy uses inkjet printed transfers and reccomended 'honesty' as you suggest. He did though say that a lot of his customers choose to have t-shirts printed using this method for one-off or promotional events so the 'lasting' issue is not a problem.
What I need to know now is which method of printing transfers is going to offer the most competitive set-up and on-running cost?
Is it cheaper to by an Epson printer with a CISS and pigment ink or a Colour laser printer?
Is Inkjet transfer paper cheaper than it's Laser equivelent?
Regards
Phil
well ive read thru this forum and mostly mentioned that color laser printers are more cost effective over time. it also prints very fast as compared to a inkjet. there is also no problem of clogging and wastage of ink for head cleaning.
however, laser does has its limitations, esp when printing photographs. if your customers mostly wan photographs then inkjet is better. even if you spend on a high end laser printer, i think a cheap inkjet printer can give a better printout.
jus my 2 cents.
PS: i have a laser printer and thinking of getting some inkjet paper for customers who wans photographic transfers on my cheap epson c63 with pigment ink.
There are a couple of threads on this subject. I'll get some for you. Okay, I just went to do the search and just using inkjet vs. laser brought up many threads with that title. So rather than just pick a few, I'm going to give you the search results. There have been so many great posts on this, I want to try to give you as many as possible. I know they are hard to find, but the folks that do laser have given some great advice on this subject, so I hope you get a really well rounded answer from this thread, and the back posts. Here they are: T-Shirt Forums Search Results
Problem is that I am turning precious work away!
I have customers which require multi-coloured designs on shirts, even photographs! Vinyl cannot do this!
Phil
I don't know the amount of work you would be getting, or the amount of money you'll be thinking of investing, but did you considered a Roland versacamm to do Cad-print, that way you would be able to print/cut on vinyl all color graphics including photographs that can be heat press down in any color and on any fabric, and would open all other ways of money making opportunities. Have a look, it's a video posted by Josh Ellsworth from Imprintables warehouse a user and sponsor of this forum that have great posts on the matter. Cad-Print - Using The Versacamm for Apparel Demo
Other way would be a DTG machine if you have a fair amount of orders, but either way you would have to do a bit of investment. As long as you have the orders either machine would pay for themselves in no time.
Just a thought.
Last edited by Carlitos; December 15th, 2008 at 04:33 PM.
Reason: Spelling
I don't know the amount of work you would be getting, or the amount of money you'll be thinking of investing, but did you considered a Roland versacamm to do Cad-print, that way you would be able to print/cut on vinyl all color graphics including photographs that can be heat press down in any color and on any fabric, and would open all other ways of money making opportunities. Have a look, it's a video posted by Josh Ellsworth from Imprintables warehouse a user and sponsor of this forum that have great posts on the matter. Cad-Print - Using The Versacamm for Apparel Demo
Other way would be a DTG machine if you have a fair amount of orders, but either way you would have to do a bit of investment. As long as you have the orders either machine would pay for themselves in no time.
Just a thought.
Hi Carlitos,
Many thanks for your reply. I did view Josh's video and done a little more research Pretty impresive system!
I came up with this, Roland VersaCamm SP300V Print and Cut System £6,999.00 + VAT sadly a little more than the 'piggy bank' contains at the moment!
Inkjet or Laser? 
Pretty impresive system!
