How to Use a Heat Press Machine – 7 Easy Steps to You Get Started
If you’re new to heat press machines then look no further. This is the basic guide on how to get started with a
heat press machine.
What is a Heat Press Machine?
People keep asking how to use a heat press machine.
Some even ask what it is.
A heat press machine, heat transfer printing, t shirt heat press or simply t shirt press is the modern, no-fuss way of printing artwork onto t-shirts.
It is a great alternative to the classic screen printing.
Of course, when it comes to quality and longevity, screen printing still wins the game.
But from the regular customers’ point of view, they can’t tell the difference between a screen printed tee and one from a t shirt press.
This is a good thing for t-shirt entrepreneurs because not only is heat press printing easy and affordable to do, it also makes custom t-shirt printing possible.
With screen printing, the customers have to order in large quantities or else it would be too expensive per piece.
But with heat press machine or t shirt press, it’s still affordable even if they order one or one thousand.
No wonder the t shirt heat press is a favorite of many t-shirt entrepreneurs.
If you just bought one, you might be wondering how to use a
roll heat press.
Well, here is a basic guide on how to use the machine.
Using the Machine
As we all know, not all heat press machines are created equal.
That’s why it’s not uncommon or unusual to ask how to use a heat press machine.
There are those machines that are just functional (very basic) which is good for small jobs and home use.
They’re much more affordable and could be perfect if you’re just starting out and you prefer to save a few hundred bucks.
The
professional machines are geared for making bulk orders.
They have a much bigger platen (metal board) for a bigger working area to cater large garments.
The professional t shirt press is also complete with more sophisticated time, temperature, and pressure settings.
This is perfect for t-shirt entrepreneurs who are planning to offer orders by the hundreds in the future.
But whether you’re using the basic or the pro, heat press machines are basically operated the same way.
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use a heat press machine:
Turn on the power by flipping the on/off switch
Turn the thermostat knob to the right until you see the red heating light
When the thermometer indicates the desired temperature for your transfer, turn the knob back to the left until the heating light turns off. The heating light will go on and off to regulate your desired temperature
If your machine has a digital timer, press it to start the timer and when you hear the alarm, press stop to reset
Lift up the handle to open the press
Lay out t-shirt and lay Transfer Paper onto shirt facing down
Bring the handle down. The handle should lock firmly in place
Set the timer based on the instructions on your Transfer Paper
Lift the handle to open the press
Peel the Transfer Paper from the shirt
Allow at least 24 hours for the print to “lock” before washing the t-shirts
Tips When Using a Heat Press
Don’t be scared of applying too much heat because it takes a lot of heat to transfer the artwork properly and evenly.
If you don’t apply a lot of heat, the artwork might not stick to the shirt properly and would cause issues during washing.
If you’re scared of burning the tee shirt, sample print on an old shirt you don’t mind burning.
It’s always scary on the first few tries but your confidence will eventually develop as you get the hang of printing shirts and eventually know how to use a heat press machine.
Different Types Of Industrial Printing Machines
In the industrial set up of the economy, the
printing machine is growing in large numbers. Different printing techniques and processes are used by every industry for effective communication. Any machine used in printing ink on the substrate (printing medium) which can be cloth, paper or plastic, is referred to as the printing machinery. By applying pressure to the substrate, the printing machinery transfers the ink on the printing medium resting on an inked platform composed of movable type. The development of industrial printing machines changed a lot of things in the world. It would make transfer and preservation of historical records, scientific findings, and knowledge easy and possible. There's a great advancement in the printing machinery introduced in the market today given the improvement in science and technology. There's a competition in the industry, as many companies are now making printing press. As every company is introducing better features and making an effort to overcome the other competitors, this has led to the introduction of many enhanced features in printing machinery. With the introduction of various features in these types of machinery, printing is now easier to be done than it was in earlier days.
