 Re: Laser printer noob questions
Color laser printer has been out for years. The brand that is tried and true for laser transfer and forum favorite is Okidata. Okidata have several low end models that will work just fine for heat transfer. There are several brands of heat transfer that are available for laser printer. My favorite and use before I use other brand is Imageclip for laser. It is also available for inkjet. It is self weeding which means that it does not leave polymer around the image after it is pressed on the fabric. Which gives the feel, look and vibrancy as screen print. It is only used for light garments. To use it for dark a white under base (opaque material) is required which comes in 100% polyester fabric or vinyl type material. The under base has to be trimmed by hand or vinyl cutter to remove unwanted material around the image. There is also a self weeding opaque for dark shirt called WOW 7.1. Cost around $5.00 a pair.
You can start without a laser printer using photocopy of your image on a laser transfer. Print the image on a plain paper with inkjet printer. Take it to a copy depot like Kinko's and have it photocopied in a color laser copier.
You need a good quality commercial heat press. Home Iron is not suited for laser transfer.
You also need software to create your graphics.
List of some popular graphics software:
CorelDraw
Photoshop
Photoshop Elements
Adobe Illustrator
I use CorelDraw, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. CorelDraw Suite will do what Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements combined. I find Some functions in CorelDraw are easier to use and some in Adobe products have functions that CorelDraw don't have so I use all three software. Photoshop is Bitmap editor and CorelDraw Suite comes with vector and bitmap editors. Amazon has good prices and links to other vendors for software.
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Luis  MAD Scientist JR. AKA MS2 Digital Artist. My canvas is t-shirt and my paintbrush is heat press. | 
