|
|
|
|
The Heat Transfer Industry. |
|
|
|
Heat Transfer printing is an easy and economical way to start a
small business. You can started for as little as $1,000.00. The heat transfer business is probably one of the simplest, fastest and most economical methods of starting a business. T-shirt imprinting is by far the most popular use of heat transfer applications. The basic tools are a computer, graphics program, such as {PhotoShop, CorelDraw, etc.} inkjet printer and heat transfer papers, heat press, your imagination and your willingness to work. Laser Copiers are also used in the heat transfer business. I will go into that at a later time, as this article will deal with inkjet printing as most home users have inkjet printers. See below. Heat Transfers: Heat transfers are what is used to print / apply custom graphic designs and photographs to 100 percent cotton and 50 / 50 cotton-blended T-shirts, mouse pads, tote bags and other fabric items, the basic concept is simple. Most commonly, a regular inkjet printer and regular inks are used to print on a carrier paper {commonly known as heat transfer paper. In the industry the paper is called "carrier paper". Heat transfer paper has a film on it and this is the side that is printed on. There usually is a colored line running down the back of the transfer paper print on the other side only. After printing, the transfer is placed on the shirt or other substrate {mouse pad, other fabrics, etc.} and both are heated in a heat press at around 385 - 400 degrees with medium to high pressure. When the heating cycle ends, {usually between 8 -14 seconds} the head of the press is lifted and the transfer is complete. Heat Transfer paper types: While there are many different brands of heat transfer papers there are basically just three types: cold peel, hot peel and hot/cold peel. The type refers to when the paper cover is removed from the fabric, after applying the transfer to your substrate. Cold Peel transfer paper refers to removing the paper cover when the garment has cooled. This type of paper can be applied with an iron or a heat press. Hot Peel paper must be transferred with a heat press and the paper cover removed immediately after transferring before the garment is removed from the press. When peeling paper cover be careful, as it is quite hot. Hot/Cold Peel paper may be transferred with an iron or a heat press and the paper cover removed when it is hot or cold. The heating methods and when the cover is removed, produce quite different effects. More details are in the tour. Remember a heat press is far easier and the results are typically better. Heat Transfer application options: To be successful, the entrepreneur must balance the choice of what they can do with what they should do. This section looks at some important choices. Heat Press vs. An Iron - No matter what brand or type of paper you use, you will always get superior results with a heat press. That's it. End of story. Even the smallest, cheapest heat press provides consistent and even, heat and pressure. Even the most expensive iron can do neither. There is one situation, however, where an iron might make sense. That would be where you are producing very small quantities of items and basically giving them away. Small quantities shouldn't wear your arm out and if it's free, the recipients shouldn't complain. Professional Grade vs. "Store Bought" Paper - There is a lot of difference, between the two. What is available at an office supply or department store is a generic paper, developed specifically for the low-end home iron market. There is no successful professional (even part-time) using "store bought" heat transfer paper. The quality is just not good enough. It has nothing to do with price (professional grade paper is usually cheaper), only with the quality and durability of the transfer. The choice is yours. Two reasons to use Inkjet Printers: First, an excellent inkjet printer costs considerable less than even a cheap laser printer. Second, not all laser printers produce good heat transfers. It has nothing to do with the print quality (which can be excellent). Rather, it is because many laser toners do not hold up to washing. I wouldn't want to see you buy a laser printer and then find out it wasn't suitable. If you already own one, then get a small sample pack of paper and test the results (printing and washing). You just may be very pleased. "Soft Hand" vs. "Hard Hand" - In the trade, "hand" refers to how a transfer feels, before washing and after. A soft hand can certainly be felt but is not objectionable. A hard hand, as the name implies, is quite stiff or hard as name implies and can be objectionable. Most heat transfer paper has a soft hand, but you should always test until you are familiar with the differences, after transferring and is even softer after the first washing. However, you will always be able to feel it. There is no way around this fact. Be cautious of advertisers that claims to have "virtually no hand" or "hand so soft you can hardly feel it" or some other gobbledygook. While you certainly don't want a cardboard feel, there has to be enough film to hold the ink so the image can take on the garment. Also, because there is not much film, colors can be quite dull. More importantly, you don't want a lot of expensive wasted t-shirts because the transfer won't hold up in the wash. "Clear" Transfer Paper vs. "Opaque" Transfer Paper - These two transfer paper types have two totally different functions. "Clear" transfer paper is for white and light ash gray fabrics and "opaque" transfer paper is for colored fabrics. Using sublimation inks will be discussed in future articles. |
