Screenprint Transfers: How-To Information to Supacolor and Extra!

I believed we’d discuss screenprint transfers as we speak and how one can use them. We’re going to make use of a few totally different merchandise, so I can present you the professionals and cons of each, and you may make a choice on which one will give you the results you want. Screenprint transfers like Supacolor are an important possibility for making customized shirts at residence which are full shade. And sure that does embrace white! Nonetheless, since you are ordering these prints, there isn’t a have to put money into costly gear to make them your self.

Screenprint Transfers

Need to watch me take a look at two totally different variations of screenprint transfers? Simply click on play on the video beneath!

Provides Used

Supacolor Versus Customized Warmth Transfers

I’m going to make use of screenprint transfers from Supacolor and customized warmth transfers from Warmth Switch Warehouse. Warmth Switch Warehouse sells each of those, and there are some variations between the merchandise, and how one can apply them.

The Supacolor product combines display screen printing with warmth switch. Display screen printing is with ink, and also you lay it down onto a shirt. This switch applies the ink to a movie, and also you apply it utilizing warmth to your shirt. As soon as it’s utilized to your shirt, it does really feel extra like an HTV, so it does sit on high of your shirt. It’s not like sublimation as white ink is just not sublimatable.

Each of those look comparable, nonetheless, the customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse is extra like a professionally printed HTV. You should purchase printable HTV which you can print at residence together with your inkjet printer, but it surely fades considerably because it runs via the laundry. This professionally printed warmth switch will final for much longer. 

If you wish to do a darkish shirt with white on it, these choices could be for you. These are actually nice for sophisticated designs that might be tough to make from HTV. If you wish to make shirts which are fast, simple, and exact, strive a Supacolor or the customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse.

How Lengthy Will They Final?

Each of those will principally final the lifetime of the garment when utilized accurately. Supacolor states 50 to 70 washes and the customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse states that it’ll final the lifetime of the garment. I might say 50 to 70 occasions via the laundry, is about so long as I’m gonna get out of a poly-cotton shirt. 

What Can You Put Them On?

You may apply each merchandise to cotton, cotton-poly blends, and polyester shirts. It doesn’t need to have a selected polyester content material, as sublimation does. You may simply apply this to any sort of mix. For the Supacolor, I’m utilizing the model they’re calling Wearables, which is for cotton, cotton-poly blends, and polyester. If you wish to use Supacolor transfers on high of one thing that’s already been sublimated, you’ll need one thing with a blocker. You would possibly have to order a special sort of Supacolor switch, however they’ve sorts for that as effectively.

Sizes and Ganging 

Each of those are a max dimension of about 11 x 17 inches. Supacolor is 11.7 inches by 16.5 inches most. The customized warmth switch is 11 x 17 inches.

Supacolor simply introduced a month in the past or so, that they now permit ganging. Meaning you may order a bigger dimension however put a bunch of smaller prints on it. So, you may order an 8 x 8 inch design and put 4 small logos on it as an alternative of 1 massive one. When you’ve got a number of small designs, it could be cheaper so that you can go the route of a ganged print, slightly than buying a number of small prints.

Pricing

I attempted to discover a comparable dimension in each of those to match the costs. As I stated, loads of components go into the pricing, however that is the closest we’re going to get to a value comparability on this one. I priced a 12 x 12-inch switch in each of those. I feel considered one of them was 11.7 x 11.7, but it surely was as shut as I might get. Within the customized warmth switch, that’s $8.37 a sheet. With the Supacolor, it was $15.12 a sheet for one thing that giant. Sure, these are costly, however the customized warmth switch, on this case, is sort of half the value. That’s positively a profit to get the customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse.

I did wish to point out that with the Supacolor, you may get a pattern pack. If this seems like one thing you would possibly wish to strive, and also you’re unsure if you happen to can apply them, a pattern pack is accessible with the Supacolor, which could be useful for you.

Ordering

With the customized warmth switch, you’re ordering immediately from Warmth Switch Warehouse. They’ve an in-house design crew that helps to design your print. Supacolor, nonetheless, prints no matter you ship in. In my case, I made a mistake when ordering the primary time and despatched in a picture and not using a white circle behind it. Warmth Switch Warehouse caught the error and stuck it. Supacolor, nonetheless, printed precisely what I despatched in. Preserve that in thoughts when you find yourself designing and importing your photos.

White Define 

Taking a better take a look at the customized warmth switch, versus the Supacolor, you would possibly discover that considered one of them has barely extra white round it. That’s as a result of the customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse will include a slight white border round it, it doesn’t matter what file you ship in. That’s simply part of their course of. Supacolor, nonetheless, is reduce extra actual, so that you received’t see that white border. You would possibly wish to preserve that in thoughts when deciding in your design.

