T-shirt Printing: Heat Transfer Paper vs Sublimation Printing
Jan 17, 2022
What are the best inks for t-shirt printing?
Even while you may always send your design to a print-on-demand company to have it created by experts, you could discover that doing it yourself is quicker and less expensive. You must choose between transfer and sublimation paper if you want to have a t-shirt design printed at home, but what kind of ink should you use?
Transfer printing may often be done with inkjet ink. This implies that you may print your transfer paper patterns using the same ink that you would use to print papers if you had an inkjet printer.
However, it’s always a good idea to check with your specific model to confirm this works before placing the transfer paper into your machine and queuing up a print!
For sublimation printing, you’ll need to purchase specific sublimation ink and ensure you have a printer that is compatible with sublimation printing, in order to use it properly.
What is sublimation printing?
The ink used in sublimation printing is heated to a gaseous state. Make your design, then load your suitable machine with sublimation ink and sublimation transfer paper to create a sublimated print. Never forget to flip your design to prevent it from printing backwards on your shirt! It's crucial to confirm with your model before starting the sublimation printing process because not all inkjet printers can handle it. Investing in a sublimation printer or an inkjet compatible with sublimation is a good option if you believe you'd like to undertake sublimation printing more frequently.
Sublimation prints should be transferred onto polyester t-shirts. When transferring your print to your shirt, place it face down on fabric and apply a heat press or other source of heat to the back. This heat helps the ink to bond with the fabric, allowing it to stick to the item of clothing.
What is heat transfer paper printing?
Heat transfer printing is, as the name implies, printing using heat transfer paper. In contrast to sublimation printing, heat transfer printing may be accomplished using standard inkjet or laser printer supplies and inkjet toner or ink. The process for transferring the print onto a t-shirt is essentially the same as it is for sublimation printing once the printing is finished. Put your design face down on the shirt after printing it in reverse on the heat transfer paper.
For heat transfer prints, you can use either a cotton or polyester shirt, however if using an inkjet machine you’ll want to use cotton. Much like with sublimation printing, you’ll want to apply heat to the back of the design. Ideally, this should be done with a heat press, however you may be able to use a standard iron instead.
For more information on how to print your own iron on transfers, read our blog post.
Heat transfer paper vs sublimation printing – pros and cons
So, you may be wondering about some of the pros and cons of sublimation paper vs transfer paper. Reading the above descriptions should give you a basic idea of some of the pros and cons of these options, but there are a few other elements that separate these choices.
Heat transfer printing pros
A more affordable option than sublimation printing
Can be printed using a standard inkjet or laser printer, with the ink or toner you would normally use for printing
Simple and straightforward, making it good for beginners
Heat transfer printing cons
Large designs can crack and split
When using an inkjet printer, the excess backgrounds/edges will transfer too (no self-weeding)
You will likely be able to feel the design on the shirt
Sublimation printing pros
Tends to produce more vibrant colours than heat transfer printing
Can’t be felt on a shirt
Is generally more durable than heat transfers, giving the shirt more wears
Sublimation printing cons
Requires a specialised printer to produce these prints
Only works with polyesters (no printing on cotton shirts)
The type of ink needed tends to clog up printers quickly
There are a few things to take into account when choosing between heat transfer and sublimation for your t-shirt print creation. Sublimation patterns must be produced on machines that are compatible, however heat transfer prints are easy to generate and may be made with either an inkjet or laser printer. Sublimation patterns, on the other hand, don't always have the same overt sensation as heat transfers, but they do seem more colorful and stay longer. However, printing t-shirts at home with a heat transfer process is a terrific way to use your inkjet or laser printer if you don't want to spend the extra money on a machine that is designed for making sublimated graphics.
