Heat Transfers 101 – Introductory Tutorial to Using a Heat Transfer Machine With Great Results!

A heat transfer press or heat transfer machine is a machine that utilizes heat to press a transfer onto an imprintable object, and this could be a t-shirt, cap, handbag, plates, mouse pads and many other items (with some exceptions and fabrics working better than others).

In prior days, hand irons could be used for simply application of small ones, but the cost of heat transfer machines have dropped and certain provide a more professional look and can apply transfers to a wider variety of materials.

In addition, a more professional look is obtained using a heat press because it’s a combination of heat and pressure that make a great looking transfer and pressure required can be up to 70-80 psi which is harder to obtain using an iron.

What’s the difference between sublimation and a this press method? The technical answer here is that sublimation permeates the surface coating of the particular medium whereas a heat transfer applies some but not all of the ink to the material while leaving some of the paper. Thus, we see sublimation used on harder materials as well as synthetic fabrics such as imprinting on coffee mugs, license plates or printing on 100% polyester t-shirts.

What types are easiest to work with for beginners?

There are three key types of heat transfers:

(1) Plastisol transfers;

(2) Transfers made with color copiers;

(3) Transfers made with Ink-Jet transfer paper.

For starters and beginners just getting into applying heat transfers to t-shirts and other products, we suggest starting with plastisol transfers or color copier produced transfers as are typical when you purchase pre-printed transfers from suppliers. You can also have the supplier make custom transfers for you with your own design. In either case, having an experienced heat transfer manufacturer supply you with your transfers is much easier to get your business started without learning an entirely new area.

Once you get going, then you can move on to designing and printing your own transfers using software and a good printer. This method is certainly gaining in popularity and with some training you can quickly create great looking graphics, and more importantly get them onto your t-shirts or products quickly and inexpensively.

We do suggest avoiding bubble-jet printers that use water-soluble inks as these are more difficult to apply and can wash out after a few washes (which won’t make your customers very happy). Instead, a decent ink-jet printer will do the job and can produce some great looking transfers. You’ll need the proper heat transfer paper as well for your printer; alternatively, you could design the graphics yourself, and still have a commercial printer actually print your heat transfers using much a much higher end printer. There are many such printers that can create custom ones for you and many have fairly low minimum orders (i.e., 12 or less sheets but of course your price will go down the more you order).

As to your heat press options, there are many on the market and several have outstanding track records with years of great customer reviews, such as Hix presses made in our hometown of Pittsburgh, Kansas and Geo Knight of Brockton, Mass. The two typical options here are the clamshell type press which closes down and releases up, or the swing-away type which does the same thing then you can swing the upper arm up and out of the way once you’re finished pressing. Sizes vary as well from a portable press of about 11 inches to larger 16″ by 20″ presses. Be sure to review the sizes of your transfers and go with the larger presses if you can to give you more flexibility in the types and sizes of them that you may run into, either in purchasing transfers or in customizing your own heat transfers.

Samples – you’ll also want to test out some samples when using either a new machine, new transfer or new material such as a t-shirt or fabric type to ensure you can reproduce the correct temperature and pressure consistently. Typically you want the machine set at 375-395° F for 10-14 seconds for 100% cotton or cotton blend shirts and typically that same general guide for baseball caps.

With these guidelines, you’ll be off to a great start in producing some terrific looking products whatever your line consists of, whether you’re selling t-shirts, mugs, caps or other items, and best of luck with your new heat press!