Sticky Backing

I additionally simply wished to notice earlier than we get began that the Supacolor is just not sticky on the again, so I discovered it simpler to find on my shirt. The Warmth Switch Warehouse comes with a backer hooked up. You’ll need to peel that off and will probably be sticky on the again. It’s just like the way in which an HTV could be sticky, and I discovered that slightly bit tougher to find.

Use Supacolor and Customized Warmth Transfers

Now that you already know extra about what every of those merchandise is, let’s use them each in a number of purposes to see simply how they work!

Initially, each of those require heavy strain. It’s endorsed to regulate your warmth press the place you can’t bodily shut it, after which again it off about half a screw flip till you may shut it. Right here is the method for urgent:

1. Prepress the shirt to take away any moisture. Be sure you solely put one layer of the shirt on the press as that may enable you to achieve success with this product. I’ve my warmth press at 320 levels F and I did the prepress for five – 8 seconds. Make sure that there isn’t a extra moisture or steam popping out of the shirt.
2. Add the switch and put Teflon excessive. Press the Supacolor for 12-15 seconds. For the customized warmth switch, make sure you take away the backing earlier than including it to the shirt. Cowl with the Teflon sheet and press for simply 3 seconds.
3. For each merchandise, IMMEDIATELY peel the provider sheet again as soon as you might be finished urgent. That is vital with these merchandise.
4. Put the Teflon sheet again on high and do a post-press. The Supacolor is simply 2-4 seconds for the post-press. The customized warmth switch is 10 seconds on the post-press.

Screenprint Transfers on Varied Shirts

Each of the transfers really feel principally the identical on the floor. The customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse could be slightly stiffer than the Supacolor, however they’re very, very comparable if you really feel them. The pink shirts I used are 50% polyester and 50% cotton. You could possibly see a warmth press mark on each of those shirts. It did depart a slight mark, with that warmth on the time that I needed to press it. It left it on each of them, so though the customized warmth switch was a shorter time, I nonetheless received the warmth press mark on my shirt.

With the gray shirts, I do really feel like there’s a slight warmth press mark all the way in which round the place my warmth press touched the material. Once more, with this a lot strain and the warmth, you most likely will get a warmth press mark on most materials. You might need to mess around, and see if you will discover a material or a shirt that may stand up to the strain and the warmth with out making a warmth press mark. In any other case, each of those shirts look wonderful!

Screenprint Transfers with an EasyPress

So the query I all the time get is, “Can I do that with an EasyPress?” I believed I might strive. For the Supacolor, I added an EasyPress mat within the shirt, after which I went forward and preheated it. I had my EasyPress set for 320 levels, and I preheated my shirt for five to eight seconds a few occasions. Once more, no moisture and no steam within the shirt.

I added the Supacolor switch, put some Teflon excessive, and pressed at 320 levels for 15 seconds. I pressed down as laborious as I might on my EasyPress this whole time, simply to get it to stay as a lot as potential. After 15 seconds, I did an instantaneous peel. I used to be stunned that the Supacolor caught to my shirt, aside from one small space on the high. I laid it again down with my finger, put the Teflon sheet excessive, after which did my post-press for 2 to 4 seconds. Once more, urgent down as laborious as I might. It appears like your entire switch is caught all the way down to the shirt. Nonetheless, I’m nervous about that space that lifted as it’s nonetheless wrinkled in that space.

Since that one labored, let’s strive the customized warmth switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse. I’m simply going to do this on the underside of the identical shirt. I went forward and pre-pressed it as effectively at 320 levels a few occasions, after which I added the customized switch from Warmth Switch Warehouse. Once more, I peeled again the backing and situated it into place. Then I pressed at 320 levels, for 3 seconds, urgent down as laborious as I might. I peeled again instantly on that provider sheet, and all the things caught. It appeared actually nice. I used to be really actually stunned. I added the Teflon sheet, and did my post-press for about 10 seconds, urgent down as laborious as I might your entire time.

As soon as I used to be finished, I had a shirt that had two profitable transfers on it. They don’t look horrible. They appear about the identical as on the opposite shirts, nothing is peeling up and all the things appears to be caught high-quality.

Why you must NOT use an EasyPress

These transfers should not low cost. They final the lifetime of the garment when utilized accurately. I’m simply afraid with out the heavy strain that it’s not going to final, and begin peeling after a number of occasions via the laundry. If you’re set on utilizing the EasyPress for this materials, make sure you run some assessments.

You would possibly strive that pattern pack I discussed from Supacolor, do a number of samples, run them via the laundry 30 or so occasions, and simply see if you may get a profitable switch with the EasyPress. I do know these look profitable, however are they really profitable? I really feel like testing them could be the one strategy to know!

Screenprint Transfers with the AutoPress

Now the subsequent query I do know you’re going to ask is, “Can you utilize these with the brand new Cricut AutoPress?” I attempted that as effectively! You may really see me use these similar transfers with an AutoPress within the video right here.

So, will you be giving screenprint transfers a strive for your self? I feel you’ll actually love this product for these customized purposes the place you want a printed design and one thing that lasts a very very long time.