Heat transfer paper is one of the most popular ways of getting into apparel decorating. It requires minimal equipment is relatively low cost per transfer and provides excellent profit potential per t-shirt or apparel item printed.
Let's start by defining what heat transfer paper is, Heat transfer paper is used to print and transfer full digitally printed images on fabric items such as T-shirts, Sweat-shirts, Aprons and other such apparel items. Heat transfer paper is used in conjunction with an inkjet or laser jet printer along with heat press machine.
People often get the question, how is it possible that standard inkjet or laser jet printer is able to create a permanent image on t-shirt or apparel. The answer is in the polymer film of the heat transfer paper. The polymer film is a thin membrane that when printed on to creates a permanent bond with the ink then when heat is applied with pressure for a preset amount of time creates a permanent bond with the fibers of the fabric. The end results are beautifully detailed images printed onto the apparel item of your choosing that will last wash after wash.
What heat transfer paper is. Let's talk about the considerations you should make when choosing the heat transfer paper that is best for you.
The first thing you'll want to consider is the type of printer you have or will be purchasing.
There are two main types of printers inkjet printers which use pigment ink cartridges in Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black Colors then there are also laser printers which use color toner cartridges.
The heat transfer paper you purchase will need to be specific to either of those types of printers. Good quality inkjet printers are relatively low in cost to purchase and are universally compatible with heat transfer paper.
Laser printers on the other hand offer excellent quality at a lower cost per print, however the initial cost of a quality color laser printer is higher as compared to inkjet printers. With laser printers as well you should be aware that not all laser printers are directly compatible with heat transfer papers. As some laser printers can run too hot causing jamming within the laser printer.
The next thing to consider is the color of the material you will be transferring your image onto. If you are transferring the image onto a white or light grey fabric then the heat transfer paper should be labeled for light color fabrics. Light color transfer paper typically has a transparent polymer film because the polymer film on the light transfer paper is transparent when pressed onto a light color fabric. The colors will retain their vibrancy and the empty space within and around the image will show up as the color of the fabric you're using. This will not be the case if you use light transfer paper on dark fabric. The empty space around your image will still show up as a color of the fabric you're using but the colors of the fabric ink are muted and barely visible.
Unlike the transparent polymer of the light color transfer paper, dark color transfer paper has a white opaque polymer film. The white opaque polymer film on this paper will allow the true color of the print to show as it's not muted or distorted by the color of the fabric but unlike the light transfer paper the empty space is within and around your image will show up as white. This creates an extra step when transferring the image. The printed image will need to be cut out either by hand or with a vinyl cutter before it's heat pressed. If the image is not cut out all the empty white space of the paper will be transferred along with the image.
If you choose to print with a laser printer there are several heat transfer papers are available that are weedless or trim free.
Weedless heat transfer paper is specially engineered to allow for no background material to be printed onto the fabric. only the printed image will transfer onto your fabric leaving any unprinted sections of the paper to trim itself away from the image. The result is a beautifully detailed and professional image on the fabric without the need to cut the image out by hand or with a vinyl cutter before the transfer process.
Once you've figured out the type of printer you will be using and the color of fabric you will be printing onto you will want to consider the different variables when evaluating heat transfer paper.
Let's start by defining what heat transfer paper is, Heat transfer paper is used to print and transfer full digitally printed images on fabric items such as T-shirts, Sweat-shirts, Aprons and other such apparel items. Heat transfer paper is used in conjunction with an inkjet or laser jet printer along with heat press machine.
People often get the question, how is it possible that standard inkjet or laser jet printer is able to create a permanent image on t-shirt or apparel. The answer is in the polymer film of the heat transfer paper. The polymer film is a thin membrane that when printed on to creates a permanent bond with the ink then when heat is applied with pressure for a preset amount of time creates a permanent bond with the fibers of the fabric. The end results are beautifully detailed images printed onto the apparel item of your choosing that will last wash after wash.
What heat transfer paper is. Let's talk about the considerations you should make when choosing the heat transfer paper that is best for you.
The first thing you'll want to consider is the type of printer you have or will be purchasing.
There are two main types of printers inkjet printers which use pigment ink cartridges in Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black Colors then there are also laser printers which use color toner cartridges.
The heat transfer paper you purchase will need to be specific to either of those types of printers. Good quality inkjet printers are relatively low in cost to purchase and are universally compatible with heat transfer paper.
Laser printers on the other hand offer excellent quality at a lower cost per print, however the initial cost of a quality color laser printer is higher as compared to inkjet printers. With laser printers as well you should be aware that not all laser printers are directly compatible with heat transfer papers. As some laser printers can run too hot causing jamming within the laser printer.
The next thing to consider is the color of the material you will be transferring your image onto. If you are transferring the image onto a white or light grey fabric then the heat transfer paper should be labeled for light color fabrics. Light color transfer paper typically has a transparent polymer film because the polymer film on the light transfer paper is transparent when pressed onto a light color fabric. The colors will retain their vibrancy and the empty space within and around the image will show up as the color of the fabric you're using. This will not be the case if you use light transfer paper on dark fabric. The empty space around your image will still show up as a color of the fabric you're using but the colors of the fabric ink are muted and barely visible.
Unlike the transparent polymer of the light color transfer paper, dark color transfer paper has a white opaque polymer film. The white opaque polymer film on this paper will allow the true color of the print to show as it's not muted or distorted by the color of the fabric but unlike the light transfer paper the empty space is within and around your image will show up as white. This creates an extra step when transferring the image. The printed image will need to be cut out either by hand or with a vinyl cutter before it's heat pressed. If the image is not cut out all the empty white space of the paper will be transferred along with the image.
If you choose to print with a laser printer there are several heat transfer papers are available that are weedless or trim free.
Weedless heat transfer paper is specially engineered to allow for no background material to be printed onto the fabric. only the printed image will transfer onto your fabric leaving any unprinted sections of the paper to trim itself away from the image. The result is a beautifully detailed and professional image on the fabric without the need to cut the image out by hand or with a vinyl cutter before the transfer process.
Once you've figured out the type of printer you will be using and the color of fabric you will be printing onto you will want to consider the different variables when evaluating heat transfer paper.
