Transfer Printing Pointers

Jan 1, 2008

Printing your own plastisol heat transfers allows you to keep designs handy to use later on a variety of items that repeat customers might request.

A great way to keep designs on hand for repeat orders without having the expense and space requirements for stocking inventory of finished garments is to print your own plastisol heat transfers. These are fairly simple to make using your existing screen printing equipment and a few inexpensive supplies.

When screen printing your own plastisol transfers, it's important to know the ink and screen variables needed for the process. Both hot- and cold-peel transfers can be created using all-purpose, plastisol inks since ink manufacturers formulate these to work with no modification needed. If necessary, a hot-split additive can be mixed with regular plastisol to enhance the ink's performance, and transfer-specific inks also are available.

Because the ink film splits when the transfer is applied, it's important to lay down a thick ink deposit when printing. Pour the ink straight from the container and don't thin it too much. If the ink is too thick to print, add some curable reducer.

To get this heavy deposit, use a coarse mesh with a thick stencil system. The recommended screen mesh is 74T-86T monofilament for solid-color prints and 94-140 for detailed prints. Capillary direct film is the best solution for sharp-edge definition and thick stencils. Use at least 40-micron film, or go as high as 70 to 80 microns.

— Information provided by Scott Fresener, U.S. Screen Print & Inkjet Technology

Ink-Matching Tips
Screen printers have two options when it comes to ink color-matching systems: pigment concentrates (PC) or finished inks. Using pigment concentrates, printers can measure concentrated pigments according to the ink manufacturer's formulation guide and mix them with a plastisol carrier base. A finished ink system already has the correct base-to-pigment ratio, so the inks come ready to print.
December 01, 2008

Lofty Goals
Flawless embroidery starts with a smooth sewing surface. But when a customer's order calls for sewing on textured or lofty fabrics, your path to successful embroidery suddenly gets a little bumpy.
December 01, 2008

8 Tips for Embroidering with Metallics
Think of metallic embroidery thread as the equivalent of the foil effect popular on screen printed T-shirts sold at retail today. It adds a similar trendy look whether used in concert with other apparel decoration applications or alone.
June 09, 2008

Digitizing Designs for Terrycloth
Don't forget these important tips when creating a digital embroidery design file to sew out on towels and other deep-pile fabrics.
Monogramming bath towels and bathrobes can be a lucrative niche for embroiderers. Upscale department stores and linen shops are eager to set up arrangements with embroiderers who can monogram towels as wedding gifts.
May 22, 2008

New Threads Provide Paint for the Embroidery Palette
The latest embroidery threads include unique materials designed to create special eye-catching effects, improve production efficiency and open new markets.
It's easy to marvel at the technical sophistication of today's computerized embroidery machines and overlook the more mundane role of thread in the embroidery process.
April 29, 2008