[cleos]

I'm sure to find diverse opinions on that subject and I understand both systems have their limitations. However I would like to hear an explanation that justify your opinion.

I'm learning and I have to confess I got pretty confused. I will end buying both systems but for starting what would be the most indicated, screen print or heat press? and why?

 

[IYFGraphics]

I'm sure to find diverse opinions on that subject and I understand both systems have their limitations. However I would like to hear an explanation that justify your opinion.

I'm learning and I have to confess I got pretty confused. I will end buying both systems but for starting what would be the most indicated, screen print or heat press? and why?

I'd assume that when your talking about using a heat press you talking about applying transfers?

Based on what I know transfers would be used for low production numbers...lets just 50 pcs or less, where screen printing really comes into play is orders of 100 pcs or more with the same design, that's not to say that you can't do 100 shirts with transfers because you could and many more, it's just the time involved and the costs per shirt.

These are just round numbers there are screen printers who will do orders of as little as 24 pcs and others that wouldn't waste their time unless it's 100-500-1000 pcs.

Hope this helps.

 

[JWKLearning]

Whether you decide to use transfers or heat applied vinyl, you'll find that the smaller the run the more cost effective it is to use a heat press and one of the two methods mentioned above. It seems in most cases that the breaking point is right around 48 pieces for making the screen printing process more profitable over heat applied. Remember, for small runs you have the cost of your screen and setup amortized only across a few garments, so that is what causes the higher cost.

Now, the other thing to think about is the demand for personalized garments....someone's name added to each individual hoodie, shirt, sweat pants, etc. That is when you really want to go with a heat applied method and be able to offer that to your customers as well. So, really both methods of decorating garments can work side by side in your shop and potentially bring you increased revenue.

Now that I've given you more to think about, I hope it helps.

 

[Nick Rocco]

In addition to the comments above ragarding the numbers. The colors come into play as well. To the best of my knowledge you can only layer 2 - 3 colrs with heat press vinyl depending on the vinyl. Screen printing will allow for more color options as well as half tones. I started with a vinyl cutter and a shirt press and I am currently in the process of putting together a screen printing shop. I plan to use the two processes side by side as mentioned above.

Also, I found that a heat press order of 25 to 30 shirts with two colors put my price above my competition's screen printed price.

 

[cleos]

Thanks you all, this is helpful

These are just round numbers there are screen printers who will do orders of as little as 24 pcs and others that wouldn't waste their time unless it's 100-500-1000 pcs.

I can see big structures sub-contracting smaller guys for small orders, is this a reality or a wrong idea?

Besides the money aspect. What are the technical factors that would require screen printing over heat press?

How about the quality of the job? and regarding the sale, what do people are more compelled to buy, transfer/vinyl or screen printed?

In your opinion, how many shirts you need to screen print before holding a fair knowledge of the techniques. How would you describe the learning curve?

So, really both methods of decorating garments can work side by side in your shop and potentially bring you increased revenue..

In case of using both on a same t, which one would be first applied?

I found that a heat press order of 25 to 30 shirts with two colors put my price above my competition's screen printed price...

How about a comparative of cost to make it clear?

I understand that it might be a problem to press several colours but isn't it when you should work with a transfer instead vinyl?

Talking about transfers, does it make sense to send a transfer to the cutter? if so, is it wiser to have a printer/cutter or simply a cutter? does the investment makes sense to anyone?

On another note, I believe it is always better to buy new equipment to guarantee the best output, however, should I consider to buy used equipment to leverage my budget? anyone with experience that could compare?

 

[angi0916]

I do heat press for larger orders. 100 plus - I can get them for $1. It is not as cost effective to do for smaller orders because the larger printers can offer a better price.

 

[cleos]

For example, the following design screams for screen or transfers?

What problems would I incur if I use transfer and or screen print?

 

[cleos]

It is not as cost effective to do for smaller orders because the larger printers can offer a better price.

You mean, large printer can do it cheaper because they would use screen printing or because they are just lower on price indistinctively?

 

[IYFGraphics]

Thanks you all, this is helpful
I can see big structures sub-contracting smaller guys for small orders, is this a reality or a wrong idea?

Possibly, a good relationship with a screen printer to use as a sub-contractor is always a good thing and could be reciprocal.

Besides the money aspect. What are the technical factors that would require screen printing over heat press?

Number of prints/pcs required and the number of colors, there are many different types of transfers so it's hard to say where to break off would be so to me it's in the number of shirts required to fill the order.

How about the quality of the job? and regarding the sale, what do people are more compelled to buy, transfer/vinyl or screen printed?

It's hard to beat the quality of a screen printed shirt (done correctly), that said some garments just lend themselves to different decorating processes, dye-sublimation on light colored poly, or vinyl names and numbers on a football jersey, or DTG for full color photo-realistic prints on 100% cotton.

In my mind screen printing is the high production (large numbers of shirts) side of the garment decorating business for the lowest cost per unit....nothing else really comes close if you had to print 1000 shirts in the cost to produce.

In your opinion, how many shirts you need to screen print before holding a fair knowledge of the techniques. How would you describe the learning curve?

Since we don't screen print that's a tough question for me to answer but I'll give it a shot, to do basic one or two color screen printing I'd say the learning curve with quality equipment is marginal, but to do half-tones, spot colors, discharge, water base, I do believe would have a steep learning curve.

The other thing is the basic equipment to do high quality screen printing is costly, you would need a quality press with micro registration, a flash dryer, an exposure unit, a dip tank, a washout booth, a printer, a RIP, screens, inks, squeegees, emulsion, an conveyor dryer, etc......and of course years of learning.

 

[IYFGraphics]

For example, the following design screams for screen or transfers?

What problems would I incur if I use transfer and or screen print?

Neither....it would be best done on a DTG printer, although it could be screen printed using half-tones, but to get the best quality image...DTG.

JMHO

 

[American logoZ]

For example, the following design screams for screen or transfers?

What problems would I incur if I use transfer and or screen print?

Dye sublimation

 

[johnbol1]

Just a small point,
dont forget if design is small enough you can heat pres 2 or 3 at a time


JOhn