Heat transfer printing is one of the most popular ways to create promotional products for sale and commercial use. If you want to open a business and start selling t-shirts, you must learn more about the industry. The best place to start would be to acquire a machine that you can use for applying heat transfers.
How Does the Machine Work?
Heat transfers are typically applied via a heat press. A heat press machine combines heat and pressure for design application onto shirts, mugs, totes, and much more. There are several heat press models on the market, so you will want to dedicate plenty of time to reading reviews, comparing prices, platen sizes, temperature and pressure levels, etc, before making a final decision to purchase. You want to be certain that the machine you choose will suit your specific needs.
Know the Process
If you are interested in using custom full color heat transfers for your products and promotional items, here are some things to consider:
Create the design you intend to transfer-
There are many programs available online to use for creating your design, so pick the one you think will fit your needs best or the one you feel most confident using. You will want to pay close attention to the size and color of each design. Alternatively, you could also use artwork or design services. TKO offers artwork services for a low fee. If you are creating custom designs or products for clients, be sure to work closely with your client to give them exactly what they want. *Remember: happy customers are returning customers!
Print the transfers.
Multiple companies can help with printing your transfers. If you have the funds available, you could invest in an inkjet printer to print your transfers. Remember you will need a particular film or paper to print on if you choose the latter route. TKO Sales is a great choice for printing. We have low prices and high-quality products to fit all of your heat transfer needs. Whether you choose a heat transfer provider or print your own, always check for errors or mistakes. Is the company logo the right size? Are any of the words misspelled? It’s easy to overlook the small details. TKO offers a preview option when submitting your design for printing. You can also utilize our art services, which will provide a proof for approval before any printing takes place.
Cut out the design.
This step most commonly applies to gang sheets when using a heat transfer provider. Gang sheets are transfer sheets containing multiple images. You will want to trim the image you wish to apply separately from the rest on the gang sheet. Scissors will work for smaller designs. For single image transfers, opt for a vinyl cutter to save time and increase precision.
Preheat the machine.
Before using the heat press machine for t-shirt printing, warm it up. This ensures your heat press will reach the proper application temperature for your transfers. Think of a heat press like your oven when baking. Every oven heats differently, and so does every heat press. You will want to preheat and test at least one transfer application before continuing with the rest. It is vital to understand how your heat press works to avoid applying transfers at the wrong temperatures, as this will affect their adhesion to your products.
Adjust the Pressure.
Base the pressure on the thickness of the material. Thicker fabrics require a lower pressure. When you start transferring designs, you will see that the most common pressure levels used are medium and high pressure. Always ensure you use the proper amount of pressure for the transfer during application. Neglecting to do so can affect the adhesion and quality of the final product.
Set the time. Let’s revisit the oven analogy.
The oven on your favorite competitive cooking show never seems to cook the puff pastry before time runs out. However, puff pastry comes out just fine in your home oven. Both ovens cook the dough for the same allotted time, but only one comes out perfect. In other words, time depends on how evenly your heat press heats up. If your heat fluctuates, your design may need more or less time for proper application. You do not want to set the time for too long on high pressure or temperature. That may lead to scorching. Learn your heat press machine and adapt to its unique settings.
Transfer the design.
Position your product onto the plate before placing the transfer face-up where you wish to apply your design. If you are working with applique or a vinyl transfer, it may be worth covering the transfers with a thin cloth. Depending on the model you are using, your application process may vary. Always read and follow the instructions.
Buying the Machine
Get the machine from a reputable source. TKO Sales offers some heat presses on our website, but many companies provide heat presses. Don’t forget to go over reviews and feedback from other buyers. They can share the issues they encountered when using the machine. You can then decide whether those issues are a deal-breaker, or if the machine suits your needs.
