If you want to know answers to your questions about heat transfers (also called photo transfers, digital transfers, or custom transfers), this is the page for you!  Just click on a question and it will take you right to the answer.

1. What do I need to get started?

To create your own custom photo transfers, you need to have a source for getting the photos (or graphics) into your system (scanner, digital camera, photo CD, Clip Art collection CD), you need to have a software package to adjust the photo and combine it with lettering (if desired), you need a top quality printer such as the Okidata C3200/C5200 color laser printers, you need  transfer paper such as Hottee, dye-sublimation toner for the Okidata color laser printer, and a heat press.

2. What is durability and color fastness?

Durability is a measure of how well a transfer adheres to the garment and resists cracking and peeling. Color fastness refers to the ability of the of the transfer to retain its original color even with repeated washings. Transfers made using Hottee are the absolute best option for durability and color fastness when using thermal transfers.

3. Why should I use Okidata Color Laser Printers versus other Printers?

The Okidata color laser printers such as the C3200 or C5200 are a high volume solution at a very reasonable price.  The dry dye-sublimation toners produce accurate and stable colors.  Ink jet printers tend to be much slower and significantly more expensive to use.

4. What are my costs for making transfers?

Using Hottee transfer paper and dye-sublimation toner, your cost on a 8 1/2 by 11 transfer is about $1.10 (paper and toner).  

5. How much can I make producing and selling custom photo transfers?

Our current pricing structure assumes producing 40 transfers per hour. Assuming that average production rate, we try to target about $75/hour in the form of garment mark up and time. Since you set your own pricing structure, you can adjust that figure up or down. By adding the cost to print an 8 1/2 by 11 transfer ($1.10) to the time (3 minutes including time to fold the garment), we price a $1.20 white Jerzees 50/50 t-shirt at $5.95 when sold in quantity of 60.  Our time and mark up earnings are about $3.65/shirt, or about $73/hour, which is about our $75 per hour target.  Not a bad profit for 3 hours effort.

6. What type of heat presses should I buy?

We recommend an air operated press.  Geo Knight is a terrific company for providing support if you need it.  The advantage of the air operated swinger press is easier placement of the T-shirt on the lower platen without burning your fingers plus plenty of pressing pressure without fighting to get the press closed.

7. What software should I use to make transfers?

We have used a variety of software packages over time to create transfers. We started with Hanes T-shirt Maker, moved to Microsoft Picture It!, then switched to a combination of Adobe Photo Shop and Corel Draw. Anything that will allow for lettering with special effects to be combined with pictures should work fine.  Of all of them, Corel Draw has the easiest layout features while Photo Shop has the best photo editing capabilities.

8. How do I get my scanner, monitor and printer all in synch for color accuracy?

Set up your system so you use the latest drivers and use the color profiles provided by your equipment manufacturers.

9. What is dye-sublimation?

Dye-sublimation is a process where, under heat, the dye becomes gaseous and the gas then penetrates the fiber of a polyester shirt or the pores of the polyester coating of a mug.  When the heat is removed, the gas solidifies.  The polyester fiber of the fabric or the open pores of the coated mug then close over the dyes and form a protective coating.  It leaves a very soft feel (hand). It is also used for transferring to metals (photo engraving for plaques), plastics, and ceramics.

10. What is the difference between dye-sublimation and thermal transfers?

Dye-sublimation produces a transfer that becomes a part of the surface of the material to which it is being applied. The colors are vibrant. Dye-Sublimation mugs are dishwasher safe (they do not fade).  Thermal transfers (Hottee) are photo output and they sit on top of the fabric (although the bond is extremely durable and color fast). Hottee transfers are faster to create and apply and the supplies are less expensive. Hottee transfers are ideal for applying to 50/50 blend and 100% cotton T-shirts.

11. Why should I transfer to 50/50 blend white T-shirts?

White shirts make your transfers really stand out.  You are not limited to white colors though.  With Hottee or better yet, ATI release paper, you can go to almost any light color and not worry about the clear polymer causing darkening in areas where there is no color.  100% cotton fabric transfers tend not to wash as well as 50/50 blends.  We primarily produce 50/50 T-shirts.

12. Can I transfer to dark fabrics?

Yes.  Not only dark fabrics, but virtually any dark uncoated hard surface using our new white toner.

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Last modified: July 14, 2007