could this really happen to all transfers?

3102 Views 20 Replies 5 Participants Last post by ambitious, Oct 22, 2008

ruch1v

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2008

i was reading transferbusiness.com and saw this

T-shirts are almost always washed with other items. Some items are quite abrasive (like towels) and if the shirt is not inside-out, friction can cause quite a bit of wear and tear.
Washing in cold water reduces color loss (just like it does for the dyes in colored fabrics). Most times, however, a decorated shirt is in with a full load of whites and will be washed in hot water. This won’t destroy a good heat transfer but the color loss is more noticeable.
Bleach is used to remove color stains. Some soap actually has quite a bit of so-called “color-fast” bleach in them. Again that doesn’t destroy an image, but it doesn’t help.
It makes sense that a gentle cycle reduces the violence of friction caused by garments rubbing together.
99% of the time, a shirt was left in the washer too long, if a customer returns a shirt that looks like the colors have bled. This is caused by osmosis, not by anything that you did. Fading after one wash (as opposed to bleeding) is usually caused by bleach or ink that is too water soluble.
Quickly removing a garment from a dryer is fairly important. Even if you dry on low to medium heat, the middle of a load of clothes is hot! If a wadded-up shirt stays in a dryer with 20-30 lbs. of clothes on top of it, it will look a little crumpled when it comes out of the dryer.

does this happen to every transfer regardless of what brand you choose?

thanks

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This could happen to any type of transfer if the consumer makes any of those mistakes in washing/drying their shirt. Come up with a hang tag or instruction sheet of some type to send along with your finished shirt(s) to be sure that your customers understand proper washing instructions. This will protect you from having to replace any "defective" shirts if they try to bring them back.

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proworlded

· #3 · Oct 12, 2008

This might happen to some transfers, but not all. If you can include washing instructions you can reduce the number of customers that might say the print was defective...even though you know it wasn't.

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ruch1v

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 12, 2008

even with the best of the best quality paper?

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ambitious

· #5 · Oct 13, 2008

I never had a problem with my plastisol transfers, and i literally torture my t-shrts in the washer and dryer.

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KirstWhite

· #6 · Oct 13, 2008

But it WILL happen over time with transfer paper; that's just the nature of that particular medium. I've done my share of torture tests with plenty of high-quality transfer papers -- and they even say it up front in their packaging that it will only last a certain number of washings (different brands have different life spans) -- they'll just never give you real longevity. If you want color that's REALLY going to last you should be using high-quality plastisol or heat transfer vinyl.

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ambitious

· #7 · Oct 13, 2008

I agree, high quality plastisol transfers and heat press vinyl is the way to go. Another alternative for high quality is screen printing.

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ruch1v

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 20, 2008

ambitious said:
I agree, high quality plastisol transfers and heat press vinyl is the way to go. Another alternative for high quality is screen printing.

however alot of people these days are going with inkjet transfer paper...

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KirstWhite

· #9 · Oct 21, 2008

Yes, a lot of people are.... but you end up with a lesser-quality finished product overall. Inkjet transfers WILL NOT last long-term. Period. I believe the packaging on almost all of them say, straight-up, that they last between 8 and 15 washings, depending on the brand. They're great for a special occasion, but they're just not ever going to give you mainstream quality.

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ruch1v

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 21, 2008

KirstWhite said:
Yes, a lot of people are.... but you end up with a lesser-quality finished product overall. Inkjet transfers WILL NOT last long-term. Period. I believe the packaging on almost all of them say, straight-up, that they last between 8 and 15 washings, depending on the brand. They're great for a special occasion, but they're just not ever going to give you mainstream quality.

check out this post and see if you still feel the same

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/heat-press-heat-transfers/t47868.html

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KirstWhite

· #11 · Oct 21, 2008

I'm certainly not arguing that, its just that you asked if it could happen to any transfer so I let you know that it can. I've not yet tried JPSS, though I did just order some, so hope maybe it'll change my mind! =) The first example is still only 7 washes, even though bleach was used, so I'd still like to see what it looks like after 20 washes.

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ashamutt

· #12 · Oct 21, 2008

I have JPSS shirts from FEB 08 ....bleached many times ....and they still look GREAT!!!

