[amayausers.com] Re: Transfer v. Screen Print

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Well, you definitely don't understand transfers or have been seriously mislead. 
The process for Screenprinting is pretty close. but transfers are printed on 
paper that is true but as far as alignment that is far more critical than a 
shirt. simply because you print each color, then send it through the dryer at 
only around 180 to 230 degrees depending on the ink. if you cure the ink which 
is 320Degrees it while NOT adhere when you heat press since it will be solid 
vinyl, also then when the next color goes on it's the same setup as printing  
but the paper needs to align perfectly where it was before, but when it goes 
throught the dryer in the previous cycle it usually will shrink, if it does
nothing will line up and your shot. Each color requires a print and then a trip 
through the dryer and each pass through the dryer could end up with shrinkage. 
as far as a regular press which we use for T-shirts it doesn't work well for 
paper since adhesive to hold the paper also messes with the speed in which you 
are trying to print, you really need a vacuum hold down to hold the paper 
without adhesive like we would on shirts. true paper is cheap compared to 
shirts and there are only pennies worth of ink on a piece of paper but as 
Roland stated, printing in a mirror image printing in reverse order (color you 
see on top of design needs to print first on a transfer instead of last.) and 
the different printing platens, dryer temperatures, not to mention that 
printing on paper is a whole different ballgame than printing on absorbent 
material. (know the difference between sewing on lace hankies or leather 
jackets? It's all just embroidery, right?) and know you start to see why it'
 s just a pain for us printers, not to mention that we do the same amount of 
physical work ie; the act of printing with ink and squeegee, and we are 
expected to give it away for much less than when we do the same thing on 
shirts. There are companies that specialize in this and kick butt at it, but 
for Joe printer that has attempted it, it usually means more work for less 
profit and we cringe when it comes up. I do understand all the benefits such as 
gang printing small logos on large sheets and having just as many logos as you 
need to fulfill any size order and fast turn re-orders or fill in orders, and 
you can even throw away misprints or extras without feeling you gave away the 
farm.

If anyone is interested I can do some research and provide some contact info 
and websites for some very reputable transfer companies. but know ahead of time 
that it takes all the same setup, screens, equipment, and work as regular 
screen printing.

Just my 2 cents, not meant to offend anyone.

Ron
Body Cover

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