Popularity of Goof Proof
Apr/090
What makes Goof Proof® ink forumla the most popular Transfer Express offers?
Goof Proof® is a type of ink formula used for screen printed transfers using a plastisol ink with an adhesive powder added to the printed design. This adhesive powder differentiates itself between Hot Split and other transfers. This adhesive powder allows the ink to set in the fibers of the fabric faster and with greater opacity. Because of this adhesive powder it helps the ink be forgiving with variations in time, temperature and pressure.
As the most forgiving ink formula Transfer Express offers it provides the shortest application time. Therefore, this ink formula is perfect for beginners. Pressing between 3-5 seconds you can create hundreds of shirts quickly and with the same quality as if you had the professional screen printing equipment in your shop! Before you start pressing though read all directions that are supplied with your Goof Proof® order.
The Goof Proof® ink formula applies to garments containing 100%cotton, 100% polyester or a blend of cotton and polyester.
Popularity of Goof ProofDecorating Zipper Hoods
Apr/090
With the popularity of zipper hoods increasing, customers want to know what is the best way to heat print this type of apparel? Our plastisol transfers apply easily to this apparel and there are a couple of alternatives. The heat will not damage a metal zipper. If it is plastic, check with the manufacturer to be sure it will not melt with the heat.
The easiest way to heat print a zipper hood is to avoid the zipper completely. We’ve shown two ways to do this using our Easy Prints® layouts. A left chest gives the traditional look, but by using one of our leg/sleeve designs you can give your zipper hood a unique look that is done easily.
If your customer wants to go completely over the zipper as we shown here, leave the hood completely zippered up. Set your heat press to firm pressure to compensate for the zipper. Pre-press to remove moisture, wrinkles and also to get the seam around the zipper to lay flat. Position the transfer, press and peel using the directions supplied with the transfer. Remove the release paper and gently unzip to separate the ink where the zipper zips. Take a cover sheet (extra transfer paper, Teflon of Kraft paper), cover and press again for a few seconds to seal the edges. Your zipper hood is ready for sale!
Dressing/Threading a Garment on a Heat Press
Apr/090
Dressing a garment on a heat press will help to remove any interference with pockets, buttons & zippers.
There are times in your t shirt printing business when heat pressing transfers that the garment doesn’t lay perfectly flat on the heat press such as a hoodie. Or you may come across that you need to apply a transfer on one side of the garment but there is a seam on the other side that is causing you not to have a flat surface such as a pocket t-shirt. There is a simple solution for this and it is called dressing or threading.
To dress or thread the garment means to put the bottom platen between the shirt or hooded sweatshirt so that just one layer of fabric is on the press instead of laying the garment down flat. This is just like putting a t-shirt on a mannequin only pretend the body is the bottom platen. Most likely the shirt will be on the heat press with the neck close to you.
The reason to slip the garment around the platen is to remove the interference of pockets, buttons, zippers, etc. Some common times to thread the garment is when heat printing screen printed transfers on the back of hoodies, polos, and pocket t-shirts.
Dressing/Threading a Garment on a Heat PressPersonalized Lettering On Demand
Mar/090
Applying our Easy Print Letters is as easy as 1-2-3!
Give your customers personalization on demand with Peel and Press letters. These letters are plastisol transfers printed on a sheet. To use, you peel off the letter needed and position on your shirt. Peel and Press letters are available in 2, 2.5 and 3″ sizes, Full Block and Hercules letter styles. They are available in white, black, gold, navy, red, and royal and in a two color letter black with a white outline and white with a black outline. These letters bring instant sales to your t shirt printing business.
Tip– If you are running low on certain letters, order fill-ins using Express Names™. Just enter the letters you are missing, the color and the size.
Personalized Lettering On DemandApplying Split Front Custom Transfers
Mar/090
QBA-32
With baseball season here, your teams will want their screen printed transfers applied to a split front jersey. Heat printing on these jerseys takes a little more time, but is easy to do. Try to order jerseys that have buttons that are spaced at least 6″ apart. These work best for printing. When ordering your screen printed transfers be sure to request the middle of your image that will be between the buttons is sized to fit that area.
(Photo – Layout QBA-32 – White On Navy Polytrans transfer)
To apply:
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1. Cut your print into two parts just left of center, so the cut matches the split front on the shirt. Try to avoid cutting through a letter if possible. |
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2. Keep your jersey fully buttoned and place on the platen of your heat press. Turn pressure up to compensate for the buttons. |
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3. Pre-Press your jersey. |
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4. Position the two halves on your jersey, lining up the edge of the transfer to the split. The grid lines will help you line up your two halves. |
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5. Press. |
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6. Remove the release paper from the right side only. |
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7. Unbutton the jersey. |
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8. Open the jersey, leaving only the left half on your platen. |
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9. Press again. |
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10. Remove the release paper from the left half. |
Your team is now ready to Play Ball!
