Completely new at this!

[myroomisajunkyard]

I'm new to this ball game! I just started playing golf for leagues and such, they're very very strict about "formal wear" i'm alway the person that likes thing casual (tee-shirt and jeans) But they're requiring me to use "polo, formal wear" but i'm glad they approved using the fabric like nike's dri-fit/adidas' clima-cool.
I was looking around for custom designs on these shirt and they run up a lot of money, and requires order of more than 10, when i wouldnt mind to have at least 5 with different designs for different occasions.

I'm thinking of buying a "heat transfer shirt press machine" but i'm concerned would that be the best idea to buy, and would the designs stay on the shirt since it's a bit elastic, it might be something i would use at times when i'm feeling to make a new shirt for the tournament or something. So the shirt would have "text/few pictures around it" Also the pictures would have a few different colors if that's important to know?

Any specific process/machines/things i need to make it work? I'll be checking on this forum often since it's a priority for me..

Thank you very much!
 

[bj]

Not sure if this is what you had in mind but I worked a lot with Cutter and Buck for embroidery.  The designs were very small with as much detail as possible.  A lot of what they did was tone on tone which looked very classy for the golf shirts/wind jackets etc...  Their own logo was much larger on the sleeves but the left chest logo was very small and tight. 

[myroomisajunkyard]

Yes something like that, did you use heat press or silk screening, or what would be the best way I could do that? What kind of machines do I need? I would be more likely to do it at home since its personal use, plus definitely want to make the shirt looks awesome I've been researching today but came up with small things and they all seem to be for something else. Thanks again

[Sbrem]

I think you might do better contracting the work to an established printer/embroiderer. You don't really want to start out with critical stuff, you'll spend hours and hours trying to figure what to do. Someone who already does it can guide you through some of the pitfalls, then when you have some mileage on you, you can check out going into production for yourself. I know all the sales pitches make it look easy, but quite simply, it's not easy, it's a bitch. You don't want a customer breathing down your neck when you don't know what to do. Each decoration process has it's in and outs, ups and downs, no one is perfect for everything.

Steve

[Frog]

If I am reading this correctly, "Junkyard" merely wants to make a few shirts for himself because he finds that most shops want too much, and runs of at least 10 when he wants only five of each of a few designs.
I was looking around for custom designs on these shirt and they run up a lot of money, and requires order of more than 10, when i wouldnt mind to have at least 5 with different designs for different occasions.


Look on Craigslist, or other classifieds like here for a used heat press (you can always bounce the choices off of the folks here), but since you will give it very little use, you may even get away with one of the inexpensive Chinese presses. New presses run all the way from $300-$2500. The bigger the better usually, but for most polos, only the front left breast is printed, so a press as small as 6x8 would suffice. The more common are 15x15 or 16x20.

Then, a Google search for heat transfer papers should yield some choices with which you can experiment. There are some that stretch more than others, but most polos are not asked to stretch like a busty high school cheerleader's jersey! The performance and durability of transfers is improving, much due to the competition from the Direct to Garment (DTG) Digital Inkjet printers flooding the market for the last few years.
One of your biggest choices will be Laser or Inkjet, depending on to which you have access.
At the level you mention, starting from scratch, inkjet is probably the best choice.

[Homer]

I suggest hiring a professional to make these for you. after you buy all the equipment and deal with the BS, you will understand how and why it is so "expensive"  . . .

try Custom Ink 

[Sbrem]

I suggest hiring a professional to make these for you. after you buy all the equipment and deal with the BS, you will understand how and why it is so "expensive"  . . .

try Custom Ink 

Tongue in cheek or not, that's the best answer yet...

Steve

[screenxpress]

Frankly, I'm a little concerned about where Homer's tongue really is.