Discuss the different brands, makes and models of printers used to print inkjet and laser heat transfers. Also includes information on the inks that can be used to make your own transfers.
Hi everyone, My name is Rene and I'm going to be starting my own business in the printing. I been doing some reseach on this forum BTW"Perfect Resouce here" about printing and decided to start printing out logo of my own on T-shirts. I was thinking about screen printing but then Heat press caught my eye and I'm going to stick with it.
So here's my question, What is the best/low cost printer that is available. I plan to make logo's up to 15X15. Any ideas? How about this printer to start with, the Brother MFC5890CN. I know I can't print the size I wan't but I can always improvise.
Can't wait to hear all input's about this. Thanks in advance.
Epson 1400 is a great all-around printer, and does very well with inkjet heat transfers. I don't know what your art is like, but keep in mind that you'll have to contour-cut around your design if there is alot of blank space, so that the part of the paper that is not printed on does not transfer. Depending on the quantity, you might find that screen printing is actually more efficient. Obviously you know your art better than we do, but there are times when transfers are great and times when they're not ideal.
depends how dificult your artwork is. if it is simple one to two color the best way to go is screen printing and also depend on qtys too less than 25 shirt per design is not worth screen printing them. get a cutter and cut transfer vinyl.
I would argue that screen printing is not efficient for quantities under 25. A one- two- color screen print will take about 15 seconds a shirt, from loading to throwing on the dryer. That's about 6 minutes plus 10 minutes setup, or roughly 15 minutes total.
25 shirts on an inkjet transfer, which are 30 seconds each, would take the same amount of time, PLUS time to print the transfers. Depending on the art, it may make more sense to print rather than transfer.
However, if you have low quantities of photographic or highly graphical images, those are idea for transferring. Obviously it's personal preference. Heat transfers are far less costly and less messy to get into initially, so it all depends on your goals and what type of work environment you have.
Your initial post was regarding inkjet printers, but just to go over vinyl transfers for a second - you can use a vinyl cutter to cut out designs to heat transfer. Heat transfer vinyl is great for low quantities of 1-3ish colors, and are very durable, but you need to invest in a vinyl cutter and vinyl transfer material.
Back to inkjet transfers, I've found that pigment ink works best and is longest lasting. The stock ink on the 1400 is fine too, but it gets pretty expensive. If you wind up doing alot of transfers, look into a bulk ink system like from inkjetfly.com - it uses external reservoirs as opposed to individual cartridges, and plugs right into the epson printer.
Pretty much - but again, if you have large areas of "white" on your design, you'll have to cut around it so you don't get a ghost of the paper after pressing. It's not a disaster, but just an added step. This is regarding white garments. Transfers for dark garments come with a white underbase, so you MUST cut around your image or any blank space will print white on the shirt.
you are taking the easier way but not the best. i will ask you these. do you want to wear a t shirt that somebody printet on a peace of paper and then after few washes you lose so much of the ink. you see where i am getting at. it is not quality thats all i am saying. everyone can buy a printer for $200 and start printing transfers. but do they last "NO". is it the cheapest way "YES"
you are taking the easier way but not the best. i will ask you these. do you want to wear a t shirt that somebody printet on a peace of paper and then after few washes you lose so much of the ink. you see where i am getting at. it is not quality thats all i am saying. everyone can buy a printer for $200 and start printing transfers. but do they last "NO". is it the cheapest way "YES"
JPSS paper with pigment ink lasts a couple of dozen washes. Do a quick seach, there was a test done on this forum with the paper and it performed very well. Minor filibration but overall excellent results. You might be thinking of the transfer paper of "yesteryear" that had those issues. The new breed doesn't have most of the classic issues that the old transfer paper had.
Noobe need help here:) 
Re: Noobe need help here:) 
Re: Noobe need help here:) 
