| A heat transfer press or heat transfer machine is a | | | | importantly get them onto your t-shirts or products |
| machine that utilizes heat to press a transfer onto an | | | | quickly and inexpensively. |
| imprintable object, and this could be a t-shirt, cap, | | | | We do suggest avoiding bubble-jet printers that use |
| handbag, plates, mouse pads and many other items | | | | water-soluble inks as these are more difficult to apply |
| (with some exceptions and fabrics working better than | | | | and can wash out after a few washes (which won't |
| others). | | | | make your customers very happy). Instead, a decent |
| In prior days, hand irons could be used for simply | | | | ink-jet printer will do the job and can produce some |
| application of small ones, but the cost of heat transfer | | | | great looking transfers. You'll need the proper heat |
| machines have dropped and certain provide a more | | | | transfer paper as well for your printer; alternatively, you |
| professional look and can apply transfers to a wider | | | | could design the graphics yourself, and still have a |
| variety of materials. | | | | commercial printer actually print your heat transfers |
| In addition, a more professional look is obtained using a | | | | using much a much higher end printer. There are many |
| heat press because it's a combination of heat and | | | | such printers that can create custom ones for you |
| pressure that make a great looking transfer and | | | | and many have fairly low minimum orders (i.e., 12 or |
| pressure required can be up to 70-80 psi which is | | | | less sheets but of course your price will go down the |
| harder to obtain using an iron. | | | | more you order). |
| What's the difference between sublimation and a this | | | | As to your heat press options, there are many on the |
| press method? The technical answer here is that | | | | market and several have outstanding track records |
| sublimation permeates the surface coating of the | | | | with years of great customer reviews, such as Hix |
| particular medium whereas a heat transfer applies | | | | presses made in our hometown of Pittsburgh, Kansas |
| some but not all of the ink to the material while leaving | | | | and Geo Knight of Brockton, Mass. The two typical |
| some of the paper. Thus, we see sublimation used on | | | | options here are the clamshell type press which closes |
| harder materials as well as synthetic fabrics such as | | | | down and releases up, or the swing-away type which |
| imprinting on coffee mugs, license plates or printing on | | | | does the same thing then you can swing the upper |
| 100% polyester t-shirts. | | | | arm up and out of the way once you're finished |
| What types are easiest to work with for beginners? | | | | pressing. Sizes vary as well from a portable press of |
| There are three key types of heat transfers: | | | | about 11 inches to larger 16" by 20" presses. Be sure to |
| (1) Plastisol transfers; | | | | review the sizes of your transfers and go with the |
| (2) Transfers made with color copiers; | | | | larger presses if you can to give you more flexibility in |
| (3) Transfers made with Ink-Jet transfer paper. | | | | the types and sizes of them that you may run into, |
| For starters and beginners just getting into applying | | | | either in purchasing transfers or in customizing your |
| heat transfers to t-shirts and other products, we | | | | own heat transfers. |
| suggest starting with plastisol transfers or color copier | | | | Samples - you'll also want to test out some samples |
| produced transfers as are typical when you purchase | | | | when using either a new machine, new transfer or |
| pre-printed transfers from suppliers. You can also | | | | new material such as a t-shirt or fabric type to ensure |
| have the supplier make custom transfers for you with | | | | you can reproduce the correct temperature and |
| your own design. In either case, having an experienced | | | | pressure consistently. Typically you want the machine |
| heat transfer manufacturer supply you with your | | | | set at 375-395° F for 10-14 seconds for 100% |
| transfers is much easier to get your business started | | | | cotton or cotton blend shirts and typically that same |
| without learning an entirely new area. | | | | general guide for baseball caps. |
| Once you get going, then you can move on to | | | | With these guidelines, you'll be off to a great start in |
| designing and printing your own transfers using | | | | producing some terrific looking products whatever your |
| software and a good printer. This method is certainly | | | | line consists of, whether you're selling t-shirts, mugs, |
| gaining in popularity and with some training you can | | | | caps or other items, and best of luck with your new |
| quickly create great looking graphics, and more | | | | heat press! |
