General Information About Heat Transfers

Technologically Superior Ink
General Information About Heat Transfers
General Information
GENERAL TYPES OF TRANSFERS
Hot Split / Puff Transfers: These are very popular heat transfers. After transferring they have a very soft hand and
they resemble a soft screen print. The term Hot Split means that the release paper is peeled away hot. This will split
the ink film leaving some on the transfer paper and the rest on the fabric.
Hot Peel Transfers: Hot peel transfers are designed to have a very soft hand and are very opaque. They are
designed not to split but rather to release the entire ink film when peeled warm or hot. The fact that they release most
of the ink film greatly increases the opacity (see 900 Series).
Glitter / High Gloss Transfers: These transfers are cold peel and are usually printed with glitter and/or metallic inks.
These types of transfers have a very high gloss.
Sublimation Transfers: These are made from sublimation dyes (inks) that will dye synthetic materials such as
polyester, when you apply heat and pressure. During the transfer process the dye turns into a gas which bonds with
the synthetic fabric. Sublimation transfers can be screen or litho printed.
Litho Plastisol Transfers: A cold peel transfer whereby the first colors are printed by litho (offset) then the design
is overprinted by screen printing with a plastisol coating.
Cold Peel Transfers: A cold peel transfer will deposit all of the ink onto the garment. These transfers usually have
a rubbery feel. Cold peel transfers have great opacity. They are commonly used with Superhold Powders or printable
adhesive such as 841 and 842 which are covered over the plastisol to achieve great adhesion to synthetic fabrics
and caps. Cold Peel transfers can also be used for foil transfers as foil adheres well to the rubbery ink film.
Flock Transfers: A cold peel transfer which gives a beautiful velvet finish. The transfer paper is supplied
pre-flocked. An adhesive is screened onto flock paper and a hot melt powder is applied.
FLOCK TRANSFER SYSTEM
Screen Preparation: For Aquabond or FT87, a
water resistant emulsion must be used as they are
water based adhesives. For 845 Printable Adhesive,
any stencil system can be used as it is a plastisol.
One Step Method (845 Plastisol Method): Print
845 Printable Adhesive onto flock paper using
light squeegee pressure. Screen mesh should
be 80-110/inch (32T-43T). A fairly heavy deposit
is required. After printing, cure through the dryer
for approximately 1 minute at 325oF (160oC). 845
may be tinted with P.C. pigment concentrates or
plastisol ink to match the flock color.
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Two Step Method (FT87 and H23): Print FT87
onto flock paper using light squeegee pressure. A
fairly heavy deposit is required, so use a soft
squeegee and print like a flood stroke. After
screening, apply powder crystals. Gently shake
off the excess crystals. Once the crystals have
been applied and the excess shaken off, air dry for
approximately 6-10 hours to allow the water to fully
evaporate. Excess crystals which could not be
removed by shaking, must now be removed by
means of a soft bristle brush, a vacuum, or blast of
compressed air. If not sufficiently removed, the
crystals will melt during the heat curing process
Paper: Transfert 75
Screen Mesh: 80-125/inch (33T-50Tcm)
Method: Print plastisol onto release paper. The ink
must be semi-cured through a dryer. It is important
not to fully cure the ink. The easiest way to check is
to peel away the ink film after drying. If it is not wet
but breaks apart easily, it is probably correctly gelled.
If it stretches without breaking easily, the ink is
probably over-cured. If ink is over-cured, poor
transfer to fabric and poor washabilty will result.
Powder Method (For increased durabilty): To
increase durability, Superhold powder can be applied
to wet ink before going through a dryer.
Printable Adhesive Method: Print a printable
adhesive (841/845) using a 60-80/inch (24T-32Tcm)
mesh over the entire design.
Transfer: Heat transfer at medium pressure for
10-15 seconds at 350oF (171oC). Peel cold.
SPECIAL TRANSFER TECHNIQUES
and will carry over during transferring. Let air dry
then cure through a conveyor dryer at 325oF-350oF
(160oC-175oC). When cured properly cured, the
crystals will appear like a continuous film.
One Step Method (Aquabond - Water Based):
Print onto flock paper using light squeegee
pressure. A fairly heavy deposit is required, so use
a soft squeegee and print like a flood stroke. Let air
dry then cure through a conveyor dryer at 325oF350oF (160oC-175oC). When cured properly, the
Aquabond will appear like a continuous film.
MAKING COLD PEEL TRANSFERS
Printing Technique: Using a Flock Squeegee (or
equivalent), lightly flood the screen with FT87
Adhesive or Aquabond. Super Flock Paper does
not require the same pressure as regular screen
printing. Glide the squeegee over the screen fabric
and the adhesive will partially absorb into the paper
on top of the paper. Keep a large amount of adhesive
on the screen while printing. Ideal adhesive
penetration into the flock fibres is 50%, with the
remaining adhesive sitting on the surface of the
fibres. The adhesive must not be pressed too far
into the flock, as this will make it stiff. If the adhesive
penetrates through to the backing paper it can’t be
removed after transferring.
Transferring: Use light pressure and heat seal at
350oF (171oC) for 10-20 seconds. (Thicker material
has a longer dwell time). Allow transfer to cool down
before peeling paper.
Four Color Process / Puff Transfers
1. Print 905 Clear Base onto Soft Trans. Gel as
per instructions.
2. Print 600SS colors. Gel between each color.
3. Print 878SS Puff Base onto transfer paper in
areas where you require puff or textured finish.
4. Transfer at 375oF - 400oF (191oC - 204oC) for
3-7 seconds. Peel hot.
High Opacity Transfers For Darks
1. Print 905 Clear Base onto Soft Trans. Gel as
per instructions or use a coated transfer paper
such as Ultra Strip 3000, Trans All or Tullis Russel.
2. Print 950/960 Series High Opacity colors over
905 Clear base and gel as per instructions.
3. If puff is required, overprint areas with 878SS
Base. If puff is not overprinting areas, the best
choice would be 878SS White/878SS Cream.
4. Transfer at 375oF - 400oF (191oC - 204oC) for
6 - 8 seconds. Peel hot.
Note: If puff ink is not puffing high enough, experiment
using a shorter transfer time and screen print a heavier
deposit of 878SS base onto the transfer paper.
Properties: FT87 and Aquabond may be colored
with Aqua Series Colourtone Concentrates to
match/modify flock colors. FT87 and Aquabond
may be thinned with water, but high viscosity is
needed for proper printing of flock transfers.
Cleaning: Screens can be cleaned with soap and
water, or 2000 Green and water. Dried adhesive
can be removed with TR Blend.
Note: FT87 and Aquabond will air dry, so close container
tightly after use. If production stops for a short period, the
screen should be flooded with adhesive and covered tightly.
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Pretesting of prints for proper transfer, washability, etc., is always recommended before starting production runs. End user must determine suitability of any product for the intended use prior to production.