The Transfer Print Column


Top tips to better the end result T


ransfer printing is probably deemed the easiest and often most cost-effective way to decorate a garment.


At Amaya we are seeing more and more enquiries for better solutions of how to fix certain heat transfer application problems and it made me think that actually it isn’t as easy as pop your transfer on the garment, with any old heat press and send it out to your customer.


There is more to it than meets the eye, so I hope to give you some helpful pointers in how to make your end product better and your production easier and more efficient.


Prepare your garment Even if a shirt doesn’t feel damp, I assure you there is some degree of moisture hidden in there, particularly in a natural fabric like cotton. So always pre-heat your shirt before applying your transfer. Moisture is not such an important issue with man-made fabrics like polyester and nylon as it is with cotton, but the pre-press can solve other issues. You need a 100% wrinkle free surface to apply a transfer to, otherwise you run the risks of a fold or split running through your design which won’t necessarily be obvious when you first peel the application carrier away, but after the garment is worn and washed a split will appear. A quick pre-press will ensure your surface is totally flat.


Shrinkage of the garment when it’s washed can also cause problems like puckering around the transfer which won’t be seen until your customer has worn and washed the garment. While pre-shrunk garments are available, sourcing such will limit your range, but again a quick pre-press can adjust the fabric too.


So, never apply a heat transfer without taking the time to do a quick


| 68 | July 2024


three second press with your heat press as it fixes a magnitude of problems.


HTV transfers – weeding tips If you are still using the traditional single or layered multi-colour vinyl transfer, then please read on. When you are weeding, do you use a weeding box? It’s just a square cut line around the perimeter of the art or text and makes the initial peel so much easier.


Transfers come in all shapes, sizes and types and most of us in garment decoration have been using or producing them in some way or other for decades. Charlotte Darling, director at Amaya Sales UK, provides some helpful tips to help your heat transfer production.


there are multiple transfer medias available that can help with application to specific fabrics. The obvious problem to mention here, if you are printing onto polyester, whether solid colour or sublimated, is the risk of dye migration.


A weeding box


With trickier detailed designs, to make your weeding easier, warm the vinyl on the lower platen of your heat press and you’ll be amazed at how quicker your excess material comes away. Also consider using a lighting box to weed on to illuminate the lines better.


Make sure your cutter blade is sharp to achieve perfect cut lines with no nicks, and it’s really important to run one off and test weed before a bulk quantity. Following these simple tips could save you hours in weeding. Finally, work strictly to the application instructions from your manufacturer – no two HTVs are the same.


Know your fabrics


Whether you are ordering transfers from a manufacturer, cutting your own with HTV or producing DTF transfers in-house you need to consider the fabric. Fortunately,


This is when the colour of the shirt bleeds through the transfer if the application temperature is too high. Most commonly seen when printing solid white onto a red shirt, the dye migration can sometimes be seen immediately, or occur anytime up to 72 hours after the garment is cool. When printing on man-made fabrics, look for a transfer material that has a subli-block option or tell your transfer manufacturer what you are printing onto so they can use the right media and inks. These transfers will naturally adhere to the garment at a lower temperature as dye migration commonly happens above 130°C. Please note that currently there is no guaranteed DTF transfer media for polyester that avoids dye migration. It’s being worked on, but due to the infancy of the technology it’s not there yet. Some manufacturers say better results can be achieved by using dark powders.


Also, with fabrics like nylon, rayon, and polyester if you are suffering from adverse reactions to heat like melting and scorching, talk to your heat press supplier to see if they offer a base platen that heats from below as this can help.


Know your fabrics www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk


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