Making Plastisol Transfers That Feels Like A Screen Print Cheap
I want to start making or buying my own plastisol transfers. I want it to feel/wash exactly like screen printing if possible. Is this possible?
I have over 60 different designs and travel to sell the shirts so screen printing isnt practical. I'd prefer to have a box of transfers and a trunk full of blank tees. I want to do this as CHEAP as possible. I have access to a 4 color 4 station. I want to be able to transfer onto white and dark colors....tees and hoodies...etc.
What should I do. I want to get started ASAP. Thanks
Re: Making Plastisol Transfers That Feels Like A Screen Print Cheap
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintageretrowear
I want to start making or buying my own plastisol transfers. I want it to feel/wash exactly like screen printing if possible. Is this possible?
I have over 60 different designs and travel to sell the shirts so screen printing isnt practical. I'd prefer to have a box of transfers and a trunk full of blank tees. I want to do this as CHEAP as possible. I have access to a 4 color 4 station. I want to be able to transfer onto white and dark colors....tees and hoodies...etc.
What should I do. I want to get started ASAP. Thanks
Have you ever screen printed before?
Do you have a dryer/oven?
Do you have a flash?
If you've never screen printed before, there is a pretty good learning curve to be able to produce professional quality prints. It's not something you can master in a weekend class.
Then once you learn to screen print, you will have a new skill to learn in printing plastisol transfers, because they are more complicated than just printing a shirt. There's a reason why very few printers do plastisol transfers, because they are difficult to do right.
The other option is to just have them made for you. If you are not already a screen printer, this might be the best option for you. There are quite a few threads on here about plastisol transfers. Check them out.
Re: Making Plastisol Transfers That Feels Like A Screen Print Cheap
The threads are very helpful....I'm a novice screen printer with access to all the mentioned equipment. I just want a print as close to a screen print as possible in feel and washability.
I have 1000s of vintage 70s/early 80s transfers and they're not what I want. I dont want shiny, sticky, easily torn, plastic feeling, wash up like garbage prints.
I want to print my own plastisol transfer designs that I can store and use in the future.
I thought about having someone like first-edition do the prints. But if I learn myself I can print small runs (15-20) for really cheap. Again I have 60 different logos currently....mostly 1-3 color designs. If someone else prints them, small runs would get very expensive.....and big runs I'd get the price break....but I'd have $$$ tied up in thousands of transfers.....you see my dilema.
Re: Making Plastisol Transfers That Feels Like A Screen Print Cheap
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintageretrowear
I just want a print as close to a screen print as possible in feel and washability.
I have 1000s of vintage 70s/early 80s transfers and they're not what I want. I dont want shiny, sticky, easily torn, plastic feeling, wash up like garbage prints.
Today's plastisol transfers are nothing like those 70's/80's shiny, sticky transfers. I don't even think those were plastisol. Plastisol transfers, if done right, are virtually indistinguishable from a screen printed shirt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintageretrowear
I thought about having someone like first-edition do the prints. But if I learn myself I can print small runs (15-20) for really cheap. Again I have 60 different logos currently....mostly 1-3 color designs. If someone else prints them, small runs would get very expensive.....and big runs I'd get the price break....but I'd have $$$ tied up in thousands of transfers.....you see my dilema.
Yes, that's the same dilema that everybody in the T-shirt business must deal with. Everybody wants high quality, low price, low quantity... and oh yeah, they want it ASAP! If you find that combination, let the rest of us in on it .
This is a discussion about Making Plastisol Transfers That Feels Like A Screen Print Cheap that was posted in the Screen Printing section of the forums.
Making Plastisol Transfers That Feels Like A Screen Print Cheap 
.
