Transfer paper(?) for Dark shirts

2538 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by kostasfmx, Dec 19, 2017

goad

Discussion Starter · Dec 14, 2017

I have a design that I need to put on Antique Orange shirts.
I am not using screen printing yet.
I want to know that best way that I can utilize Ink Jet transfer paper to put on this shirt color.
I need to maintain the letters, etc... Is there anything out there that will allow me to contour cut out and place on shirts without literally piecing together the parts too this image?

Thanks for your attention and help with various ways to do this without screening or dtg.

I am using and have - InkJet printer - Cutter-Heat press

Only 2 colors -White (lettering) and Black (images and the outlining) See image.

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into the T

· #2 · Dec 15, 2017

i would recommend using vinyl (something with a nice hand, matte finish)

you or your customers will not be pleased with inkjet transfers for darks
they have a very heavy hand, do not stretch and cracks unless washed in cold and hung to dry
esp. for a large design like that

for the vinyl i like to do slightly larger contours and subtractions so there are no overlaps,
but depending on your vinyl you may not have to do that

i can see your picture small, but when i enlarge it, only the font is white and the rest is all black
my guess is you uploaded a png with transparency

you are already in delphi, why not ask the oracle, or are they on holidays?

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Reactions: 1

goad

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 15, 2017

I received it as a PNG...Played around with in PS cc. Converted back to PNG. lol
I am considering vinyl tho...see what happens. I use the SISER Easy Weed Stretch. And then I can vectorize in my cut program and cut.
Yes the oracles are on Holiday.

into the T

· #4 · Dec 15, 2017

i know it is more work weeding, but i think you and your customers will be happier
should be a good design for vectorizing easily

have you had success layering it before?

siser is the reason i stopped layering

Reactions: 1

into the T

· #5 · Dec 15, 2017

David,
that would cost me ~$11, just for the paper for one shirt
not the ink/toner and not the t-shirt itself

are people in other parts of the world getting this product for a reasonable price?
because i fail to see how anyone could use this product and be competitive

i'm not knocking the product itself, just the price point seems untenable

vinyl would cost me ~$2

Reactions: 1

LucidDavid

· #6 · Dec 15, 2017

into the T said:
vinyl would cost me ~$2

What you are saying here - and I very respectfully say this - is that you are not putting any value on your time and labor!

Yes certainly there are simple jobs that cheap vinyl are a better answer to, and this may or may not be such a case, but at some point you have to put a value on your time and labor and when you do the Flex Soft media has a real fit!

There are many jobs (customers) that are rejected due to the complexity and even more that are in reality a financial loss except for not valuing the labor costs.

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Lnfortun

· #7 · Dec 15, 2017 (Edited)

I tried the Forever Flex Soft White and failed miserably. Did not get passed weeding. When I pressed what was left of the failed weeded transfer on the shirt to see how it feels, it had crinkle and plasticy sound and hand to it. Cracked pretty bad when stretched. It will not replace vinyl by a long shot. Vinyl has soft hand and will outlast the shirt.

The Thermoflex I use cost $3.75 per 15" X 1 yard in 5 yards order. If I cut it by the foot it costs $1.25 each with plenty to spare for small jobs. If I cut further in half it cost $0.625. I can get plenty of transfers from that size. Sometimes lower price when on sale and bulk order.

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LucidDavid

· #8 · Dec 15, 2017

Lnfortun said:
I tried ... and failed miserable.

This is a statement I have seen regarding every product on this forum at one point or another. IMHO this just means that maybe you are not the right expert to voice advice on this subject.

Lnfortun

· #9 · Dec 15, 2017 (Edited)

Not an expert with Forever. You are the expert after plenty of practice and wasted transfer as you learned how to use it when you were with Forever. I am just comparing apples to sour grapes.

Reactions: 1

goad

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 15, 2017

into the T said:
i know it is more work weeding, but i think you and your customers will be happier
should be a good design for vectorizing easily

have you had success layering it before?

siser is the reason i stopped layering

I have had good and not so good experience with layering. I really like the Siser cause it has a great hand/feel to it.
I am sure the bad results with layering has to do with the amt of time I pressed cause I have issues from layering because it stretches and the layers cant fit properly.
Just guessing....lol
Do you use a vinyl that layers well and yet has a good soft hand?

Lnfortun

· #11 · Dec 16, 2017 (Edited)

2

goad said:
I have had good and not so good experience with layering. I really like the Siser cause it has a great hand/feel to it.
I am sure the bad results with layering has to do with the amt of time I pressed cause I have issues from layering because it stretches and the layers cant fit properly.
Just guessing....lol
Do you use a vinyl that layers well and yet has a good soft hand?

I use Thermoflex. It has soft hand and matte finish. I had no problem layering it. It cuts with very fine line and detail.

