Heat Press Temperature & Time: Everything You Need To Know
With heat press printing becoming increasingly more popular in the t-shirt design and production industry, more and more people are considering using it for their own business. This popularity has also led to many people believing that it’s incredibly easy to do and that there’s very little they should worry about during the process. This isn’t the case. In fact, there are quite a few different things that you’ll need to consider for the method.
This is true regardless of whether you’re just starting in the industry or if you have a certain amount of experience. Some of the most notable things that every t-shirt user will need to consider when using a heat press is how hot to set it and how long to apply this heat for. These two aspects can have quite a considerable effect on the outcome of the process, not to mention the safety concerns that can come with it.
What Factors Determine Heat Press Transfer Temperature Levels
However, there are a variety of different things that you will need to consider when determining both of these areas. The first of these is the fabric that you’ll be using during the printing process, as well as what kind of transfer paper you’ll be using for the design. This is primarily because different fabrics can be damaged at different heat levels, so you’ll need to determine which heat level is the best for that particular material.
The transfer material that you’re using can also play a significant factor in this; different materials will begin melting at different temperatures, which can damage your t-shirt. This is something that’s also affected by how long you’ll be applying the heat for.
While low heat levels won’t melt a material straight away, they may begin melting them if the heat is applied for too much time. Using a high temperature level, especially for too long, can offer negative results.
However, the opposite is also true; having too low a temperature, or not applying it for the right amount of time, could mean that the design isn’t properly applied to the fabric. Because of that, the process of figuring out which heat level you should use, and how much time it should be applied for, can quickly become overwhelming. This is something that can become much simpler once you understand which heat ranges are best for certain materials.
Multi-purpose material has been one of the more popular materials to use with a heat press printer. This has led to many people developing a variety of tips for using it during the process. In general, it’s recommended that you apply 350 degrees Fahrenheit of heat for between ten and 12 seconds. This should ensure that the design is applied without causing many issues.
Polyester, on the other hand, has been known to be more difficult to work with during the process. This is because it often reacts negatively to high heat levels, which means you’ll need a lower temperature when using it. Many experts have recommended 270 degrees Fahrenheit to be applied for 10 seconds to ensure that no damage is done to the fabric. It’s also been noted that you should peel the fabric off when it’s still hot and then let it cool down afterward.
If you’re going for different kinds of finishes, then there can be different heat levels and times to consider. For example, if you’re looking for a Glow In The Dark finish, you may need to increase the temperature to the 350 degrees Fahrenheit range. Glitter and Vintage finishes will also need this heat level, although they may need varying amounts of heating time.
This level can be highly dependent on the fabric and materials that you’re using, however. Because of that, you should ensure that you’re not using a heat level that will melt the fabric that you’re using.
The majority of experts have recommended using lower temperatures to begin with and then moving up or down the scale depending on the results that you’re getting. Starting off on the lower end of the range means that you’ll be able to avoid many mistakes from occurring at the start.
Much of the above tips can be determined by which heat press printer you’re using during the process. This is because some machines can be more efficient at applying heat than others. How well-maintained and clean your printer is can also play a considerable role in the application process. This means that you should always ensure that your heat press printer is as clean and efficient as possible.
It’s also been noted that you should allow your heat press printer to heat up somewhat before you begin applying the design. This is because, as it’s warming up, it may begin affecting the fabric.
As such, the application times that many experts have recommended are from when the heat press printer has gotten to the recommended temperature. Putting the fabric and design into the printer before getting to this level can often bring disastrous results and negatively affect your fabric and its design.
By understanding all of the above, you should be able to avoid many of the more common mistakes associated with heat press printing. This will also ensure that your custom t-shirts don’t become damaged during the application process, while also making sure that the design is transferred. Like many other areas of the process, it deserves a significant amount of thought before you start.
This is something that’s also driven by safety; should you use too much heat for too long, then you may end up starting a fire, which is naturally something that you’ll want to avoid. With that in mind, paying a considerable amount of attention to the area is a necessity.
