Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
i have done a lot of research into what type of heat transfers i want to use and i wanted to getthe forums opinion....Electrocal/Polymark produces those high quality powder backed transfers that you see on the sports gear Under Armour. They want crazy high minimums though.. Does anyone know of other high quality transfers like this company does that would produce on a smaller scale? I contacted Airwaves but had difficulty getting specific information.
I am not into printing from my computer - going higher scale than that. but i also dont need 17,000 transfers either
are all powder backed transfers plastisol? or are there other types as well?
Depends what you mean by "powder". There's a discussion in this thread about the different types of additives that are added to transfers to make them more durable. Usually the additives are added to the screen printing ink that are used to make plastisol transfers
Electrocal/Polymark and Ace make screen printed heat transfers, which is the same thing as plastisol transfers (which are made by all the companies in the list I linked to above).
these types of transfers are not used in the garment decoration industry as much as plastisol transfers. They are used mainly on man made fibers or hard surfaces like plastics, rubber etc. They work at a much lower temperature, like the screen printed nylon type transfer. They are stiff feeling and do not hang well on fashion items when printing them on natural fibers like cotton.
they are a cost effective way if you plan on making really large quantities, they feel like plastic and often the choice to print warning labeLs on pharmacutical plastic bottles etc.... the other downside is that the fumes generated from making these types of transfers are a killer Im told.
this is why all the major garment decoration manufactures like Impulse, Airwaves, X-It and so on do not sell them.
yes, the UnderArmour products are a poly blend I believe. Plus its Sportswear. The thing I liked about that particular transfer was they have very thin but durable look and feel to them. I wanted to make sure that the transfer I choose didnt crack, peel or deteriorate with much wear.
I also liked that it had a different texture and didnt seem to blen right in with the shirt. Now on cotton it may not work well which is the T i will be using for now.
What recommendation do you have for a good durable transfer on all cotton?
I have been going on things I have found in different stores and by look and feel....
Lucy,
The thing I liked about that particular transfer was they have very thin but durable look and feel to them. I wanted to make sure that the transfer I choose didnt crack, peel or deteriorate with much wear.
hi lisas,
you can achieve a very thin opaque feel using plastisol and adhesives these days. The adhesives will hold the transfer ink elements together making them hard to crack and durable in the wash. They are soft to the touch and work as Hot peel or Cold peel for more of a vinyl type finish. If you want a more spaceage plasticKy feel, it can be done with pastisol to a certain extent but with the other transfers would be a better choice. (nylon low temp. type transfers)
I suggest contacting some of the transfer makers references posted by members on this board and tell them what you need and ask them to send you samples.
I know this topic has been brough up a lot but what is your preference with hot or cold peel transfers, on cotton. Is it processed the same way? Is it just the application process that determines if it is a cold or hot peel?
Your Opinion 
