T-Shirt Transfers

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PeteK

Some time ago, I did some T-Shirt printing on an Epson Photo Inkjet (using
Epson Iron-on transfer paper). The results were quite good and have lasted
several years, albeit with some fading. I have since replaced the Epson
with an HP 5500 Photo Inkjet and recently printed a couple of T-Shirts
(using vivera inks and HP Iron-on transfer paper). The initial results were
excellent, but faded very significantly after only one 40 degree wash -
especially the reds. I know that a cold wash is recommended, but even so, I
was surprised to see the level of deterioration relative to the Epson.

As a consequence, I have embarked upon some testing of my own, to find out
how to achieve best results from the HP, but I don't expect a vast
improvement. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions or
recommendations for T-Shirt printing ? I'd also be interested in hearing
how others have fared with both HP and other manufacturer's printers.


TIA,

Peter Kane
 
PeteK said:
Some time ago, I did some T-Shirt printing on an Epson Photo Inkjet (using
Epson Iron-on transfer paper). The results were quite good and have lasted
several years, albeit with some fading. I have since replaced the Epson
with an HP 5500 Photo Inkjet and recently printed a couple of T-Shirts
(using vivera inks and HP Iron-on transfer paper). The initial results were
excellent, but faded very significantly after only one 40 degree wash -
especially the reds. I know that a cold wash is recommended, but even so, I
was surprised to see the level of deterioration relative to the Epson.

As a consequence, I have embarked upon some testing of my own, to find out
how to achieve best results from the HP, but I don't expect a vast
improvement. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions or
recommendations for T-Shirt printing ? I'd also be interested in hearing
how others have fared with both HP and other manufacturer's printers.


TIA,

Peter Kane
Click to expand...
GO here,

http://boards.screenprinters.net/
 
PeteK said:
Thanks. A brief scan seems to suggest that the HP deskjets use dye-based
inks that are subject to fading a blurring.

Pete K
Click to expand...
Your best bet would be to order color copier transfer paper and have the
job printed on that at Kinko's or equivalent. (Kinko's has the paper
but they charge too much for one sheet). I have had awesome results
using Xerox color copiers. You will also want to stick with 50/50 blend
shirts, as the plasticine toner while bind to the polyester.
Cotton shirts will take but the fading effect happens quickly because
the fibers break through the transfer image.

Another hint is to cut away as much of the non-printed (clear) part of
the image as possible, as over time detergents tend to turn this grey.

I had a side business at a local racetrack and made excellent money.
I could do instant T-shirts with an inkjet printer, but most customers
preferred to wait a week to pick up a much better quality print later.
 
I don't "do T-shirts" but can you tell us which Epson printer and inks
you used to use, and also are you using the same transfer "paper" for
both?

Epson has quite a variety of inks they have formulated, some dye, some
pigment and several types of each. So has HP, but, in general, the two
manufacturers have different technologies at play and so the inks used
often require different print media.

Art
 
Art,

It is some time since I replaced the Epson, so I can't tell you what
particulat model it was, except that it was one of the "Stylus" range -
probably the Stylus Color 600. It printed at 720 or 1440 DPI, though I
would have used the lower density for transfers. The ink would have been the
standard Epson ink cartridge for that model. I still have the packet
containing a couple of the transfers I used; It just says "Epson Iron-on
Transfer Paper, for use with Epson Stylus Ink Jet Printers".

The HP printer is one of their 5550 range. It uses the HP vivera inks. The
paper I used was "HP Iron-on Transfers (light-coloured fabics)" paper. In
both cases, the T-Shirts were 100% cotton.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Pete K
 
Hi Pete,

It sounds like you did all the right things to get proper results. In
each case, you chose the media selected for the ink and printer type.

I find it quite interesting that the Epson, using a relatively fugitive
dye ink would prove quite permanent when used with their T-shirt
transfer paper, while the HP using their Vivera inks, which claim high
permanence, would be more likely to fade (when using their own t-shirt
transfer material).

I don't quite know what to make of this. Usually these T-shirt transfer
pages have some polymer in them which is transfer to the cloth to cover
and imbed the colorant into the fabric fibre. I would bring this to
HP's attention and see if they can provide some insight or suggestions.

Art
 
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