For the Business of Apparel Decorating
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/300837
20 1 4 M ay Printwear | 27 2 6 | Printwear M ay 20 1 4 4. Press for 25-30 seconds at 330°-340°F with maximum pressure. 5. When the appropriate dwell time has been satisfied, do not remove the shirt from the bottom platen. Rather, let it cool for about 7-10 seconds before peeling off the backing paper. 6. At this point, seal the applied image with a silicone release sheet for 25 seconds at the application temperature. Most zero-background transfers can be deco- rated using a hot stamping foil designed for fab- ric application. In this case, you would print only a black image, apply it to the garment, and then post-decorate it with the foil. Most zero-background heat transfers can be applied to a wide variety of fabrics including 100 percent polyester and polyester mesh used in athletic uniforms. Other recommended fabrics include: • 100 percent cotton • 100 percent polyester • Polyester/cotton blends • Polyester knits • Polyester mesh • Polyester foam and cotton caps • Satin One additional caution is to remind your cus- tomers that the garment can be machine-washed in cold to warm (105°F) water; garments cannot be bleached or dry cleaned. Most soccer badges and crests are between 2-3 inches in height and can be gang printed on the zero background paper. This will go a long way toward minimizing decoration cost. A crest or badge can be put on both the front and back of the shirt, as well as on sleeves and even shorts. Compound cresting soccer shirts with other sports such as softball, baseball, and lacrosse, and there is a good potential for new business. Research the local youth team logos and col- ors and make some samples. For, in the words of Bette Midler, "in the winter, far beneath the bit- ter snows, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring, becomes the rose." Let your business blossom into something this summer. Graphics Hot Spot | | | | The process for applying zero background transfers is simple. Place the printed transfer on the garment and press (shown at top). Wait for 7-10 seconds to peel the backing pa- per (shown, middle), then repress the design with a silicone release sheet. pw PW_MAY14.indd 26 4/17/14 9:40 AM