Yes - you'll have to figure out your optimal settings by "trial and error".
I'd say, it'll be very specific to your combination of hardware, consumables, substrates, etc.
From personal experience, I think the most important thing is to figure out a combination of the lightest setting of your press, then time and temperature that will give you the best possible result.
Too light pressure may cause bleeding or colour variations, too high pressure may actually compress the fabric itself resulting in shine and paper marks...
High temperature and high pressure may "bake" the whole thing - changing both colour and texture...
From where I stand - when you've got it ALL right - it's worth it!
I've been using dye-sub for more than a year now and have a list of tricks that work for me in certain cases - i.e.:
1. if I'm printing a logo on a polo shirts i'd raise the area to be printed (using fabric folded to shape, cut to shape cardboard, coaster, etc.) and I also cut out the logo to avoid shine (and melting buttons).
2. If I know that the fabric tends to shine too much - I'll turn the garment inside out and position the transfer from the inside towards the hot platten. Dwelling time (and/or temperature) would have to be increased.
3. In some cases I use a piece of white fabric placed over the cut-out transfer instead of a teflon sheet - preferably the same texture as a shirt I press onto.
I generally tend to try and print on anything that (I think) might be suitable - just to know my options.
Wow, it's my longest post so far!
Good luck and welcome aboard!
