Explanation of Services
There are two main kinds of heat transfer methods: vinyl and digital print.
What is Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)?
The Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) process uses a vinyl cutter to cut out individual letters and designs from pieces of colored vinyl. The full image is then placed on the promo item and pressed with heat to transfer the image to the item. Vinyl shirt printing is recommended for 1-2 color designs such as text or simple graphics of small quantities. Requires a high-resolution vector graphics artwork. This method is best suited for printing sportswear jerseys, slogans, or small, multi-colored graphics.
PROS:
- Good for small quantities
- Bright colors and different finishes could be achieved by using specialty vinyl such as reflective, metallic, glitter, mirror, chrome and much more!
- Long lifespan - no cracking or fading. Please follow our garment care instructions to maximize lifespan.
- Quick turnaround
- No set up costs or any additional fees. All prices are calculated depending on chosen vinyl finish and size of design.
CONS:
- Must provide a high-resolution vector graphic artwork otherwise a conversion fee may be applied.
- Heat may damage sensitive fabrics.
- Not the best option for large quantities since each one is done separately.
- Not good for intricate designs of multiple colors or textured fabrics such as knits.
If your design is more intricate, has a lot of colors, and/or you need a large quantity, then vinyl heat transfer is not the best option. Instead, Instead, Check out our screen-printing or digital print options for this type of project . Not sure? No problem! Contact us and we'll help you find the best solution.
What is Digital Heat Transfer?
The full graphic image is designed on the computer and digitally printed onto high-quality paper using a special, solvent ink. When the paper is pressed to the promo item with heat, the ink adheres to the material and the graphic image transfers to the item. T-shirts and other garments or promotional items printed using this method offer high-resolution images and are ideal for complex designs with many colors.
Heat transfers are great for print runs or jobs that involve many colors. This method of printing requires a special printer and high-quality of paper, as well as a heating press to set the design in place.
PROS:
- More cost-effective for smaller orders
- Easy to print images containing multiple colors and complex designs
- Affordable setup keeps costs down
- Produces high-quality images
- Allows you to easily customize different shirts
- Clean and environmentally friendly
CONS:
- Must provide a high-resolution vector graphic artwork otherwise a conversion fee may be applied.
- Designs don’t last as long as screen printed shirts
- Colors aren’t as bright as screen printed shirts
- Digital prints on dark garments results in a stiffer feel on the fabric
What is Screen Printing?
Screen printing basically uses screens and ink to transfer an image onto a t-shirt or promo item.
To get the desired effect, the screen is first cut to create what is essentially a stencil for the design. The ink is then spread over the screen with a squeegee, passing through the “stencil” to the t-shirt or promo item underneath. Only one color may be used for each screen, so for a design with multiple colors you will need multiple screens.
PROS:
- Screen printing is more cost effective for large quantities
- Results in a softer feel on fabrics
- Designs are more durable and last longer
- Allows for more vibrant colors, even on a dark-colored fabrics
CONS:
- Must provide a high-resolution vector graphic artwork otherwise a conversion fee may be applied.
- Limited to simple designs with few colors
- Expensive to set up requiring higher minimums – not suitable for small orders
- Not ideal for photo replication
What is Embroidery?
Your design is stitched into the garment or promotional item using an industrial embroidery machine.
In the setup process your logo must first be digitized by redrawing your design into a stitched design. This then enables our embroidery machines to read your logo file and stitch the design onto the garment or promotional items.
Embroidery works well for polo shirts, hoodies, caps and hats, jackets, shirts and sweatshirts. It is not recommended to embroider t-shirts unless the t-shirt is made of a thicker material.
PROS:
- Embroidered logos are much more durable than print and will generally outlast the garment.
- Embroidered logos give the ultimate professional image which is why they are used mostly in the corporate world
- Industrial embroidery machines will generally have up to 12 different colours at one time meaning multiple colours can be used at no extra cost
CONS:
- There is a one-time setup fee which is based on the thread count of the logo and can be considerably more expensive for larger images.
- Embroidery doesn't work well for intricate designs such as small lettering. Smaller elements can become clammed up.
- You are unable to recreate gradient colours with embroidery.
- Embroidery stitching can comprise the waterproof material.