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Heat Seal - Heat Press - Whatever you want to call it! => General Heat Seal => Topic started by: mimosatexas on February 18, 2016, 09:53:26 AM

Title: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: mimosatexas on February 18, 2016, 09:53:26 AM
I do LOTS of plastisol transfers without issues.  I have only had one job kicked back and it was on a strange client supplied jersey material without a tag and I didnt use adhesive powder on that particular job.  I would say I am pretty confident about my process with them.

So I have one client who has now kicked back two small orders (both like 5 shirts) with one color plastisol transfers.  They are cracking around the bottom edges of the letters on 3 lines of text.  Not cracking anywhere else on the design, AND only cracking on 100% cotton (2 out of the 5 in both jobs) but not on the poly cotton blends (3 out of the 5).  I'm stumped.  Any ideas?  Used my standard ink/paper/settings on everything.  Transfers were actually printed in two sets, so not a specific print run issue.

Could she be washing or wearing them in some way where the cotton is causing failure while the blend would not?  She is a fitness instructor so I assume the shirts are being worn and washed more heavily than a standard tee.
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: XG Print on February 18, 2016, 10:25:03 AM
How long is it taking before the cracking starts.  I do not print my own often but the vendor I use is a very respectable one.  I have noticed that after about 5-10 washings on the shirts my daughter has some of them will start to develop a little cracking especially if white is the color of the ink.  If she is a fitness instructor, she may be washing more than normal.  May have to suck it up and direct print on the manual.  I know you don't want to set up the auto for that!!  :D
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: Colin on February 18, 2016, 10:31:26 AM
Can you post a pic please?
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: mimosatexas on February 18, 2016, 11:53:19 AM
Not certain on the number of times washed, but it seems to be around 2 weeks, so maybe 5 washes?  I have asked, but have not gotten a number from her.

Attached is what she sent.  I have not seen the shirts in person yet.  I could always switch to vinyl or direct print, but I do a lot of these and want to understand what might be the issue so it doesn't pop up again on a larger and more expensive order.
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: mimosatexas on February 18, 2016, 11:58:32 AM
So I just noticed, and it may just be a trick of the angle of the photo, but this text when printed is straight, but it looks pretty stretched/curved here.  For lack of a better way to say it, I wonder if she has a large bust and is stretching the print out.  I could try a stretchier ink next run I guess...
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: Frog on February 18, 2016, 12:35:27 PM
So I just noticed, and it may just be a trick of the angle of the photo, but this text when printed is straight, but it looks pretty stretched/curved here.  For lack of a better way to say it, I wonder if she has a large bust and is stretching the print out.  I could try a stretchier ink next run I guess...

Please have her send a pic while wearing one of these, and we can perhaps even better assess the possible stretch problem.
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: mimosatexas on February 18, 2016, 12:48:55 PM
lol
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: XG Print on February 18, 2016, 01:20:54 PM
Yep!! Looks like major stretching going on...Picture of the client would indeed be helpful in this situation  ::)
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: Colin on February 18, 2016, 02:50:29 PM
The above replies are exactly why I wanted to see a pic of the shirt ;)

Yea, looks like it "got stretched"........

Do double check where her bust line falls within the print area.
Title: Re: Plastisol Transfers Cracking?
Post by: Itsa Little CrOoked on February 18, 2016, 03:48:04 PM
I was chewing on some coconut flakes, now they are all over my monitor.  :o