[BethC]

Hi guys! I've been screen printing and heat pressing with cut vinyl for years, however, I believe there is another process and I would like some advice.


Is there a way to print to a transfer paper and then heat press the design (not the vinyl - just the ink) on to a shirt? If so, what kind of ink and paper do I need to do this? Thanks in advance!

 

[proworlded]

Beth. There sure is. There are papers for both inkjet and laser printers.

 

[BethC]

Thanks That's what I thought! Could you point me in the right direction for purchasing that paper?

 

[Waiting]

You want to look into "plastisol", screen printing on transfer paper.

 

[BadZebedee]

Do you mean ink jet printing onto transfer paper? If so then search for "jpss paper" which you print on using pigment inks (for best results in my opinion) and then heat press onto cotton t shirts.

 

[Waiting]

I suggested plastisol because the OP wants to transfer only the ink, which plastisol does. Inkjet transfer paper also transfers a slab, albeit a thin one, of plastic.

She also has the requisite equipment and experience for screen printing, and a heat press, so plastisol should be right up her alley.

If she want's the ability to print only a few copies of an image, without the mess and bother of screen printing, inkjet would absolutely be the way to go about it. A $150 Epson WorkForce WF-7210 printer, Cobra pigment inks and refillable cartridges. It would probably be a worthwhile addition to her arsenal, anyway.

 

[webtrekker]

There's also sublimation, which produces the best 'hand' or feel of all the methods but is limited to printing on 100% white, or light coloured, polyester garments, 0r a poly-cotton mix for more faded, retro-type, garments.