I was wondering whats the big deal about plastisol heat transfers? It seems to me that it would be a lot easier to print directly on the shirt instead of printing on the heat transfer paper then onto the shirt. I think i do not have the correct process in doing it but it seems like you will be doing double the work with plastisol heat transfer.
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An ordinary man with extraordinary skill
... one benefit of paper plastisol transfers is that you can store them and they take up less room then storing t-shirts. Because you are storing sheets of paper only.
I'm not sure how many screen printers actually use plastisol transfers themselves.
As a vendor, you have no idea what size customer is coming through the door next, so it allows you the flexibility to make 100 Large shirts and 20 XL's if that happens to be the case, or 80 Larges and 40 XL's if that be the case. Thus you don't have to invest in 120 Large shirts and 120 XL shirts, instead you get 120 transfers, and apply and restock shirts as needed. Then of course there's the customer who has to be different "How about this, but in pink?". In short plastisol gives you flexibility.
I was wondering whats the big deal about plastisol heat transfers?
They have a good cheer squad. That's not to say they're not useful (they are), but the reason there's such a "big deal" about them is largely propaganda (unintentional and well-meaning, but propaganda all the same). There's a disproportionate amount of noise/talk.
I am new at this, but from the postings I see that Plastisol transfers seem like a good way to print whites and colors on dark shirts. I am looking for an alternative to screen printing on darks.
So does the heat transfer look very much like a screen print? I.e., the ink adheres to the shirt well with no trace that it's a transfer? And if so, does it wash as well as a Plastisol screen print? (Some transfer shirts I've gotten have cracked terribly - but I don't know if they were Plastisol.)
So does the heat transfer look very much like a screen print? I.e., the ink adheres to the shirt well with no trace that it's a transfer? And if so, does it wash as well as a Plastisol screen print? (Some transfer shirts I've gotten have cracked terribly - but I don't know if they were Plastisol.)
You really can't tell a plastisol transferred shirt from one screened directly. The only thing that is transferred from the transfer paper is the plastisol ink.
Joe, thanks for the reply. I'm really glad to hear that it's so close to screening. So now my next step is to try ordering some plastisol transfers and see how well it works out for me.
Joe, thanks for the reply. I'm really glad to hear that it's so close to screening. So now my next step is to try ordering some plastisol transfers and see how well it works out for me.
All the vendors will send you a sample pack. Test and make your mistakes with those.
They have a good cheer squad. That's not to say they're not useful (they are), but the reason there's such a "big deal" about them is largely propaganda (unintentional and well-meaning, but propaganda all the same). There's a disproportionate amount of noise/talk.
It's disproportionate when you consider the industry as a whole, but this board is pretty heavy with people who are new to the business. For a variety of reasons (space, mess, learning curve, etc.) screen printing is just not practical for most people starting out from home. Plastisol transfers are arguably the easiest, least expensive way to get started and immediately produce consistent, professional results with a good profit margin.
They have a good cheer squad. That's not to say they're not useful (they are), but the reason there's such a "big deal" about them is largely propaganda (unintentional and well-meaning, but propaganda all the same). There's a disproportionate amount of noise/talk.
As you say, they are useful. There are instances where it is faster or more efficient to use transfers, hats and lined articles particularly. The benefits to non-printers have been listed ad-nauseam. Transfers are a tool and like any tool they are useful in specific situations.
It's disproportionate when you consider the industry as a whole, but this board is pretty heavy with people who are new to the business. For a variety of reasons (space, mess, learning curve, etc.) screen printing is just not practical for most people starting out from home. Plastisol transfers are arguably the easiest, least expensive way to get started and immediately produce consistent, professional results with a good profit margin.
I agree with the above statements. I started using plastisol transfer because< I didn't have the space for the screen equipment. I now have the space,but I use the plastisol transfers becuse they are profitable,ease of placement,no chemicals or clean up,and I can print them as needed. I think both process' have there strong points, but plastisol transfers work great for me. ... JB
has anybody tried plastisol heat transfers over the collar or stitching, it seems to me it would work a lot better?
Waterbased and/or discharge ink would work better still (and is what the professionals use), but if you're going to be using plastisol ink anyway, then yes, transfers are a good way to get ink evenly over things like seams and stitching.
Process Printing vs Plastisol Heat Transfers 
... one benefit of paper plastisol transfers is that you can store them and they take up less room then storing t-shirts. Because you are storing sheets of paper only.
