Top 5 Heat Press Application Tips

The marketing team not only often does orders for friends and family, but also applies transfers for videos, photo shoots, social media as well as testing.   So, we have applied a lot of transfers over the years.    At a recent meeting we had each member of the marketing team share their top heat press application tips.

Centering Your Transfer

When we surveyed customers to find out how they centered the transfer, most just eyeball it.  So our first heat press application tip is on transfer position.   But to be sure you have a visual for the run, lightly fold the first transfer in half so you know where the center will be.   Make it really easy by purchasing Goof Proof single image transfers, already cut and centered.

Use the Application Directions

This one seems obvious, but it is easy to just use the directions you used last time.   We offer 13 different types of transfers, from screen printed to direct to film transfers to hybrid, each that has its own setting for time, temperature, and pressure.  Many hours of testing goes into the creation of the application instructions.    Application directions are provided with every order, so it is always a good idea to take a peek before starting your application run.

Transfer Placement

Transfer placements are the top requested heat press application tips.   We have some great tools like the Placement Ruler found in our application kit, but most of us often use the three-finger method when decided where on the shirt the transfer should be placed.   From the shirt’s color use three fingers to place the top of the transfer.

Thread It

This one was debated even among our marketing team.   To thread or not to thread, that is the question.    For t-shirt front application many of us just lay the shirt on the platen and press without threading.   But for shirts with seams, buttons and pockets, I think we all agree, threading is the answer.   You will have better pressure results, and less obstructions working only with the layer you will be printing.

Prepress the Shirt

This one also has differing answers.    Prepressing the shirt before transfer placement, even if only for a few seconds, removes wrinkles and moisture.    For this reason, we all agree that prepressing 100% cotton shirts is a necessity.   You will see both the steam and the discoloration from all of the moisture removal

What are your top application tips?  Share in the comments below.