[whitetshirthell]

Another topic on printing white on darks...
Can anyone confirm my conclusions?

I want to introduce more merchandise options to my design business. I already have a Canon IPF8000 and a Bizhub 650 laser.

I can use the laser to print light tshirts using transfer paper it seems to a passable sellable standard. The investment here is only a heat press.

Most tshirt prints will be max 10 copies.

This seems great, I can print mouse matts and all sorts of transfers for flat media for little outlay.

Printing white on dark Tshirts though...
Am I right:

1) Get a single screen printer, blow the profits on making plates for 3 or 4 copies, and lots of mess and time.

2) Buy a vinyl cutter to cut white vinyl (more expensive outlay)

I'm searching for a solution for printing company logos etc in white on dark. Prefereably without spending 1k on extra equipment. I was wishing for some kind of transfer paper solution but apparently there is always the problem of cutting out text etc? Is there an easier/cheaper white text on dark tshirt answer out there for very small run jobs

Thanks
ST

 

[whitetshirthell]

Forgot to say...

For example, I believe it's possible to use gold and silver metalic heat foils that adhere to the 'black' in the first heat press step...surely it's possible to do this, but not gold, not metallic, just white!??

 

[Lnfortun]

Look into getting a Craft Robo CC220-20. It costs $299.00. I beleive members get 5% discount using "tshirtforum2007" coupon code from the vendor in this link: Graphtec Vinyl Cutters & Parts

It is out of stock right now. Call and ask them if it will still be available. Otherwise do a google search to find another vendor that carries it.

 

[deChez]

Look into getting a Craft Robo CC220-20. It costs $299.00. I beleive members get 5% discount using "tshirtforum2007" coupon code from the vendor in this link: Graphtec Vinyl Cutters & Parts

It is out of stock right now. Call and ask them if it will still be available. Otherwise do a google search to find another vendor that carries it.

Yes...do look at the Craft Robo. It's a great little cutter to get your feet wet without making a big investment. I went with the little CR for that reason.

If you end up doing alot of tees, then you'll make enough to move up to a bigger cutter, and use the CR for a backup.

 

[whitetshirthell]

Seems like a good cheap solution - although on their website they recommend the 1k machine for using with backed vinyl for tshirts!? - i.e will I have problems cutting out a logo made of separate letters as opposed to a single outlined shape?
Thanks for your advice

 

[Lnfortun]

The bigger cutter will be for images larger than what would fit in 8.5 X 11 area. If you are only doing small sizes the CC220-20 will do the job. The weeded image including the letters will stay on the backing. So the placement will not be disturbed and it will be pressed as it is. Unless you are planning on using a printable opaque material then you need to use a application tape to pick up the image from the backing and keep the letters placement as designed. The vendor sells the application tape in various width.

 

[whitetshirthell]

Ok, thanks for that, all seems clear at last!

So....

i can print multicoloured images on opaque laser transfer, and still weed out letters with htis cutter and backing tape if I really wnated to. Quality wise, not as good as vinyl, but sellable and gives me limitless design creativity it seems...?

One more question, probably not for this section.

I have a wide format canon IPF8000 - so could bite the bullet investment wise wiht a wider cutter also for other signage useage etc... Can I use the canon (lucia pigment ink) on coated printable vinyl which I already have and use that in the heat press, or will that turn into a messy pool of mixed ink, or if it survived would those inks run in the wash anyway!? - Just thinking out aloud really, using my printable vinyl stock as opposed to transfer paper.

 

[deChez]

The bigger cutter will be for images larger than what would fit in 8.5 X 11 area. If you are only doing small sizes the CC220-20 will do the job. The weeded image including the letters will stay on the backing. So the placement will not be disturbed and it will be pressed as it is. Unless you are planning on using a printable opaque material then you need to use a application tape to pick up the image from the backing and keep the letters placement as designed. The vendor sells the application tape in various width.

Actually, you are not limited to 8 1/2 X 11 on the little CR. Your vinyl can be much longer than 11. I cut names and such 10" and wider all the time...just rotate your image so it long ways on the page.

Many of the vinyls are 15" wide. So, I just cut a 9" piece off of the vinyl (that's the width that the CR takes). You've got 7 1/2" of width to work with...I can often get 10" wide lettering for 2 shirts out of that one piece.

I've even split designs and applied in 2 preses. It's not any harder to line that up than it is to line up multi color designs.

All those little scraps left over? I use the carrier sheet to utilize those small left over pieces.

This little cutter is not nearly as limiting as one might think.

 

[Lnfortun]

Ok, thanks for that, all seems clear at last!

So....

i can print multicoloured images on opaque laser transfer, and still weed out letters with htis cutter and backing tape if I really wnated to. Quality wise, not as good as vinyl, but sellable and gives me limitless design creativity it seems...?

One more question, probably not for this section.

I have a wide format canon IPF8000 - so could bite the bullet investment wise wiht a wider cutter also for other signage useage etc... Can I use the canon (lucia pigment ink) on coated printable vinyl which I already have and use that in the heat press, or will that turn into a messy pool of mixed ink, or if it survived would those inks run in the wash anyway!? - Just thinking out aloud really, using my printable vinyl stock as opposed to transfer paper.

If the material is inkjet printable then the ink should not bead or pool. Pigment ink is preferred for heat transfer. So to find out durability print on small pieces, no need to trim, press them on scrap fabrics then throw them in the washer and dryer several times.