100% or 50/50 Fabrics – Which works best for transfers?
Mar/100
Two of the most common types of t shirts and hooded sweatshirts customers request are 100% cotton and 50/50 cotton/polyester blends. For applying screen printed transfers though, which one works best and is there any difference in the finished product after the heat transfer is applied? For the finished product the answer is, “No, there is no difference in the quality or durability of the finished product if using 100% or 50/50 t shirts or hoodies”. The plastisol ink will attach itself to the fabric fibers in the same way.
Now, before the custom transfer is applied to the garment is where you may see a difference. The difference between 100% cotton and a 50/50 is the amount of moisture in the fabric fibers. The 100% cotton t shirt or hooded sweatshirt will hold more moisture and will need to be prepressed for a longer duration to remove the moisture. This is done before the transfer is applied.
Which screen printed ink formulas work best for the different types of fabric?
50/50 Cotton Polyester blends – Goof Proof®, Hot Split, Polytrans, as well as every other heat transfer that Transfer Express manufactures.
100% Cotton – Same as 50/50.
Recommendation:
Hot Split transfers will apply to 100% cotton however a longer prepress time is needed. All you need to do is pre-press for a few more seconds or until you do not see any more “steam” being released.
If you are unsure of which transfer type will work best for your type of fabric our Dealer Services Team is more than happy to give you suggestions.
100% or 50/50 Fabrics – Which works best for transfers?St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt Design Ideas
Feb/100
QAL-289 with x19a-999 distress
We are already seeing Saint Patrick’s Day custom transfers flying through the Transfer Express production line. It’s about that time that Dealers start advertising their ability to create the holiday gear and give the customers design ideas. There are so many available Easy Prints® layouts that can be customized to show the St. Patty’s Day spirit! Order just a clip art of a shamrock or choose a layout from the Idea Book™ for more customization options. Some layouts have already been set up specifically for St. Patrick’s Day. Look for layout QHL-34, QHL-41, QHL-42 in the Easy Prints® Idea Book™ or search them online.
This season customers are looking for simple designs with text and clip art with added effects such as distressed or pattern fills. These custom plastisol transfers aren’t just for t shirts either. Heat print your transfers onto foam koozies for those green beer drinkers too!
Our designers put together a few examples of design ideas, clip art, and typestyles that can be used for the St. Patty’s Day celebrations. Don’t forget you can add a distressed effect to many layouts and clip art to give your custom screen printed transfer a vintage look!
Clip Art:
Shamrocks
Leprechauns
Beer Mugs
Typestyles
What is Clip Art?
Feb/100
Clip art for customizing Easy Prints® layout
Clip art is ready made art that can be used to create your custom transfers. At Transfer Express, we offer thousands of clip art to help create your custom print ready to apply to your apparel.
The clip art is categorized online and in the Idea Book™. We offer general shapes, mascots, animals, occupations, and sports to name a few of the categories. To find what you are looking for use our clip art search. To find the best results in our search, enter the simplest part of the description you would call the clip art you are looking for. Example: Search for “glasses” instead of sun “glasses” or “bee” instead of “bumble bee”.
Our clip art can be added to an Easy Prints® layout, with text or used alone. It can ordered in just one color or as many colors as you like. If using just one color, what you see in black will be the color you select. If you want to add colors, just let us know what colors are needed and where they should be placed. To order clip art alone – use the layout QAL-CLIP when ordering online.
With thousands of clip art choices, any layout can be made custom for your specific need. The choices are endless….
Don’t forget about selling those St. Patrick’s Day shirts. We have shamrock clip art too!
What is Clip Art?February Heat Press Special – Free Freight!
Feb/100
Hotronix® Auto Clam Heat Press
For those Dealers of custom apparel or those just starting their t shirt printing business, Transfer Express is now offering FREE FREIGHT on all Hotronix® and Maxx™ style heat presses for the month of February. Hotronix® and Maxx™ heat presses are the most accurate machine for heat printing custom transfers. With any heat press purchased from Transfer Express you will receive a free 2010 Marketing Kit complete with the Easy Prints® Idea Book™, Color Selector, Display transfers and much more!
Also, Hotronix® ground ships the heat presses the “Same Day” if ordered by 1pm. Order your Hotronix® or Maxx™ heat press online or call our Dealer Services Department to place your order!
February Heat Press Special – Free Freight!Ink Formula Focus: Polytrans Screen Printed Transfers
Dec/090
Polytrans is another one of those types of transfers that we can say has been around since the start. It’s confusing to most because of its’ similarities to Goof Proof® but Polytrans does have its’ own advantages and is quite a simple transfer type to explain.
