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Heat Seal - Heat Press - Whatever you want to call it! => General Heat Seal => Topic started by: Sbrem on March 03, 2020, 11:25:50 AM

Title: print & cut for apparel
Post by: Sbrem on March 03, 2020, 11:25:50 AM
We have a Roland GX-24, and a few color printers here, and I have a chance I figure to print and cut my own short run heat transfers for left fronts or sleeves mostly. Can anyone tell me the best type of inks to use for washability? I've tried searching, but that's a lot of rabbit holes to go down, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Steve
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: farmboygraphics on March 03, 2020, 12:16:40 PM
Do you have solvent ink printers?
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: Homer on March 03, 2020, 12:26:04 PM
yeah, what type of color printers? you cant use just any ol printer.  you need ecosol or latex. siser makes some decent materials when you're ready to purchase..
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: Frog on March 03, 2020, 12:39:14 PM
otherwise, you are limited to the standard opaque transfer materials like Neenah Jet Opaque or 3G which print with standard inkjet pigment inks.
Myself, I avoid opaque transfers in general because they lack suppleness. This is especially true of these that rely on standard inks.
Even with the solvent inks printed on their films, because of this "patchier" feel, I avoid anything larger than a small left breast on T's. Sweats are a lot more forgiving, and, of course, hats don't care!
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: Sbrem on March 03, 2020, 04:36:10 PM
I didn't really think I could just get ink for one of my printers, but now I know for sure. I was guessing solvent or eco-solvent, but wasn't sure. The info is a little scattered out there. Is there a desktop that could handle the solvent ink, does anyone know? The springtime gates seem to have opened today; from dead to overwhelmed with actual orders.

Steve
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: Homer on March 03, 2020, 06:00:45 PM
I didn't really think I could just get ink for one of my printers, but now I know for sure. I was guessing solvent or eco-solvent, but wasn't sure. The info is a little scattered out there. Is there a desktop that could handle the solvent ink, does anyone know? The springtime gates seem to have opened today; from dead to overwhelmed with actual orders.

Steve

Roland and Mutoh make 24" wide printers, the Roland is a print / cut the Mutoh is just print, the valuejet 628. nice thing is they don't need to be babysat like a DTG.
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: farmboygraphics on March 04, 2020, 06:32:31 AM
I didn't really think I could just get ink for one of my printers, but now I know for sure. I was guessing solvent or eco-solvent, but wasn't sure. The info is a little scattered out there. Is there a desktop that could handle the solvent ink, does anyone know? The springtime gates seem to have opened today; from dead to overwhelmed with actual orders.

Steve

Roland and Mutoh make 24" wide printers, the Roland is a print / cut the Mutoh is just print, the valuejet 628. nice thing is they don't need to be babysat like a DTG.

If you go that route you may as well spend the extra $ and get a 30" so you can handle more materials.
Title: Re: print & cut for apparel
Post by: Sbrem on March 04, 2020, 12:05:46 PM
I'm thinking we don't see enough of this type of work to justify bringing it in house, when we have Transfer Express taking care of it now. Thanks everyone, I hope you're all busy...

Steve