Applying Split Front Custom TransfersScreen Printed Transfers on Mesh Jerseys
Feb/090
Now that spring sports are around the corner mesh fabrics come in to play for practice jerseys and uniforms. Custom screen printed transfers can be used as a way to decorate mesh fabrics when being applied correctly. Screen printed transfers will only be successfully applied to cotton, polyester or a cotton/poly blend. Since mesh fabric consists of holes there are a few things to consider. The first being the ink covering the holes will punch through, either when it is initially pressed or during the washing process. If your customer would like complete coverage over the holes consider using Transfer Express’ full color transfers, CAD-PRINTZ.
When applying to mesh practice jerseys that are reversible something needs to be placed in between the two fabrics such as Kraft paper to prevent the two sides from sticking to one another. You can also thread one side of the jersey on the press so that the other side doesn’t get printed. (Close up view of pressed transfer)
To have more of a chance that all of the holes will punch through on the first press we suggest placing a sheet of Pellon under the fabric. This will allow the ink to stick to the Pellon and be easily pulled away through the holes. The faster you pull the fabric away from the Pellon the more likely the ink will be pulled away from the holes. By waiting a few seconds before peeling the transfer paper away the more likely some of the holes may not punch through. Remember though the ink will eventually release from the holes during the washing process.
Ask a Dealer Services rep if you have any questions about printing on mesh.
Screen Printed Transfers on Mesh JerseysNumbers-Double Digits, 2 color, 1 Application
Jan/090
Have you ever tried to screen print a number or cut your own and tried to align the two colors? It can be difficult, messy and often inaccurate. With Easy Prints® transfer numbers what once was a struggle is now easy. Each digit is on its own release paper, both colors already aligned and ready to apply. And to get the two digits positioned correctly, all you do is line up the rectangles. We have made it as easy as matching shapes! In just 4 seconds, 1 application you will have your jersey numbered with a 2 digit, 2 color number. If you haven’t tried them ask for a free sample, or if you are ready to order now is a great time, as the January special is in full swing, 15% off your Easy Prints® number
Cross Your Heart-Applying prints to the left chest
Dec/080
Applying custom transfers to the left chest can be one of the trickiest applications visibly. A common mistake is to place the print too close to the edge of the shirt and when worn it is then under the arm. The key is to find the intersection using the vertical center as a line from the neck seam to shoulder, and the horizontal from the imaginary line between the bottoms of the arm seams (see sketch) If the image is larger, use this line as a horizontal center, for a shorter print, put the print on this line. If the shirt has buttons or a v-neck and applying to the left chest area, be sure to use a print perfect pad or mouse pad for proper pressure, raising only the print area.
Pre-pressing garments for heat printing
Dec/080
Pre-pressing your garment on the heat press is an essential step to be able to apply a screen printed transfers or digital transfers properly. Some may skip this step in the process to save time or they may think they do not need to pre-press, however it may lead to cracking, bubbling, and even peeling off after washing. Sometimes the effects of not pre-pressing may not be seen right away and even after you sent your order to your customer. Here are some tips to get an effective pre-press. The purpose of pre-pressing is to remove moisture from the garment to allow the ink and adhesives to lock onto the fibers.
1) Pre-heat the bottom platen without a garment on the press for 1 minute. This will help the heat flow freely through the garment and the bottom platen. This only needs to be done once at the beginning of your run or if you take long breaks in between pressing.
2) With the garment placed on the platen, pre-heat 3-5 seconds. Steam will release from the sides and front of the machine as the garment is being pressed. This is the moisture coming out of the garment. If there is still steam, there is still moisture.
3) When the press opens run your hand over the garment. If the shirt and your hand feel moist after doing this there is still moisture in the garment. Pre-press a few more seconds and adjust the pre-press time as needed.
The amount of pre-pressing time depends on the thickness of the garment as well as the color. 100% cotton naturally holds more moisture than a 50/50 blend does, so pre-press longer if using 100% cotton. Climate in your area can also play a role in how much moisture gets trapped in the fibers. Don’t be alarmed if you notice the garment color changing though. This happens when moisture is release and will return when moisture is naturally put back in or when it is washed.
Pre-pressing garments for heat printingButt Prints Custom Transfers
Nov/080
Printing on the rear side of pant or shorts with plastisol transfers, or as some call it “butt prints” is very popular and easy to do. Any design that has a natural separation in the print will work. You just want to avoid applying your custom transfer on the seam. For example, you could order an arch of the word BASEBALL and apply BASE to one side and then BALL to the other. The grid lines on the paper Stahls’ Transfer Express prints on will allow for easy alignment. Some layouts that work well for Butt Prints are QAL-3, QAL-6, QAL-1, QAL-30, QAL-21, QAL-27, QAL-29. Just avoid script lettering since this is connected.
Sizing your print depends on the size of the garments you are heat printing on. We suggest measuring the printable area of the garment.
