How Transfer Printing Works And Why Its Used

Transfer printing is a mass-production method of applying an image to a curved or uneven surface

. First used to print on china or pottery in the 1750s, transfer printing on to fabric is a fairly new process. In essence it means putting images onto special paper and then using that special paper to transfer the images to your fabric (with heat).

Most t shirt printing companies use heat-applied plastisol transfers when transfer printing. They print a design with plastisol ink, but instead of printing it directly on the garment, they print the design on to special transfer paper. This paper is then passed through a conveyer dryer where the ink is heated until it has gelled just enough to be dry to the touch. The resulting print, called a transfer, can be stored until needed.

When it needs to be applied to a garment, the piece of clothing is placed in a heat transfer press, the transfer is put on top of the garment, ink side down, and the press is closed. The heat and pressure applied by the press then forces the ink into the garment. And when the press is opened and the paper is peeled off the shirt, the ink remains behind.

When done correctly, and by a good and reputable transfer printing company, the effect is as permanent and effective as a direct print.

Transfer printing can be more efficient, economical, and profitable than direct printing. If you have to print t shirts or polo shirts for an annual ticketed event for example, but you have no way of knowing in advance how many tickets/shirts will be sold, then transfer printing is ideal. You can print as many transfers as you may possibly need, store them (taking up minimal room) until you need them, and then, when the final ticket/shirt numbers are confirmed, print the exact number you need. Storing pre printed transfers means you can also meet very small print runs as well as very last minute print runs, and you can then save the client money too!

Transfer printing is particularly popular for hats and caps, as the curved surface of the hat makes it almost impossible to print on with traditional t shirt screen printing or direct to garment methods. With transfer printed hats, special cap transfer presses are used that automatically wrap the transfer around the curve of the cap.

Good garment customisation and corporate clothing companies such as Indigo in London, Fanela in Leicestershire, Streetshirts in Bradford and Constructiv Clothing in Powys (Wales) all specialise in heat transfer processes allowing them to get the crucial transfer printing factors of temperature, time and pressure just right.

by: Sara Allom

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