The secret to the ink formula for Polytrans is simple; it’s the Goof Proof® formula…shhh! Well no, it’s not a secret, just not well known but let’s change that. To start, it’s actually screen printed, with the same ink used by screen printers, plastisol ink. Printed onto a release paper, the ink receives an adhesive additive to make it easy to apply with a heat press. So this is the exact description of how a Goof Proof® transfer is printed. So what’s the difference?
Polytrans is all about how it is applied with the heat press. We mean the amount of time and temperature that is set on your heat press. On the instructions you will see that Polytrans is heated at 340 degrees for 10 seconds. This is different than Goof Proof® that is applied at 365 degrees for 4 seconds. Same formula, different time and temperature. That’s it! The lower temperature.
Use Polytrans if:
- Dark ink color is under a lighter ink color. (So the heat doesn’t smush them together)
- You’d like a softer feel than Goof Proof® but still a durable athletic feel
- Your apparel requires a lower temperature for when heat applying transfers etc.
- Test the difference between Goof Proof® and Polytrans, your heat press may have better results at the lower temperature and longer time.
So test a sample of this transfer type, or just grab what you know as a Goof Proof® sample and apply it using the 340 degrees for 10 seconds settings.
Ink Formula Focus: Polytrans Screen Printed TransfersGetting Started – Start with the Hotronix® Auto Open Clam
Dec/090
Auto Open Heat Press
Free Set of Platens in December!
If you are just getting started in the “iron-on” business the only investment needed is a heat press. A great quality starter heat press is the Hotronix® Auto Open Clam. This press has an auto open feature that gives you the convenience of an air press without a compressor. It is easy to operate with digital readouts for time, temperature and pressure, the three variables that can make or break your new business. The upper platen is 3/4” thick assuring you of even pressure and is Teflon® coated for easy clean up for any errors (we have all put one on upside down!) The clam style is space saving and this press can easily be carried onsite for pressing on demand at events. And during the month of December, order your heat press through Transfer Express® and you get a free set of platens. Now is the time to make that investment and get started with a quality heat press!
Getting Started – Start with the Hotronix® Auto Open ClamPrinting Large Leg Plastisol Transfers
Nov/090
Putting a print all the way down a leg, from hip to ankle, is easy with our large leg plastisol transfers. These prints are made to be applied in two applications, so they can be up to 28” long. Order any of our leg layouts and choose the large leg option which is 24” or use other to go up to 28” long. Your print will be printed on the sheet with ease of application in mind. Just cut the paper down the center. Apply the top half, slide the paper down, and position the second half, as easy as aligning the paper. Press and peel the paper from both halves. Your large leg is ready to be worn.
Here is a video that shows a custom screen printed large leg transfer being applied to sweatpants.
Large leg transfer - Using Easy Prints® layout QLG-2
Tie Dye Shirts are Fun and Easy to Decorate!
Nov/090
Give your customer a new look combining tie dye shirts with screen printed plastisol transfers. Just follow the application instructions provided with your transfer order. The dyes are not affected by the heat press. Be creative and add a print to a tie die in the school or business colors or a black or white print to a multi-color tie die. Try positioning your prints on the side for a new look, too!
Custom transfer on tie-dyed
Custom transfer on darks
Same Design Different Colors
Leg and Sleeve Application for Heat Transfers
Oct/090
No one said custom transfers for a heat press just have to be put onto the front or back of the shirt. Give your customers different options by showing them that their designs can be put down the leg or on the sleeve. Didn’t know this could be done? Well it is actually quite simple and easy to do with heat transfers using a professional heat press. Not only can custom Easy Prints® layouts be applied to these areas but also try personalizing them using vertical Express Names™.
Here’s how:
Set your press to the specified settings given with your order.
Place the sleeve or leg on the press flat.
Most sleeves and legs have a fold line along the length of the sleeve/leg.
Place the print as close to the edge of that fold as possible and press.
Also, see a video on the application of a sleeve transfer using a Hotronix® Swinger heat press.
Leg and Sleeve Application for Heat Transfers
Increase Safety by Offering Reflective Wear
Jul/090
Reflective Transfers
The month of June is National Safety Month! There are a lot of precautions your customers can take to make their environment safe for themselves and their groups they are ordering for. However, your customers in low-light conditions such as jogging at night, camping, or working in the dark, need clothing with reflective designs to help keep them safe.
Along with the with screen printed transfers Transfer Express manufacturers, Reflective heat transfers offer the same quality and durability as screen printing yet offers a reflective property. As light shines on the print, it reflects the light back in low-light conditions.
Transfer Express offers samples of the Reflective heat transfer for your testing. All you need is a heat press to apply the transfer. It can be heat printed to 100% cotton, 100% polyester or a blend of cotton and polyester. Show this sample to your next customers to offer them a customizing alternative, and keep them and their group safe in the process.
E-mail Us if you would like a sample.
Increase Safety by Offering Reflective Wear
