Why Did My Easy Press Leave a Square Mark on Cotton Shirt
Has your heat press journey come to an abrupt cease and you find yourself asking these questions?
What are all these oestrus press marks on my t-shirt? Why is the rut press burning and scorching my tees? How practice I become rid of the discoloration?
But more importantly, how are companies like Adidas, Nike, and Reebok using heat transfers on their garments and withal, never see a unmarried marker on any of their products? Similar you, I've faced this infamous upshot numerous times so I understand how frustrating information technology is.
I've done everything from spraying my shirts with h20, used teflon covers before and after pressing, adjusted pressure level settings, and even tried lifting the impress area with a custom mouse pad, simply that just left a smaller impression from the heat press.
From what I learned trying to prepare these estrus press markings, there are 2 things y'all need to figure out first:
1. fabric blazon and
2. heat press method
Because once you become the two correct, by extension, the rest of it – rut press settings, transfer paper, force per unit area, etc – volition follow suit. I'll embrace each of them and likewise advise troubleshooting ideas that will aid yous effigy out your ain solution. Let's get to it!
100% Regular and Ringspun Cotton wool
Cotton fiber is by far the well-nigh common material for t-shirts, and y'all'll exist glad to know that removing heat press marks on cotton fiber is the easiest of all.
But first, you'll need to understand the science backside it.
The reason why you see estrus press marks appear on cotton tees is due to the moisture found in the cotton fiber fibers. When heat is applied, the moisture evaporates and is released into the air as vapor. Not only will yous visibly see this as steam, you lot'll also notice a darkened impression or discoloration to the area where it's been pressed.
The practiced news is, this discoloration isn't permanent.
Since moisture exists in the air, cotton absorbs it naturally and all it takes is time before the darkened area returns to its original country.
How fast information technology happens really depends on the climate you're in. It may have a little longer in a dry climate than a humid expanse. But by and large you will first to meet information technology returning to normal within ten minutes of your shirt cooling down.
How to remove heat press marks on cotton fiber
An old trick in the book to avoid these markings is to preheat your garment using a cover sheet or a teflon coated sail. This will remove all the wet and it works especially well on lite colored fabrics similar white, yellow and light blue.
Equally a side note, darker colors such as cherry-red, royal blue, majestic, and army green tend to have more noticeable markings. Therefore, using the preheating method on darker colors is highly recommended.
Another way to remove estrus press marks on cotton is to requite it a good wash. However, this may not work for folks running a concern.
In my opinion; and information technology seems to be the consensus betwixt us store owners, I propose never selling a pre-washed t-shirt.
Not only practise dissimilar people have different reactions to detergents and such, simply a pre-done t-shirt suggests that it was dirty before. When it comes downwardly to it, information technology's ameliorate to let the customer wash information technology to their liking.
Some other affair to add, If you're printing vinyl or with special types of transfers like flex or flock, make sure they are specifically for cotton tees. Some transfers may require either college temperatures or longer fourth dimension under heat, and this increases the chance of markings after a press.
Polyester, 50/50 and other polyblends
We can all agree that polyester has sure qualities which makes it a great choice for t-shirts. Not only is information technology durable, information technology also doesn't wrinkle and has almost aught shrinkage or stretching regardless of what kind of extreme wash and dry cycle you put it through.
Unlike cotton, this human-made fabric is highly 'hydrophobic', which means it's super water-resistant. That's why information technology's a favorite amongst athletes and audacious outdoor types who prefer to vesture dri-fit tees and sports clothes like jerseys.
So what's been added to brand polyester repel h2o then well? Plastic, of form.
And by that nature, the likelihood of scorching or burning your garment with a heat press increases. Set the temperature likewise high and y'all may take heat press scorch marks from the melting of polyester fibers.
Which brings me to my adjacent point. Heat printing method.
If you're using a rut press for vinyl transfers, regular rut transfers or DTG, chances are you'll exist using cotton tees. Dye sublimation is the one method yous need to watch out for.
Since dye sub only reacts to polyester or poly blend fabrics, the risk of oestrus press scorching is high if you're non careful.
And if this is y'all, hither are a few things to consider moving forward.
Avoid heat printing markings on polyester and polyblends
Colors – White and other low-cal colored polyester t-shirts specifically fabricated for sublimation tin can typically take much more heat than darker colors. Whatever the example may be, I propose doing a test with a throw-away garment so there's no surprises.
Temperature – 100% polyester has a college sensitivity to oestrus equally compared to poly blends then choose your garment accordingly. In general, you'll need to be careful if yous're going above 300˚ F because this is going to cook the fabric. I suggest starting on low temps and bumping up the rut slowly every bit you lot go on. For this, I suggest using a temp gun to accurately motion between heat ranges and one time over again, test using a throw-away garment.
Read more than: 8 Heat Press Features You Need To Avoid Regret
Pressure level – This is a major event that leaves marks when rut pressing. Overloading the pressure tin typically crusade some unexpected scorching so be sure to stay in the medium range and exam a minor piece of a garment before pressing the full impress area.
If you don't have a digital pressure readout on your press, and don't know how to even gauge force per unit area, set up a test using pressure strips. This will assist y'all make up one's mind if you've got the correct settings. Scout the video below for tips.
Paper type selection – When pressing poly it's a good idea to be selective with transfers. There are specific types that have been made for sure polyester garments. For instance, the Chromablast paper for sublimation works great on a l/50 polyblend that volition produce a vibrant and durable impress. Information technology's a fleck on the pricey side, but 50/50 shirts can be cheaper than cotton wool these days so cull wisely.
Then there are low-temperature transfers made for jerseys and sports apparels that won't allow your tees burn or scorch. Ace, Transfer Express and Stahls have their ain versions then definitely check them out.
Rut Printing Pillows – These are flat foam pieces coated with a non-stick, Teflon end. These pillows are used to raise the impress area with thick seams like around pockets, zippers and buttons. It also disperses force per unit area evenly and is slap-up for preventing impress-through and eliminating heat press marks. These work well even on apartment tees without buttons or zippers.
Next steps
I hope you've gotten some clarity with what I've shared. Keep in listen that the methods to remove estrus press marks on polyester can as well be used on cotton wool garments. You never know, one of them could work for you!
But before you jump into troubleshooting and testing stuff out, it'due south important to plan your approach before investing more time and coin. Figure out the right garment and decoration method pair, just as well brand sure yous source the materials from reputable companies.
For instance, some folks were baffled trying out numerous ways trying to set up their heat press marking issue. They subsequently establish out that the root of the trouble was due to the t-shirts.
Turns out that the manufacturer had changed their ink dyes to eco-friendly solvents to comply with stricter environmental laws. This new dye reacted differently under pressure and heat and caused discoloration.
Read more: Is your screen print cracking or fading? Here's how to avert information technology
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Source: https://screenprintingdog.com/blog/avoid-heat-press-marks/