Myths About Heat Transfers

This guide is intended to give some information onheat transfer t-shirts. I intend to clear up some old myths about how they are produced and the quality of the printing.
About Heat Transfers
What is a Heat Transfer?
A heat transfer consists of an image printed in reverse and applied to a piece of high release paper. The image is usually printed onto the paper with plastisol inks (also usein screenprinting), which have the characteristics of being flexible enough for stretching and durable enough for wearability. The transfer is typically used for decorative purposes and applied to garments, mugs, mouse pads, and other surfaces. The image is applied to these items using a heat press machine, which uses high temperature (typically 385 degrees Fahrenheit) and pressure to transfer the ink from the paper tothe garment. The process of transferring an image from the paper to the garment typically takes about 89-12 seconds and does not require a drying or curing process once applied. Transfers are available in a variety of sizes, processes, and colors. Most transfers produced today are know as hot split transfers where the ink splits between the transfer paper and garment when heated. Other popular transfer types include puff(ink that puffs, glitter (ink that sparkles), foil (ink that shines), and sublimation (used for mug transfers).
Can Heat Transfers Be Printed On Any Color Garment Or Surface?
No, some transfers are intended to be printed on light color (i.e. white, ash, yellow) garments only, while others can be printed on dark and light color garments. Like color, not all transfers can be applied to all materials. Virtually all transfers can be applied to a t-shirt, however, not to a mug, mouse pad, or a cap.
How do Transfers Hold Up When Washed?
Special care is normally not needed to wash a garment printed with a transfer since it has the same characteristics as a pre-printed or screen printed shirt. However, we regemend washing the garment inside out and in cold water to prevent the cotton fibers from peeling away from the garment. It is normally the cotton fibers peeling away that cause fading in a printed shirt regardless of whether it was printed with a transfer or direclty printed.
Using Transfers vs. Direct Printed Garments (screenprinting)
With the improvements in technology used to produce transfers, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between a garment printed directly with a screen printing press and one printed using a heat transfer press. In most cases, the heat transfer has a soft feel and is as durable. The advantage to using transfers lies in your ability to purchase one shirt at a time, choosing the color of the shirt,and choosing the size of the shirt. Also, when buying stock designs your shirt is printed and ready withinminutes of ordering. In retail shops you can even watch them get printed. Screenprinters are required to have at least 12-24 item minimum orders because of the geplexity and expenses involved in setting up a screen printing press. You also have to wait 2-3 weeks for your order to be gepleted.
What to look for in a good Heat Transfer printer?
You need to ask questions to know howthe prints are being printed. If the printer is using an inkjet printer, then you will get aproduct that will fade after the first wash (as in photo prints). Custom heat transfer t-shirts has to be designed and printed on the high release transfer paper in a factory setting, as in screenprinting. Also, ask about the transfer paper. High quality release paper that accepts the plastisol inks arepurchased from an industry distributor. Inkjet papers can be purchased from a local office store. Usually, if a printer can offer custom heat transfer garments in quantities less than12 items, beware.They can bequickly and easilyprinted on a inkjet or laser printer in low quantities. A custom heat transfer order of 12 items (1 color)usually ships to a customer within 5-7 working days. Multi-color designs adds additional days.
A. Rodgers