Heat transfer printing is a versatile and popular method in the custom shirt industry. Remember those fake tattoos you had as a kid, where you pressed a design on a piece of paper against your skin to leave a bright image behind? That’s a very temporary form of transfer printing. In the custom shirt industry, transfer printing is permanent and refers to any technique in which the design is printed onto an application paper or film (like the paper backing for a kid’s tattoo), then transferred to the garment. This method is perfect for local t-shirt printing, custom apparel near me, and screen printing companies near me.
Heat transfer printing offers bright, bold colors, making it an excellent choice for small runs and quick turnaround projects, such as your company’s softball team shirts or t-shirts to commemorate this year’s family reunion. Transfer garment printing can handle more complex designs than screen printing, but like screen printing, it also does a great job with simple designs and solid areas of color—with almost no setup costs. Here are some other advantages:
Stretch Litho This is a beautiful option if you need to apply complex designs with fine detail. The image is printed onto a backing film with special transfer inks that tend to “flow” into the fabric when the heat is applied. The garment is placed on the flat base of the litho machine, the design is laid on top of the shirt, and an upper plate is pressed against the shirt, and heat is applied, causing the image to migrate into the fabric.
CAD Cut Vinyl This is a very cool method in which a computer directs a vinyl cutting machine to score the outlines of a design into a vinyl film on a backing without cutting through the backing. The non-printing areas in the design are manually peeled away from the backing, leaving sharp, bold edges. The vinyl design is transferred to the garment in a heat press. This technique works well for simple designs that use strong splashes of color. Why is it called CAD cut? It’s short for computer-aided design, which refers to the software used to tell the machine where to cut. We earlier mentioned vector drawings as a preferred file type for any printing technique. In the case of CAD cut transfers, it’s mandatory, as this is the only kind of file the software recognizes.
Plastisol A Plastisol transfer is the most common method used in shirt printing, and it provides visually powerful colors. As with many other techniques, heat is used to transfer an image from paper to fabric. Plastisol is a great option if you only need a few shirts.
Color Types When you print a vacation photo from your computer, the colors in the image are usually defined in terms of RGB (the amounts of red, green, and blue that make up each color) or CMYK (the amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black used to make the color). A third option is often used in transfer printing: Pantone colors are created with 13 base pigments and assigned a number for each hue, which means you need to know the Pantone number of each of the colors in your design. Don’t worry, there are plenty of Pantone colors; it’s just a different way of describing them to some of the computer programs used in garment printing. If you have questions, give us a call. Our customer service reps can help.
Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction sets us apart from other screen printing companies and printing companies in Wichita, KS. We understand the importance of delivering products that meet your expectations, which is why we use only the best materials and techniques. Whether you're looking for screen printing Wichita, KS, or Wichita embroidery, our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service and results. From printing Wichita, KS, to print shops Wichita, KS, we are your go-to source for all your custom apparel needs.
Ready to elevate your brand with high-quality heat transfer printing? Contact us today to discuss your project and discover how our services can help you achieve your goals. Whether you need custom t-shirts Wichita, KS, custom screen printed shirts, or custom track and field uniforms, we have the expertise and resources to bring your vision to life. Visit our print shop Wichita, KS, or explore our printing services Wichita, KS, to get started. We look forward to working with you and providing the best custom apparel solutions for your needs.