printdog77

Hi folks,
After doing a ton of research on the forum I think I'm ready to make some decisions on a transfer job and would love some comments on my thinking. I need to print a 8.5 x 11 photo transfer on the back of a white shirt (buying a heat press to do this) and a simple small screen print, one color logo on the front (Screen printing is what I've been doing for the past year). I've been thinking in the past year of adding the heat transfer side to the business for small runs, names, numbers ect. and have been hoping for a potential job to come by to add the press and still make a little profit. A friend needs 100 with the hopes of another 100 with a 2nd order in a month with the photo/screen print which fits the above heat press purchase idea.

I've debated the idea of making my own transfers on jpss paper and using my epson 1400 to make these. I had the sense that I'd have a big expense with ink for this job and battle with the learning curve on the set-up ect. In the end I felt I might be biting off a little more than I would want to tackle for a first job and decided to have my transfers made instead. I got a price of $2.85/per transfer from a respected transfer company and feel this would be the smartest way to go. Any thoughts on this thinking would be appreciated. Also any thoughts on the major obstacles I might face going this route?

I'm thinking of charging about $10/shirt for this job and any thoughts on this charge would be appreciated as well.
Thanks ahead for any input.
Joe

 

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proworlded

I think you should print these yourself. The learning curve is short and, even with the ink cost, it will cost you less than half of what you were quoted....probably in the neighborhood of $1.00 per shirt. You could almost purchase the heat press with the savings.

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Ed www.proworldinc.com - Heat Presses, JPSS, CLEARSOFT PAPER +1000's Transfer Designs......most popular- Christmas, Rhinestones, Peace, Burnout

 

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printdog77

Ed,
Thanks for the input and thoughts on printing the transfers myself. One of the reasons I was shying away from printing them myself was that I was not able to get a sense of how much ink I would use for 100 transfers of full 8 x 11 photos. Like I said I was a little nervous about creating my own artwork with the photo file provided. From what I've learned on the forum, it seemed like my epson 1400 with the inks they use I could do them, but using my home ink jet printers as a comparison I felt like I'd be going thru 2-3 sets of ink cartridges for the 100 transfers.
I use CS3 for my artwork and will monkey around with the photo a little to see if the set up is easier than I anticipated.
Thanks again with the help, I'll get back to you with what I learn from that experience.
Joe

 

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