Features to consider when choosing heat transfer paper
There are a few features to consider when choosing heat transfer paper for your projects. They are not all the same, so knowing what to look for will help you make the most informed decision possible.
Dimensions
The dimensions of the heat transfer sheet tell you the largest size your chosen design can be. For instance, the Neenah 3G Commercial Quality Heat Transfer Paper is 8.5 x 11 inches, which is quite common for these products. This means that your designs must fit within these dimensions for them to print out properly. Of course, you can also choose smaller designs or print out a couple on one sheet if they can fit since you will be trimming away any excess before transferring them to a t-shirt or other type of garment.
If your projects require larger designs, there are also larger sheet sizes available. The S-RACE Sublimation Paper has dimensions of 11 x 17 inches, so you can make designs to fit these sheets for any of the big projects on your list.
How many sheets are there in the pack
The number of sheets in each pack tells you how many transfers you can do from that specific pack. In our reviews, there are varying amounts of sheets, depending on which brand youre purchasing. For instance, the Avery Printable T-Shirt Transfers comes in a pack of 30 sheets, which is fine for someone using them for a few gifts or favors for a birthday party.
The NuFun Activities Inkjet Heat Transfer comes in a pack of 50 sheets, so you have a few more transfers to use for whatever projects you have in mind. If youre only using a few at a time, a pack of this size will last for a while, though for those using these transfers for multiple projects will be buying more of them in no time.
If you do have a lot of heat transfer projects in the works, a larger pack of 100 sheets will come in handy, especially if youre adding logos to items you plan to give away or sell to promote your business. The more sheets you have on hand, the more of your items you can keep in stock.
Of course, some brands offer a wide variety of sheet packs, so you buy by the sheet or get a large bulk order to meet whatever needs you may have.
Which materials its recommended to use for
There are a couple of things to consider when choosing the materials that you plan to use with your transfer paper. One is the type of material since different transfer papers work better with fabrics like cotton or poly-cotton blends, and others are meant for polyester-coated surfaces like glass, metal, or wood. If you use the wrong paper for your chosen garment, the finished project may not have the quality or durability youre expecting.
You should also consider the color of the material youre using as the transfer paper for light-colored materials is used differently than the paper for dark ones. The PPD Inkjet Transfer Paper is for light fabrics and requires you to mirror the image when printing. This type of paper uses a transparent polymer film that sticks to the fabric during the heat transfer process, which helps retain the bright colors of the image you`ve printed. Any empty space around the image is the same color as the fabric, so there is no need to trim away the edges unless you want to.
The NuFun Activities Inkjet Heat Transfer Paper and other dark transfer papers use an opaque polymer film. They don`t require mirroring since you remove the backing before you place it on the fabric, so it is face-up before you press it. This area around the image on the film will appear white on the fabric, so it is best to trim away the excess for a cleaner design on the finished product.
There are also a few options that allow you to use the same transfer paper on both light and dark materials, so be sure to read the instructions when using these ones for the proper transfer method and a great-looking garment when you`re done the transfer.
Type of printer to use
Another thing to consider with heat transfer paper is the type of printer you need to use with it. Inkjet printers are one of the most common types since they are easy to use and rather inexpensive to buy. That`s why many of the transfer paper brands create paper that is compatible with these types of printers. The paper is specially coated to work with the inkjet ink, giving you bright colors that last a while. The inkjet transfer paper is great for cotton or poly-cotton blends.
As its name suggests, the S-RACE Sublimation Paper works best with a sublimation printer. The ink used in these printers goes from solid to gas with no liquid stage in between. When the image is printed onto the transfer paper, it solidifies, giving you a full-color image that is crisp and clean, identical to the one on your computer screen. The sublimation transfer paper is best used with synthetic fabrics like polyester or poly blends. You can also use it for polyester-coated hard surfaces, like dishes or glass. These types of printers and their ink are more expensive, though, so they are rarely found in the average home, however, they are a good choice for commercial use.
There are also laser heat transfer paper options available, though we have not reviewed any of these in this article. The laser transfer process is similar to the inkjet transfers in the method and the types of fabrics you can use the sheets with. Laser transfer paper is high-quality and gives you excellent transfer results. The downside is that the sheets and the laser printer itself are both pricier than the inkjet products, so are better for large-scale commercial use.
Other features
The features we`ve described above are the most important ones to look for when choosing a heat transfer paper for any of your designs. Of course, there are a few extras you can check out as well to ensure you`re getting the highest quality paper possible.
One thing to look for is a fade-resistant guarantee from the manufacturer. The longer the transfer will last, the better your garment will look. If the colors are fading quickly, you won`t want to use it anymore. This is especially important for commercial projects where you`re selling items with your logo or designs on them. If your customers aren`t happy, they will be asking for their money back and possibly leaving you some negative reviews, costing you money and future customers. The longer your transfers last, the better you look in any situation.
You may also want to check to see if the paper you`re buying has any type of money-back guarantee, just in case that fade-resistance we just described isn`t living up to your standards. This will also cover any other issues you have with the quality of the paper you`re using and the finished product. If you`re not happy with the results, even when following the directions to the letter, you shouldn`t have to lose money on an inferior product.
Though it isn`t always listed on the transfer paper, some of them also display the GSM, or grams per square meter, which is the unit of measurement they use to describe the weight of each sheet. The higher the GSM, the thicker the paper will be. You don`t want transfer paper that is too thick, or it may take longer to heat press or iron, plus it will be harder to peel off. A GSM between 90 and 120 is best as this is the average weight of normal copy paper.
How to transfer an image onto fabric
The method for transferring an image onto fabric varies if youre using light or dark heat transfer paper, so well cover both here. As well as following these tips, be sure to read the directions included with the transfer paper for proper pressing and washing instructions.
Light Heat Transfer Method:
- Create or choose your image, mirroring it on your computer, and print it out.
- Place your garment on a hard surface (table, floor, etc.) and iron out any wrinkles.
- Place the transfer paper on your chosen garment with the image down.
- Press it as directed (if using an iron, do not use steam).
- Remove the backing from the transfer paper.
- Wait 24 hours before washing or wearing the garment.
Dark Heat Transfer Method:
- Create or choose your image and print it out (No mirroring).
- Trim away the edges.
- Place your garment on a hard surface (table, floor, etc.) and iron out any wrinkles.
- Remove the backing to the transfer paper.
- Place your transfer paper on your chosen garment with the image up.
- Cover the transfer paper with parchment paper.
- Press it as directed (if using an iron, do not use steam).
- Allow the transfer to cool for a few minutes, then remove the backing.
- Wait 24 hours before washing or wearing the garment.
