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Laser transfers
From T-Shirt Wiki
Laser transfers are an easy to use form of transfer that can be created at home and applied with an iron or heat press.
Contents |
[edit] Transparent Transfers
[edit] Manufacture
Transparent laser transfers are printed with an ordinary laser printer. The transfer can be then be ironed on, but for best results should be applied with a heat press.
[edit] Limitations and Technical Considerations
[edit] Application Options
Transparent transfers can be applied to light garments, and a variety of substrates. Because the paper and ink are not opaque, if they are transferred to coloured materials the colour can shift in appearance, and visibility on dark colours is extremely poor.
[edit] Quality
Compared to vinyl transfers, dye sublimation transfers, plastisol transfers, inkjet printed transfers and opaque transfers, transparent transfers fare relatively poorly for print quality and durability, coming in ahead of inkjet transfers and opaque transfers. They generally have a lighter hand than inkjet transfers.
[edit] Specialty Techniques
[edit] Advantages
Transparent laser transfers are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to put a full colour image onto a substrate. There are no limitations on the number of colours used in the transfer, and this doesn't increase the cost. It is perfectly practical to make a unique one-off. Setup times and labour are minimal, so it is possible to have a quick turnaround.
[edit] Disadvantages
While they are a cost effective option, they rate poorly on appearance and durability when compared to other available decoration methods, as well as their feel and breathability.
[edit] Storage
[edit] Typical Application Settings
[edit] Opaque Transfers
[edit] Manufacture
Opaque laser transfers are printed with an ordinary laser printer. The transfer can be then be ironed on, but for best results should be applied with a heat press.
[edit] Limitations and Technical Considerations
[edit] Application Options
Opaque transfers can be applied to dark garments, and a variety of substrates. They can be applied to light garments, but because of the additional drawbacks of opaque transfers this is not normally considered desirable.
[edit] Quality
Compared to vinyl transfers, dye sublimation transfers, plastisol transfers, inkjet printed transfers, and transparent transfers, opaque transfers offer the worst print quality and durability, coming in at the bottom of the list alongside inkjet opaque transfers.
[edit] Specialty Techniques
[edit] Advantages
Opaque transfers share the advantages of light transfers, with the added ability to put them on to dark coloured garments.
[edit] Disadvantages
Opaque transfers have the poorest print quality and durability of any print method. They also have a heavy feel that most people find undesirable (there are however some markets who prefer the look and feel of an opaque transfer to other options). The opaque backing needs to be cut away from any areas where the t-shirt colour needs to show through (such as the background), which leads to increased labour in applying the transfer.
