Textile screen printers have used plastisol puff inks for years. These inks contain a special additive that causes the ink to expand after it is exposed to heat. RTape/SEF FlexCut Sweet Puff films work in much the same way. Read more »
Caring for Garments with Heat Transfers
Garments decorated with heat transfers will withstand washing and drying twenty times and more, if they are cared for properly. Jim Hingst reviews the right way to wash, dry and iron garments decorated with heat transfers. Read more »
The Trouble with Shrinking Shirts
What can you do to prevent wrinkled heat transfer appliques? Possible solutions include buying pre-shrunk tee-shirts or pre-pressing garments prior to heat pressing an applique. Read more »
Stretching Garments Prior to Heat Pressing
Some screen printers, who print directly onto t-shirts or who print plastisol heat transfers, will stretch the garment before printing or heat pressing. By doing this, the weave of the shirt opens up allowing the ink to better penetrate the fibers of the fabric. This practice is believed to prevent cracking of the ink. Read more »