[twosik93]

Hello everybody! i just bought a new heat press from amazon which was the best seller also low price not one of those big name ones since im just starting off anybody else start off with http://www.amazon.com/PowerPress-Industrial-Quality-Digital--15-Inch-Sublimation/dp/B009CCVS4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395015494&sr=8-2&keywords=heat+press"this
and what exactly is the teflon sheets for? are the necessary? i also was wondering if there is any transfer papers that wont leave borders or need trimming around the image since it will be pretty hard to trim this http://oi62.tinypic.com/20p23ah.jpg

sorry about the links im completly new to forums as well...

 

[plan b]

Congrats !! You are on your way!!

 

[twosik93]

Can anyone help

 

[plan b]

Is it sublimation you are doing or inkjet transfers, also you can either use the teflon sheet or parchment paper for protection.

 

[plan b]

There is a ton of information here on the forum so the search bar is your best friend.. Read, read,read

 

[btwice]

To answer your question , if you doing VINYL you need a teflon sheet. If you doing SUBLIMATION you need the meat paper you can get it from Sam Wholesale. If you doing DTG you don't need no paper.

 

[calhtech]

Hello everybody! i just bought a new heat press from amazon which was the best seller also low price not one of those big name ones since im just starting off anybody else start off with http://www.amazon.com/PowerPress-Industrial-Quality-Digital--15-Inch-Sublimation/dp/B009CCVS4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395015494&sr=8-2&keywords=heat+press"this
and what exactly is the teflon sheets for? are the necessary? i also was wondering if there is any transfer papers that wont leave borders or need trimming around the image since it will be pretty hard to trim this [media]http://oi62.tinypic.com/20p23ah.jpg[/media]

sorry about the links im completly new to forums as well...

For inkjet printers there is JetPro Softstretch from Neenah paper. It only works with white and lite colored fabric. There are no other for inkjet that are SELF WEEDING. Acutally the JPSS is not self weeding but the polymer box it leaves is almost undetectable especially after the first wash. The only other SELF WEEDING papers around right now are for color laser printers. As for Dark fabrics, there are no self weeding inkjet papers for darks. If you plan to do this on a regular basis, you need to get skilled with an EXACTO knife or buy you a craft cutter to cut around your transfers. Hope this helps.
CalhTech>

 

[twosik93]

Hmmm so I should invest in a laser printer as well or maybe pay a printing company to do my prints. Thank you guys

 

[calhtech]

Hmmm so I should invest in a laser printer as well or maybe pay a printing company to do my prints. Thank you guys

A laser would probably do this but that is a major undertaking as well. First, that looks like it would require a TABLOID size laser (not cheap), and the quality still may not be what you want if this is a new BRAND.
That type of print certainly would be better suited for DTG or Screen Printing depending on the quantity you require. You might consider screen printed transfers if you don't need that many to start. You could then PRESS them on demand. Be prepared for a shocker, that shirt will probably cost you $15+ for DTG depending on qty, $8+ plus sizable setup charge for the number of colors for screen printing. TRansfers would cost you around $5+ depending on qty. (100 is a sweet spot). Hope this helps.

CalhTech>

 

[WalkingZombie]

Hello everybody! i just bought a new heat press from amazon which was the best seller also low price not one of those big name ones since im just starting off anybody else start off with http://www.amazon.com/PowerPress-Industrial-Quality-Digital--15-Inch-Sublimation/dp/B009CCVS4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395015494&sr=8-2&keywords=heat+press"this
and what exactly is the teflon sheets for? are the necessary? i also was wondering if there is any transfer papers that wont leave borders or need trimming around the image since it will be pretty hard to trim this [media]http://oi62.tinypic.com/20p23ah.jpg[/media]

sorry about the links im completly new to forums as well...

First off, that is not a sublimation t-shirt heat press..... It is just a heat press. It can be used for 'most' sublimation (not just t-shirts) and it can be used for heat transfer as well. I say 'most' because a swing-away press does better on other, thicker items. It could also be used to affix hotfix rhinestones to a shirt as well.

I personally would choose heat transfer over sublimation when it comes to t-shirts and I say this because of the link you provided. Not sure if you thought that heat press was for sublimation only.

If you are thinking of doing sublimation for t-shirts, you are wasting your time; sorry to tell you this but it's true, unless you already have a market for it then go for it. Sublimation is still limited as far as producing color on t-shirts, since sublimation does not produce white. And unlike heat transfer, there are no opaque sheets to use to give you that white background.

The teflon sheets (for t-shirts) are mainly used for heat transfers as it 'drives' the emulsion layer into the fabric of the shirt for better durability.

If you're planning on doing heat transfers on t-shirts, it will either be inkjet (depending on the ink you buy) or laser. Laser isn't always better I don't care what anyone says. There are some heat transfer inks that last longer than laser transfers as far as standing up to multiple washes.

If you're on a budget, an inkjet printer with a CISS and good heat transfer inks would probably be your best bet. A laser printer will cost a pretty penny up-front and the toner is kind of expensive. And not just any home color laser printer will work either. I know; I've tried. I have two different brands at home that I tried testing and with different paper brands to no avail.

People have different opinions and it all comes down to trial and error and see what works for you. When I first started, I asked questions like this and took the advice from most and it ended up not being what I was looking for. Use keywords from these opinions and do research from there. That is the best advice to give you because I would hate that something didn't work for you that worked for me.

Give us some more info on what you're trying to accomplish and we'll give you better feedback. I'll be happy too.

