uksignboards.com | Garment Printing

Sublimation Printing

Garment Printing

Posted by Neil Thompson on 4 December 2005 at 12:54

Hey folks

I am new to this forum, so a hello to everyone!!

I have been in the sign trade for eight years working for a small local company, but have decided to go my own way. I am very interested in the garment end of things, and have purchased a heat press as well as a plotter. I currently have samples from three different companies – Victory Design, Xpress and Europa-leisure. My first project is a test of these products on a sheet of polyester by pressing them and washing them all ‘to the death…’

Does anyone online here work in this trade who could offer me some hints and tips of what to look out for while pressing, cutting, etc or which companies are good to deal with and how good their garment vinyls are. i.e. response time, shipping time, support, comeback, vinyl lifting or peeling, etc?

Thanks for your help

Neil

Richard Fuller replied 19 years, 10 months ago 5 Members · 8 Replies
8 Replies

Paul Rollason

Member
4 December 2005 at 16:23

Hi Neil

First of all, Welcome to UKSB and good luck with your new venture.

We mainly deal with Victory Design and always find them very helpful and friendly. Ask for Glynn when you call victory as he is in the garment film department and can answer most questions thrown at him.

Whoever you get your supplie from try to speak to the same person each time you call, it make life a lot easier

As for printing itself just do as you’re doing. Test, Test and Test again.
Try different temps and pressures and times and see what works for you and your press

Also you will find each type of garment vinyl and even each colour acts differently so you will just have to keep at it

Good Luck and if you have any specific questions just ask

paul r
Neil Thompson

Member
4 December 2005 at 22:53

Thanks Paul,

I am testing a bit at the moment, hope I get some variation. If any peeling occurs, is repressing good practice with no backing? Also, in what instances does a teflon sheet or silicon equivalent be needed?…Sorry for asking such rookie questions, but I think its better to find out now, rather than the hard way!!

Regards

Neil
Lynn Normington

Member
4 December 2005 at 23:21

Hello Neil and welcome,
we used to do t shirts etc. but it wasn’t a good market for us, but i wish you well with it, we used to get our printing stuff from the magic touch,
they do all sorts of stuff.

Lynn
Paul Rollason

Member
5 December 2005 at 09:39

We always give our print a quick pressing with the silicon sheet because the sticky backing does lift the edges slightly.

Use silicon or teflon paper any time there is naked transfer showing like a final press or when you are doing a multi colour print and there are bits of the first layer poking out from under the top layer if you know what I mean.

It is a good idea to get into the habbit of using the non-stick paper all the time as it protects the garment from any dirt etc that may be on the platen.

Don’t buy the paper from your suppliers though, we just use a roll of baking paper from ASDA

paul r
Alan Drury

Member
5 December 2005 at 16:43

If you are using a Europa-Leisure/Jarin Industries press – Teflon paper is not necessary as they have a Teflon coating on the platten. I use Victory Hot Mark film which I always double press and have never used a Teflon sheet. I think Graphtyp also sell these presses they are very good.
Alan D
Neil Thompson

Member
5 December 2005 at 19:28

Thanks for your help Guys

I am using a thermopress 15×20″ which I purchased of Revolution, its seems OK at the moment. I tried double pressing today (so thanks Paul) and its seems to be more stable at the edges now, I guess i’ll know in time.

Neil
Paul Rollason

Member
6 December 2005 at 08:59

Once the print is on there it’s there to stay

We print hundreds of hoodies for an extreme sports company and their team riders wear them every day to ride and wash them nearly everyday.

We recently had to upgrade the garments because they were wearing out but the print was still perfect.

Out of the many hundreds of garment sent to this company we have never had one returned because of a malfunction, because of a mistake yes but never because of a malfunction

paul r
Richard Fuller

Member
6 December 2005 at 11:47

Hi Niel
Try Xpres. They have some good products and good technical back up. The best way forward is to try all types of materials, but however follow the manufacturers instructions.

We have used quite a large selection of heat transfer material on the versacamm. We have tried different blades. different blade pressure settings and various cutting speeds all with great success. You should make notes as you progress on the various combinations.

Regards

Richard Fuller 😀