what heat transfer vinyl is best

Nick Horvath said:

I agree that you will get many different answers. The best film depends on what you are looking for. Thicker? Thinner? Stretchability? Opacity? There are many different films for many different applications.

There are all good vendors represented on this forum, so I would get samples from them. Test thicker and thinner films and see what you like.

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Hi, I own a brother gt-541, i am getting calls for dark shirts, I have a roland sp-300 and I am getting ready to trade it in and get the sp-540i. I had my roland dealer do some samples for me on the new roland tee transfer material and i have 2 brands of stahls materials i have not tried yet. I am very impressed with the quality of the print and the images look great in terms of print quality and detail, however I think that the material is too shiny and looks too much like an iron on.

I printed several designs for dark shirts that I had previously done through my screen printer. I know some folks would be thrilled with these tees but I do not like the feel or the glossy shine and I am sure for a one off or small quantity that if I told people this is the best we can do for " X PRICE" they would be fine with it but I just do not see these shirts being a hot seller because they just look to shiny and too glossy.

Again, the print quality is awesome in my opinion and the images look great but that plastic like feel and that glossy almost "U.V. COATED LOOK" just does not thrill me and I fear many of my customers will not be happy with the look and feel of the shirts. I am also worried about the breathability on the heavy coverage full fronts and backs.

Is there any material out there that I can use on a dark or darker/colored tee(with my eco-solvent printer or an ink jet printer) that will give me the look and feel of a screen printed garment?

Something that does not look like a glossy sticker has been applied to a shirt is what i am hoping for?

I can use an ink jet printer or a copier with or without fuser oil if it will give me a softer and duller appearance but I do not want a product that has a short life/wash cycle and I thought ink jet transfers would not hold up as well as eco solvent (please correct me if I am wrong).

I am looking for something that can be transfered onto a shirt that looks and feels as close to a screen printed garment as possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions or know of any products that will transfer onto a dark or colored garment that really mimic a screen printed garment?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this post and any product or process suggestions that you can offer to get me to a transfer material or process that does not look like a shiny sticker on a shirt is greatly appreciated.

Is there any material out there that I can use on a dark or darker/colored tee(with my eco-solvent printer or an ink jet printer) that will give me the look and feel of a screen printed garment?
Yes, for the Eco Solvent Roland and applying to dark garments, we have a product called Express Print. It does not have that glossy, plastic look you are describing, has a soft hand, and is easy to work with.

I can use an ink jet printer or a copier with or without fuser oil if it will give me a softer and duller appearance but I do not want a product that has a short life/wash cycle and I thought ink jet transfers would not hold up as well as eco solvent (please correct me if I am wrong).
Ink Jet and/or color laser copier transfers in my opinion do not out perform digital transfers printed on a digital printer such as your Roland.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this post and any product or process suggestions that you can offer to get me to a transfer material or process that does not look like a shiny sticker on a shirt is greatly appreciated.
Not a problem. Please let me know if you have any other questions.