Ink, Toner, or Sublimation Transfers

2516 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by mgparrish, Apr 26, 2014

rabmarr

Discussion Starter · Apr 11, 2014

Hello,
I thought I knew what I wanted to do, but there's just too much information to digest.

I want to sell heat transferred shirts. I can't make up my mind which printer to start out with. I want to be able to change my design at a moments notice, which is Why I want to print my own transfers. And not have a hundred of the old designs laying around.

I thought I wanted to go laser because of the self weeding paper.

But does sublimation have a nicer feel to it?

Will I need a cutter if I use sublimation?

Is there self weeding sublimation paper?

Help Me

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djque

· #2 · Apr 11, 2014

Sublimation is totally different process. You need a dedicated printer cause you can't use sublimation ink then use regular ink. And sublimation has to be on 100 percent polyester to look the best. And with sub they're is no feel to the shirt it's dyes the clothing.

Laser I can't tell you as I don't do it.

Pigment ink and a regular printer you can make inkjet transfers and but they have a hand feel to them.

Then there is plastisol transfers that you or a screen printer makes them and you heat press them on.

Then there is heat transfer vinyl that you cut with a vinyl cutter and heat press it on.

All of the above you will need a heat press to apply.

Just go and read the forums under the names I posted it's lots of info

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rabmarr

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 11, 2014

djque said:
Sublimation is totally different process. You need a dedicated printer cause you can't use sublimation ink then use regular ink. And sublimation has to be on 100 percent polyester to look the best. And with sub they're is no feel to the shirt it's dyes the clothing.

Laser I can't tell you as I don't do it.

Pigment ink and a regular printer you can make inkjet transfers and but they have a hand feel to them.

Then there is plastisol transfers that you or a screen printer makes them and you heat press them on.

Then there is heat transfer vinyl that you cut with a vinyl cutter and heat press it on.

All of the above you will need a heat press to apply.

Just go and read the forums under the names I posted it's lots of info

So the sublimation ink doesn't look too good on the poly blend shirts?
If anyone has a website where their heat transferred or sublimated shirts are posted leave a link. That would be great to look at.

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splathead

· #4 · Apr 11, 2014

Sublimation has zero feel. It's a dye. You do not need a cutter for sublimation and there is no weeding.

Of the three choices, I feel sublimation is the only one that should be sold commercially. Ink and toner transfers just don't last. Great for home use, not ready for primetime.

Major drawback to sublimation is it only works on light colored garments.

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rabmarr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 12, 2014

splathead said:
Sublimation has zero feel. It's a dye. You do not need a cutter for sublimation and there is no weeding.

Of the three choices, I feel sublimation is the only one that should be sold commercially. Ink and toner transfers just don't last. Great for home use, not ready for primetime.

Major drawback to sublimation is it only works on light colored garments.

So what are you using for your dark colored shirts?

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charles95405

· #6 · Apr 12, 2014

I do not know of any transfers for dark garments that do not have a heavy hand. Even DTG prints on dark have a texture much like screen print since a layer of white ink must be laid down before the colors/design is printed. Plastisol transfers are an option for darks. There are some offers by the sponsors of the forum. Check them out. I think Stahls has some videos with ideas

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splathead

· #7 · Apr 12, 2014

rabmarr said:
So what are you using for your dark colored shirts?

Screen print. It's the best, and least expensive, option.

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mgparrish

· #8 · Apr 13, 2014

splathead said:
Sublimation has zero feel. It's a dye. You do not need a cutter for sublimation and there is no weeding.

Of the three choices, I feel sublimation is the only one that should be sold commercially. Ink and toner transfers just don't last. Great for home use, not ready for primetime.

Major drawback to sublimation is it only works on light colored garments.

Not true about Pigment ink transfers. If done correctly using the best material are very durable and last a long time. I have garments many years old and washed extensively and have made thousands of dollars in sales and repeat customers.

Those that propagate this myth typically didn't do their own research to figure out what works and what doesn't. They try it don't get good results then prematurely conclude it is not durable. This is simply NOT TRUE if you know what you are doing and understand the limitations of the process.

I could make the same claim about screen printing, if done right and with the best material it is very good, if done wrong with poor material it is not good.

I have to take exception to this as this bad information keeps getting propagated here by those who simply don't understand it it.

And screen printing may be the best option, but it depends on the order quantity and if 16.7 million colors and photo quality are not required. It may not be the least expensive either.

There is no one size fits all for any job.

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gijoe985

· #9 · Apr 26, 2014

mgparrish said:
Not true about Pigment ink transfers. If done correctly using the best material are very durable and last a long time. I have garments many years old and washed extensively and have made thousands of dollars in sales and repeat customers.

Those that propagate this myth typically didn't do their own research to figure out what works and what doesn't. They try it don't get good results then prematurely conclude it is not durable. This is simply NOT TRUE if you know what you are doing and understand the limitations of the process.

I could make the same claim about screen printing, if done right and with the best material it is very good, if done wrong with poor material it is not good.

I have to take exception to this as this bad information keeps getting propagated here by those who simply don't understand it it.

And screen printing may be the best option, but it depends on the order quantity and if 16.7 million colors and photo quality are not required. It may not be the least expensive either.

There is no one size fits all for any job.

What do you use for opaques? I'm picking up an Epson 7520, and currently do plastisol and vinyl, but I am curious to what doors it may be opening for me. I've never considered doing inkjet transfers, but if the option is there, I'll offer it.

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mgparrish

· #10 · Apr 26, 2014

gijoe985 said:
What do you use for opaques? I'm picking up an Epson 7520, and currently do plastisol and vinyl, but I am curious to what doors it may be opening for me. I've never considered doing inkjet transfers, but if the option is there, I'll offer it.

I used to use only 1 paper, Iron-all for darks, but they changed the paper 2 years ago and then the manufacturer had supply issues. I don't offer those currently, the rest of those papers will crack unless it is a 2 step type, and then those are way too heavy.

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