Heat Transfer Printing for T-Shirt
What is Heat Transfer Printing
Transfer printing is a much more economical option in comparison to direct to garment (DTG) digital printing which makes it favorable for producing short-run orders on a fixed budget or for promotional clothing purposes. We recommend this technique for printing individual names and numbers for sports teams as well as Stag Nights and Hen Dos. This process is ideal for bespoke individual customization of t-shirts and other garments.
Screen printing is our most common type of printing but every once in a while we will receive an order that is better suited for the transfer printing technique. Heat transfer t-shirt printing involves using a heat press to print plastisol, foil, flock, or CAD-cut vinyl directly onto garments and non-textile items. This method is perfect for short run orders and full color images.
When to use Heat transfer printing?
- Individual Names and Numbers
- Full colour artwork or designs
- Nylon materials (umbrellas, waterproofs, windbreaker jackets
- High gloss/metallic print
- Lycra or Spandex clothing garments
- Luxurious velvet-like pile transfer
- One-off samples for client meetings or press events
How does Heat transfer printing work?
LastMinuteTshirtPrinting.co.uk uses in-house heat presses with the latest in industry technology and a maximum print size of A4. Transfer printing differs from screen-printing in that instead of the ink absorbing into the fabric, transfers are placed directly on top of the garment. This process results in a much sharper and brighter image because the base colour of the garment does not interfere or affect the transfer. Transfers can be created in numerous different ways before being applied to a garment. We like to use the cold peel technique wherein we heat press the transfer to the garment, wait for it to cool, and then remove the backing paper leaving the transfer copied to the garment.
Transfer printing does not produce the same quality print job consistent with screen-printing. Although technology has brought the technique forward in recent years, the end result is simply not as durable. Garments that have been printed using transfer printing can be fully washed and color fast up to 40ºC and can be dry cleaned and tumble dried (at low temperatures).
