I have a color laser Brother HL 3170, I'm looking for the best paper to use for light and dark shirts. I know that the OKI printers are the best printers, I get that, but it's not an option for me right now. I just want to see if my printer would work for heat transfer papers.
TIA
I have that model. I use it with Imageclip Laser Light. I use Label paper setting.
The trick about Imageclip to make it durable and softer is to:
After marrying and weeding the transfer.
1) Stretch the shirt as much as it be. Use 50/50 if acceptable to customer.
2) If you have a swing away press lower the upper platten on the shirt without locking it down.
3) On both sides starting from the shoulders and sleeves, stretch the shirt as much as you can. Repeat all the way down to the bottom sheam. This will keep the shirt from springing back to relaxed shape.
4) Lock the upper platen down for 5 seconds to remove wrinkle and moisture.
5) Open the press.
6) Place and locate the transfer on the shirt.
7) Press it really hard on the shirt at 375F for 15 seconds.
8) Stretch the shirt again after cold peeling the transfer.
Note: Do not the shirt after peel when it is cold because the image will crack.
9) Cover the shirt with parchment paper then press for 15 seconds.
10) Stretch the shirt again while still hot to minimize cracking and softer hand.
11) Wait 24 hours.
After 24 hours the transferred image will become brittle and will crack if stretched. So do not stretch it before doing the steps below:
1) Press it again covered with parchment paper for 15 seconds to push the polymer deeper into the fabric.
2) Stretch the shirt again while still hot to improve the hand and minimize cracking.
It sounds too time consuming but to me it is well worth it with good durability and softer hand results. Laser transfers do crack and tend to have plastic feel but the procedures above will yield better result.