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ashamutt

· #13 · Oct 21, 2008 (Edited)

.......I also have OPAQUE transfer shirts from FEB 08 ....no fading either! and no cracking or peeling...... but thay have been taken care of properly.......(although I do use a very warm dryer!)

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ruch1v

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 21, 2008

KirstWhite said:
I'm certainly not arguing that, its just that you asked if it could happen to any transfer so I let you know that it can. I've not yet tried JPSS, though I did just order some, so hope maybe it'll change my mind! =) The first example is still only 7 washes, even though bleach was used, so I'd still like to see what it looks like after 20 washes.

from what i've heard its supposed to be the best in the business, i heard its meant to be as good screenprinting, Kelly (the bleach test thread starter told me that her JPSS tees have held up better than ones she buys from stores such as macys

i hear there is nothing as good for darks as yet, but iron all looks best in that department, i dont think it will be too long before someone brings something as good for darks

thanks

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ruch1v

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 21, 2008

ashamutt said:
.......I also have OPAQUE transfer shirts from FEB 08 ....no fading either! and no cracking or peeling...... but thay have been taken care fo properly.......(although I do use a very warm dryer!)

by 'looked after properly' are you referring to the whole 'wash inside out with cold water' instructions, also how many times do you reckon you have washed since feb?

thanks

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proworlded

· #16 · Oct 21, 2008

I have shirts that I printed with our ClearSoft paper and have worn and washed at least a dozen times that still look great.

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ashamutt

· #17 · Oct 21, 2008

Well....the JPSS about 2x's a week and the OPAQUE transfers "almost" once a week!
I am VERY hard on the JPSS shirts...throw them in w/ the hubby's undies and socks, so LOTS of bleach!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!! HOT HOT HOT DRYER!!! LOL!!!

The opaque shirts? I am A LOT easier on these....... warm wash inside out, with all of the other colors....warm dryer until dry.....sometimes I forget and leave them sitting in the dryer!!OOPS!!!! but they are fine so far.

I use HT pigment inks with re-fill carts on my epson c120 (maybe a CIS soon!?)
JPSS by Neenah - for white/light color shirts
Jet-Opaque by Neenah for all colors (including black shirts) AND... on Aprons & totes

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ashamutt

· #18 · Oct 21, 2008

proworlded said:
I have shirts that I printed with our ClearSoft paper and have worn and washed at least a dozen times that still look great.

"ClearSoft paper" is Ironall for LIGHTS by IYA Technologies from Dayton, OH , right??

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ruch1v

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 21, 2008

ashamutt said:
Well....the JPSS about 2x's a week and the OPAQUE transfers "almost" once a week!
I am VERY hard on the JPSS shirts...throw them in w/ the hubby's undies and socks, so LOTS of bleach!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!! HOT HOT HOT DRYER!!! LOL!!!

The opaque shirts? I am A LOT easier on these....... warm wash inside out, with all of the other colors....warm dryer until dry.....sometimes I forget and leave them sitting in the dryer!!OOPS!!!! but they are fine so far.

I use HT pigment inks with re-fill carts on my epson c120 (maybe a CIS soon!?)
JPSS by Neenah - for white/light color shirts
Jet-Opaque by Neenah for all colors (including black shirts) AND... on Aprons & totes

lol i hope your husbands not reading this, is jet opaque the same as jet wear?

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ashamutt

· #20 · Oct 21, 2008 (Edited)

LOL!!

to answer your question...yes....same paper.

ORANGE LINE
NEENAH--"JetOpaque"(trademark name)
"Alpha Gold"?-----------Alpha Supply Co.
(alpha gold has its name in ORANGE on the back
of this paper....no lines at all....hence the
question mark)

"InkTra Opaque"-------STAHLS
"Jet Dark"-------------COASTAL
"Jet Opaque"---------Paper Ranch
(^ the above "PAPER RANCH's OPAQUE" paper had green lines...but I think it will now have the "traditional" orange lines)

"JetWear Dark"--------Tshirtsupplies.com (best price so far)
(former name "Jetdark" ??)

This is all I have on my list so far for Neenah's Jet-opaque...... I hope everyone will add to it!

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