 

[twosik93]

Oh man...thats a bummer ha. So if I wanted this shirt to become real it would cost me a good 25 just to get one print? How does imaginary foundation do there prints? I've seen so many shirts with designs somewhat like this I thought it would just be a straight heat transfer....

 

[twosik93]

First off, that is not a sublimation t-shirt heat press..... It is just a heat press. It can be used for 'most' sublimation (not just t-shirts) and it can be used for heat transfer as well. I say 'most' because a swing-away press does better on other, thicker items. It could also be used to affix hotfix rhinestones to a shirt as well.

I personally would choose heat transfer over sublimation when it comes to t-shirts and I say this because of the link you provided. Not sure if you thought that heat press was for sublimation only.

If you are thinking of doing sublimation for t-shirts, you are wasting your time; sorry to tell you this but it's true, unless you already have a market for it then go for it. Sublimation is still limited as far as producing color on t-shirts, since sublimation does not produce white. And unlike heat transfer, there are no opaque sheets to use to give you that white background.

The teflon sheets (for t-shirts) are mainly used for heat transfers as it 'drives' the emulsion layer into the fabric of the shirt for better durability.

If you're planning on doing heat transfers on t-shirts, it will either be inkjet (depending on the ink you buy) or laser. Laser isn't always better I don't care what anyone says. There are some heat transfer inks that last longer than laser transfers as far as standing up to multiple washes.

If you're on a budget, an inkjet printer with a CISS and good heat transfer inks would probably be your best bet. A laser printer will cost a pretty penny up-front and the toner is kind of expensive.

People have different opinions and it all comes down to trial and error and see what works for you. When I first started, I asked questions like this and took the advice from most and it ended up not being what I was looking for. Use keywords from these opinions and do research from there. That is the best advice to give you because I would hate that something didn't work for you that worked for me.

Give us some more info on what you're trying to accomplish and we'll give you better feedback. I'll be happy too.

No I wasn't just looking for sublimation I know a heat press is just a heat press. Idk why it is advertised as sublimation specifically I guess cause of size? And the Teflon sheets are one time use as well or multiple use? I've seen some heat press that supposedly already have some included. Im not much on a budget I just dont really want waist over 1000 and not make any money back selling t shirts /:
So I can buy an ink jet printer but it has to have specific ink brands? Sorry about all the questions ive looked on this forum for a lot of answers and not much made sense to me thats why I made an account to have communication with you guys.

 

[plan b]

It is so easy to get confused and when you first get into the biz... Sit down and ask yourself what you really want to do, be it sublimation,inkjet transfers, vinyl etc.. then laser focus on that goal because there are so many neat things that you can do that your focus wonders and before you know it you have a ton of equipment with no positive direction.

Take a minute and do a outline and focus from there.

 

[twosik93]

It is so easy to get confused and when you first get into the biz... Sit down and ask yourself what you really want to do, be it sublimation,inkjet transfers, vinyl etc.. then laser focus on that goal because there are so many neat things that you can do that your focus wonders and before you know it you have a ton of equipment with no positive direction.

Take a minute and do a outline and focus from there.

Yea and the equipment don't come cheap ha. I thought it was more simple like just make design print and press and bam you have shirt but I see that there's so much more than just that

 

[plan b]

I think most people will agree that a vinyl cutter will make you more money than any other piece of equipment ( besides a heat press) and has a faster ROI than any other method.. Food For Thought

 

[WalkingZombie]

No I wasn't just looking for sublimation I know a heat press is just a heat press. Idk why it is advertised as sublimation specifically I guess cause of size? And the Teflon sheets are one time use as well or multiple use? I've seen some heat press that supposedly already have some included. Im not much on a budget I just dont really want waist over 1000 and not make any money back selling t shirts /:
So I can buy an ink jet printer but it has to have specific ink brands? Sorry about all the questions ive looked on this forum for a lot of answers and not much made sense to me thats why I made an account to have communication with you guys.

The teflon sheets can be used about 3-4 times before throwing them away (for fabric). Maybe more. You'll just have to see how it works with your system.

[removed text.] I was thinking sublimation not heat transfer. sorry about that if you read that.

There are some transfers that self-weed so you don't have to trim. Best bet would be to find the companies that sell transfers and watch their videos (most have videos) because it is just too much information to say in a forum when there are tons of videos that can actually teach you better than we can tell you; because not all transfer paper are pressed the same. Some can press well on cotton/poly blend while others will do better on 100% cotton. There are many transfer papers that have different pressing instructions (cold peel vs hot peel) and different blend garments that will work.

 

[WalkingZombie]

For inkjet printers there is JetPro Softstretch from Neenah paper. It only works with white and lite colored fabric. There are no other for inkjet that are SELF WEEDING. Acutally the JPSS is not self weeding but the polymer box it leaves is almost undetectable especially after the first wash. The only other SELF WEEDING papers around right now are for color laser printers. As for Dark fabrics, there are no self weeding inkjet papers for darks. If you plan to do this on a regular basis, you need to get skilled with an EXACTO knife or buy you a craft cutter to cut around your transfers. Hope this helps.
CalhTech>

+1
Agreed. And that is probably the biggest advantage of laser to inkjet (self-weeding transfers).

 

[twosik93]

So why exactly does transfer paper leave the white background? Any way to use the background to an advantage? Say like a two layer design perhaps? If possible. I'm guessing there's no such thing as clear transfer paper.