How to print low temperature transfers.
Before explaining how to print a low temperature transfer, I think it best to explain when and why you should use this technique. It began as a method to prevent 100% polyester digital camo shirts from bleeding through white ink. If you have printed the digital camo, you know what I am talking about. One Stroke Inks introduced the OSI Poly Transfer System which included white ink, paper, and adhesive powder to prevent these problems. Once this started to gain traction, many screen printers realized that printing on paper is easier than printing directly on top of most uniforms. If they messed up a print, they simply threw out a piece of paper instead of a $40.00 moisture management uniform. Since it was so simple and easy, it became necessary to use this technique on more fabrics with more colors. Our customers needed a soft feel with good stretch ability and a less glossy appearance. Bravo Flex Series became the go to ink for non-sublimated low temperature transfers as it fits the role very well. Now screen printers have the ease of printing on cold peel transfer paper and heat pressing onto uniforms, t-shirts, hats, bags, and jackets. It allowed them to print difficult locations without slowing production.
With that information out of the way, here is step-by-step instructions for low temperature transfers:
*You will require Bravo Flex Series inks, T-75 cold peel transfer paper, and OSI Poly Transfer Powder.
1. Expose an 86 or 110 monofilament screen with the art work in reverse. It must be a mirror image as it will eventually be flipped over to heat press the garment.
2. Run your cold peel paper through the dryer to pre-shrink it and to remove any excess moisture. Moisture will cause problems later as you powder the print.
3. If you only have t-shirt platens, apply just a little bit of mist adhesive. You do not want it too sticky as it will transfer to the back of the paper. This can cause storage problems as well as get the adhesive on your heat press. If you want to avoid all of this, order a vacuum platen. This is a platen made for paper printing. It has many little holes and sucks the paper down to the platen as opposed to using adhesives.
4. Print the ink on the paper. You get one pull of the squeegee. One pull. This may sound odd to an experienced printer but it is the deal when screen printing on paper.
5. Take the paper off the platen and apply adhesive powder. This can be accomplished many different ways. The simplest way involves a large bin of the powder and simply sprinkling or pouring the adhesive powder over the print. Shake off the excess back into the bin.
6. This is very important. Tap the paper on a table to remove any powder that is attached to the paper. You can also use air if available to blow off the excess powder. Any powder on the paper where there is no ink will leave a residue on the shirt. It will come out but it is time consuming.
7. Send the paper down your conveyor dryer at normal temperatures for curing a cotton t-shirt. 320F – 330F will be perfect when using a thermo label.
8. You are ready to press. If the transfer was specifically for sublimated polyester, 275F for 10 seconds is perfect. Otherwise, try 300F for 10 seconds on most fabrics.
9. Peel cold. If this sounds like a pain, it isn’t. Simply press everything and then come back and peel everything. No time wasted.
10. Stretch it. Wash it. Abuse it. This is a very durable print.
*Please keep in mind that not all inks, powders, and papers can combine to make this system work. We have tested the Bravo Flex and obviously the OSI Poly Transfer System white ink with this paper and powder and it works. We have seen this fail when other combinations have been attempted.