Today, printing machinery is available in many sizes to suit different needs. Bigger sizes of printing machinery are available for heavy-duty printing or big-time printing businesses. You can get small and medium sizes too for small and medium printing businesses. The machinery size determines the volume of printing that will be done in a day, to a greater extent. When compared with small-sized printing machinery, the heavy industrial printing machines can print a lot of things per hour or regularly. There are different types of printing machines for printing on a different medium since different printing machines make use of different printing technology. Each of the below-mentioned printing machinery is meant to serve a particular purpose. You must consider your printing needs or the type of printing that you are doing before you want to buy or order for your printing machine. Several factors such as the size, the type of printing done, the seller, the brand, and others determine the cost.
Types Of Printing Machines
Digital Printers
Ink-jet Printers
Screen Printers
Embossing Machines
Flexographic Printing Machine
Letterpress Printing Machines
Offset Printers
Laser printers
Wireless Printers
3D Printers
Thermographic Printers
Electrostatic Printing Machine
Pad Printers
Rotogravure Printing Machines
Attractive Sublimation Printer Seeks the Perfect Heat Press
The importance of matching the right heat-transfer press with your dye-sublimation printer
by Lily Hunter, Product Manager for Dye-Sublimation Technology at Roland DGA
Okay, so you’ve got a dye-sublimation printer in mind, but you’re wondering what kind of heat press will complete your perfect dye-sublimation workflow? There are many options out-there and choosing the right heat press isn’t easy. Much depends on the type of products and applications that are in your business plan, and other factors, like size, type, and cost will need to be considered.
Heat presses are designed for specific applications and come in all styles, sizes and with very different price tags – presses can run from $1K to $100K. The following tips outline some of the most important points to keep-in-mind when purchasing a heat press to combine with your dye-sublimation printer.
Make the Investment – For the Long-Term
Why invest in high-quality dye-sublimation printing technology like the Roland DG XT-640 or RT-640 that produces a high-quality product, just to compromise on a cheap heat press and shoot yourself in the foot? If you base your decision solely on price, then you may regret it in the long run. Whether you’re looking for a small-format or large-format heat press, cheaper models simply don’t offer the build quality or level of sustained heat and pressure that is required to produce professional results when transferring graphics.
Some of the cheaper clam, swing away and
flatbed heat press has flimsy heater blocks made from thin materials that heat up fast but cool down too quickly – failing to maintain an even heat. Whereas a machine with a heavy platen takes longer to heat up but maintains a regular heat and ensures that each press has the same consistency and quality of image and color. When physically comparing heat presses, trust your instincts. If a press doesn’t feel robust and well-made, then it most likely isn’t and probably won’t perform properly.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PERFECT PRESS
Does size matter?
Firstly, you’ll need to think about what your end game is, i.e., what are you producing and what do you plan to produce. Heat presses range in heat block sizes from around 6”x 8” for a light-use press, right up to oversized 44”x 64” and beyond. Right now, you’re probably considering either a desktop-sized press for apparel or product customization, or a shop-sized press that will allow you to branch out into fabrics, soft-signage and larger scale sublimation.
The size of heat presses are so many and varied. As a rule, it’s always better to think bigger to allow yourself the ability to expand your product range. However, if you want something strictly for simple customizations of t-shirts and apparel, a large flatbed or calender press can sometimes be counter-productive and you’ll find that a smaller swing-away or clam press for different apparel sizes is actually more efficient. You may find that a couple of these smaller sized heat presses that can be operated by multiple people might be more effective for your production model than one large-format machine.
Consistent heat
Heat presses need to be heated to about 400 degrees fahrenheit for sublimation inks to transfer from the paper to the polymer fibers. This transfer has to be smooth and even for the process to work properly and for the image transfer to be consistent from one pressing to the next. Some heat presses may look really high-tech and snazzy, but under-the-cover it may be a different story.
Another issue with cheaper heat presses is having too few heater windings (heater coils) in heater blocks or heater windings that are too sparsely placed. This causes cold spots and inconsistent transfer. The more windings a press has, the quicker it will heat up and regain any heat loss between jobs.