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Heat Transfer Help!!

3360 Views 23 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  MotoskinGraphix
I recently bought a heat press and in fact haven't even used it yet. I've never used any heat press for that matter. Basically, I know nothing, but I happen to have an order to fill for 30 Lt Blue T's, with a navy blue Ram logo on the front left chest and navy blue text "Lady Rams" on the back. The client also wants 30 pairs of navy blue shorts with a Lt blue ram logo on the back. I can't afford with this order to outsource the printing and am going to take a chance and print the logos and text myself.

It's for a girls soccer team (13 yr olds?).

Where do I begin? Are there better transfers for sports outfits? I only have an ink-jet printer. Also, is there any way or place to get a good wholesale deal on girl's shorts? Do you think this job is do-able for me?

Please help. Thanks!!
Cameron
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be encouraged that you have an order. its a good start. close it and get it done well. profit is the last thing to worry about. QUALITY, DELIVERY more important; but dont lose money. [u have email]
This is a lot easier then it looks to you. Don't panic.We can get you through this. I sent you a email as offer of help. Been there , done that. Lou
The encouragement and advice is so helpful. Lou, I will definitely view your vids when I have some time later. If there are any quick specifics anyone can give in regards to my order, that would alleviate my concern even more. Thanks guys!!
Cameron
I sent you an email and PM about your order. Read it and get back to me. I have some ideas to help you out and some advice. Lou
cpmcelyea said:
Where do I begin? Are there better transfers for sports outfits? I only have an ink-jet printer.
Please help. Thanks!!
Cameron
[email protected]
If the outfits are Jersey Knit, you can get plastisol transfers made. A 1 color NAVY blue 10x12 transfer sheet would be enough to yield/gang the chest logo, the Back text and the shorts logo (may be some room leftover to add more).

50 sheets cost about $ 1.10 plus $ 30 screen, plus shipping, so each print would cost you about 50-60 cents each. Then you would heat press them. It's a good idea to get extras made in case you get new players etc.

You can also get them made in vinyl but this would cost more.

For sports jerseys jet transfers may not be durable enough and more work involved in making them. But if you have the time etc... you could do it yourself.
First Edition does not charge for screen. 50 12 x 12 are $1.09 one color.
Lou, dont they just do 30 if thats all you need ?
Lou, dont they just do 30 if thats all you need ?
Their minimum is 15 and you can gang up as many of one design or different designs as will fit in the live area (roughly 11.75 x 11.75"). For that quantity it's $2.19/sheet for cold peel w/adhesive crystals.
Rhonda gave the correct info. I am in the process of uploading new videos. Just shot them. The quality is better but the acting sucks. I hired this chubby guy to play me because I couldn't get Brad Pitt. he said he was busy down in New Orleans helping to save the world. I think I am sending him back to central casting. The actor not Brad Pitt.
coold peel is fine (Longer press time and you need to wait until it cools completely before you peel). Specially when doing small quantities.

What are these adhesive crystals ?

Are they like a glue layer that prevents the transfer from cracking after it is printed on the shirt, when you stretch the shirt ?
Not 100% sure about the purpose of the adhesive crystals. They just told me I needed the cold-peel (which automatically comes with the crystals) because I was doing a light color transfer on a dark fabric. When I first opened the package I was like "ACK! They put glitter on my transfers!" because that's what it looks like before you press it. Sparkly glitter.

And very true ... it does take longer and once it's pressed you can't move the shirt at all until it completely cools but they sell some kind of cooling thing (a sheet?) that speeds up the process.

I have washed the first-edition plastisol 5 or 6 times and it's held up very well so I guess those magic crystals are doing their job. :)
rlfreshwater said:
adhesive crystals.

When I first opened the package I was like "ACK! They put glitter on my transfers!" because that's what it looks like before you press it. Sparkly glitter.
. :)
thanks, i thought these crystals were Ink mix elements to create glitter plastisol inks and such. But i guess not.
As for as cooling I place on my kitchen counter which is marble and it cools very fast.. New video are now up.
I'm starting to piece this all together. Does anyone think it will be possible to find all the transfers I need locally here in Dallas or must I order them in? Cause time is running out for my order. I haven't procrastinated, but just haven't been able to find out how and with what materials to produce my order with good results. The picture is somewhat clearer now thanks to all the good advice, but more would be helpful.

Thanks again for the help guys.
Cameron
Cameron, How is the design done. What program did you use to draw it or was it just given to you. You need to have it in the right format if your going to send it to a outside service like First Edition. I don't know any services in Dallas. I sent you a offer of help but you did not respond to that. So here is some info. You have 30 transfers to do. First Edition does a min. of 15 at a price of $2.09 each you can gang up the ram and the the text on one sheet easily and get double of the same on one. You have 2 each of the ram and 2 each of the text on same page so when you cut them you have 30. So that makes you cost $1.05 per shirt. I don't know the size of the ram that you would place on the back of shorts but I would guess it is not very large. So you can do the same with this 2 or more rams designs on one sheet of 12 x 12. So your cost is $1.05 per shorts. OK now for some good news. because you may get more orders from these people then you can have more of the designs and text placed on the sheets which means if you get a future orders you already have them done. Then all you need to do is buy the shorts and shirts. If you have 12 x 12 sheet and each ram design is 3 x 3 you can get Six designs on one page plus if the text is 10 inches wide x 2 inches high then you can get 2 or even three lines of text on the same sheet. This is called ganging. Then you have a transfer ready for the next order By the way by putting as many design on one page you also reduce your cost per item. Lou
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The adhesive crystals are glue, which help to make the transfer adhere to the shirt. Buy them! Without glue, plasticol transfers are a headache. It is well worth the .10 / transfer. It also makes the transfers look better when they are on the shirt. Without the adhesive, all the ink will not always transfer. With the the crystals all the ink transfers every time, no problem.
jdr8271 said:
The adhesive crystals are glue.
i see, cold peel with glue.
thanks jon.

can anyone post a photo of one of these transfers with the crystals before application ? i would like to see one.

just curious if it's done via a screen print process or if the crystals are something you add after, salt and pepper style.

truly, i have not used a cold peel transfer with or with out glue for a few years now. I use Hot Peel only. Like the ones from "The Wildside".

thanks in advance.
Lou,
Where are you getting the Mira Cool paper? It looks like TLM is out for some time or indefinitely.

Thanks,
Jason
jkonen said:
Lou,
Where are you getting the Mira Cool paper? It looks like TLM is out for some time or indefinitely.
TLM stopped stocking it since customers kept returning it despite warnings that it was harder to use.

Look for 'IronAll' paper, which is the same thing - I think Milford is where Lou gets his.
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