When layering and the lower layers are knocked out where the upper layer sits you have to expand the upper layer or the lower layer a bit so they overlap to compensate for shrinkage. To minimize shrinkage press each successive lower layer for 3 seconds just so it adheres on the shirt. Peel the backing while warm. Roll the backing off the vinyl so it will not stretch the shirt. Press the upper layer for the full duration.

If it is just two layers the lower layer does not have to be knocked out and will still have soft hand.

Here is one I did with layered vinyl. Triple is on top of the black shadow.:

This one is on a black shirt.

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into the T

· #12 · Dec 16, 2017 (Edited)

i second themoflex/joto paper (same product),
my test shirt with it has over 50+ wash/dry cycles and is still soft to touch and not lifted anywhere (even with very fine details)
check out this post

just started trialing their turbo/one-4-all
press for 5-6 secs @ 260F
that i did some layering with, and the layers have held together perfectly for ~8 wash/dry cycles
you can tell it is layered as it has a slightly heavier hand
not bad though, but i would not go over 3 layers and not massive sections on top of each other,
but for shadow/outline/transition effect it is decent
like Lnfortun has said/shown above

just remember you will get a slight shrinkage when you tack the first layer,
but this should almost be completely mitigated by the quick press/low temp of the above htv

get some samples from joto or specialty graphics
run some tests and see
there are others too, like sef, chemica, some decent south korean manufactures

edit to add:
you know that whole time thing, i get it
but there are design tricks/tools that can be implemented to speed-up the process
even a complex customer supplied graphic i tweak for my expediency and send back for approval
unfortunately there are thistles and thorns for all of us, but i won't willingly start hugging my rose bushes

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SouL2k17

· #13 · Dec 16, 2017

I been using neenah 3g jet opaque for dark shirts experience using it has been good, alot cheaper then that forever dark stuff which i was planning to buy untill i tested this neenah stuff, u could use heat transfer tape with it to achieve this look

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

goad

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 16, 2017

What style do you typically use? Thermoflex Plus, Stretch, Low temp, or???????

Lnfortun

· #15 · Dec 16, 2017

SouL2k17 said:
I been using neenah 3g jet opaque for dark shirts experience using it has been good, alot cheaper then that forever dark stuff which i was planning to buy untill i tested this neenah stuff, u could use heat transfer tape with it to achieve this look

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

Inkjet or laser opaque is not as durable as vinyl. Stretch the shirt and you will see.

Lnfortun

· #16 · Dec 16, 2017 (Edited)

goad said:
What style do you typically use? Thermoflex Plus, Stretch, Low temp, or???????

I use Thermoflex Plus for cotton and cotton blend. I use Thermoflex Extra for nylon and synthetic fabrics. It has lower pressing temp and time.

One thing I noticed with your artwork is it seems to have gradient fill in the bird and flowers. It is hard to tell by looking at the thumbnail so I am guessing. Obviously it will not work with straight vinyl. So what you can do is use 2 step self weeding laser transfer like ImageClip laser light for the black part of the image. Use vinyl for the white. If you don't have laser printer have it printed at Copy Depot like Kinko or Office Depot. Make sure the vinyl overlaps a bit to keep the registration.

If you change the format to jpg, change the background to something like orange or red other than white then upload it again so when the thumbnail is clicked the blacks are not blended to the background by forums preview screen. That way we can see the actual design.

into the T

· #17 · Dec 16, 2017

after my initial testing, we will be using the turbo/one-4-all exclusively
except for when other materials are called for (glitter, etc.)

the thermoflex plus/joto multicut premium is what i tested and what i think Lnfortun has on the above tee
but if i can get the same results with the same hand and press for 5 secs at 260F, i'll do that
basically eliminates the dreaded poly press window

Reactions: 1

Lnfortun

· #18 · Dec 16, 2017

into the T said:
after my initial testing, we will be using the turbo/one-4-all exclusively
except for when other materials are called for (glitter, etc.)

the thermoflex plus/joto multicut premium is what i tested and what i think Lnfortun has on the above tee
but if i can get the same results with the same hand and press for 5 secs at 260F, i'll do that
basically eliminates the dreaded poly press window

5 seconds at 260F is even better. Shrinkage will be a lot less for sure if any. Also avoids dye migration that is associated with some cotton blends and synthetic fabrics.

Have done extensive wash/dryer cycle yet? I am curious how it is holding up. What is the price difference between Plus and Turbo?

SouL2k17

· #19 · Dec 16, 2017

Lnfortun said:
Inkjet or laser opaque is not as durable as vinyl. Stretch the shirt and you will see.

I know i use both and have tested both but he asked for a dark shirt transfer paper

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

goad

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 16, 2017

Thank you to everyone that has replied to my post. I really want to try this ThermoFlex Plus vinyl. I ordered some today.
I look forward to seeing all the temps and times to make this work.
Again THANKS!

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