Added heat press and cutter

[Just Sew It]

Need some advice from you old pros. I needed to increase my business so I purchased a heat press and a cutter at a show and when they arrived here, I am at a loss. There are so many choices in transfer material, I don't know what to order or if I should order 1 yard, a roll? I have two baseball jerseys and a starter kit from Stahls'. Also have 13 tops for my teen granddaughters and cannot find clip art for their tops. Where to look and what to do first??

[Digital Stitchz / LaserWorkz]

My suggestion is either 5 or 10 yard roll (color should determine which one to order). As for clipart I get mine from clipart.com.

I, too, would be interested in any other internet locations.

Also, clipart books are available at ISS shows, but it unlikely to have everything you will need and cost does not usually justify its purchase. You will need to look at them a determine whether it is worth the price.

[Body Cover]

We got into heat seal a couple of years ago, and I would suggest to only buy 10 yard rolls of white and black, It's a lot of money to tie up into other colors that you may or may not use,
then when someone needs a new color that we don't carry, I'll order it in a 5 yard length and we'll have stock to work with. As far as clip art, it may be more cost effective if you have any kind of artistic ability to buy a vector art program like Corel Draw and then go to Staples or somewhere and buy a set of Clipart like Art Explosion, you get like 850,000 pieces of art, and also photos and fonts and it costs around $100. this has handled 95% of what I do.
You may have to manipulate things and create a file that can be cut easily, but this isn't all
that difficult.

Here is a link just as an FYI

http://www.novadevelopment.com/Produ...w/default.aspx
You may need to cut and paste into your browser. it looks like the latest version even comes with an art program too.

Good Luck!

Ron

[Just Sew It]

Thank you for your advice. I have all the software and hardware it is just learning to use it and deciding what to do first.

[TinaK]

Ok, I am lost with heat press stuff as we are looking at getting one.

Once I have a heat press do I just pretty much print anything I can dream up on my regular inkjet printer or do I need special ink etc...

I don't want to spend a ton of money so will the cheaper models work or should I look at commercial ones? I don't think we will really use it aton as Embroidery is our main thing right now and there are a couple of businesses that have been doing this around here for years so we just want it for our internet sales really.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

[levelbest]

Ink jet printing isn't going to give you the kind of results your customers will come back for. It's ok for very small stuff where people understand it just won't hold up for a long period.

Instead, look at suppliers like Transfer Express to supply either stock stuff or custom designs that are screened onto paper, and then transferred with the press onto clothing.

A heat press and digital cutter (like the GX-24) are a good combo for short run, one or two color stuff.

[TinaK]

Thanks John! I am really look at a heat press for applying rhinestone/rhinestud designs at this point...

[oldkush]

Tina

If you wish to create the best quality transfer with good color fast properties, you will need an Epson printer [piezo head technology] with archival pigment inks. Although other companies like Canon, HP or Lexmark produce some good printers, they are not suitable for heat transfers.

As a matter of fact, even direct to garment printers from various manufacturers all use Epson print heads.

The Epson C120 printer works well for heat transfers and it sells for well under $100. Maximum paper width on the C120 is 8.5" . If you need 11" paper width, then you will need to look at other Epson models.

The Epson DuraBrite pigment inks which come with the C120 work well for printing heat transfers but do require a small color profile adjustment [in the printer software]. There are also a number of very good third party inks available from other sellers and these inks cost less than the Epson OEM DuraBrite ink. Do not use dye-based inks, they will wash out.

As far as heat transfer papers, forget the Wally-Mart stuff .... there are much better papers available from other sources.

Join the group at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Heat_T...ktop_Printers/

Its a very good group dedicated to heat transfers and there you will find an answer to any question regarding heat transfers that you can think of.

Bob

[TinaK]

Thanks for the reply Bob! I requested to join the group right away...

[Beckie]

I added a heat press to my embroidery business in Oct at the Dallas ISS Show - love it - it has paid for itself just doing rhinestone transfers. Also have used Transfer Express - they are wonderful. I am interested in adding the Cutter now - not sure what all I can do with it? And how much do they run new? Are there different types, styles etc?

[TinaK]

Hey Beckie!

Can you share where you get your rhinestone transfers? I am currently at custom work but will do some stock ones as well.
What kind of heat press did you buy?

[Debbie Garifi]

I'm not Beckie, but I saw at ISS today a company that had sone amazing looking designs. They are at www.zbsl.com. Name on business card is ZBSL Designs. Located in Florida. (800) 659-0939

Debbie Garifi
Design Wizard Embroidery

[Beckie]

I've purchased the rhinestone transfers from a variety of businesses: Airwaves, Proworld, 2DazzleU and Private Label, Inc. - it just depends on how many I need to order because some companies make you order minimums and some don't

[Beckie]

I bought a Presto Transfer - the only thing - I wish I would have bought an automatic press with timer now - maybe will upgrade next year. My first job was 50 tshirts for a college soccer team - so that automatic press would have been wonderful - oh well build up them muscles!

[Dianne]

Good Morning everyone, I read w/ interest the discussion about the heat press. I also have a heat press but have been mainly doing sublimation. I see the tshirts w/ the transfers on them that absolutely sparkle. I want to offer these to customers. Where is a good place to start/where do I find good prices on them? Thanks! Dianne