If you are an old tattoo freak or kid from the 90s, you must be familiar with the iron decals. However, thermal transferring is a new way. Also, the thermal heat transfer is known as digital paper, custom design, or logo paper. Your chosen design is printed on paper, and the ink is transferred from that paper to your fabric using heat or pressure. So, How To Use Thermal Transfer Paper Properly?
Ensure that you stay with us throughout our complete thermal transfer paper use guidelines. No matter whether you are a beginner or improve your tattooing skills read the below mentioned factors to find out how to use thermal transfer paper.
How does Thermal Transfer Printing Works?
You can transfer the heat in different ways which tells you how to use transfer paper tattoo. For example, you can use inkjet transfer, Dye sublimation transfer, digital applique, and vinyl transfers. We are here with complete decoration method guidelines for detailed information on every single type of thermal transfer.
Hectograph or Freehand Tattoo Transfer Paper
Hectograph or freehand tattoo transfer paper is important for tattoo artists who want to create original tattoo ideas for both men and women. The Hectograph paper is a transfer paper coated with a waxy, ink-receptive substance. It allows artists to trace their crafted tattoo designs onto paper by hand or print them from a computer. A tattooing solution can then apply the traced design to the skin.
Thermographic Tattoo Transfer Paper
Thermographic tattoo transfer paper is a unique type generally used by professional tattooing experts. This transfer paper utilizes a heat-sensitive layer that activates when exposed to heat from a thermal printer. The heat from the printer transfers the realistic or anime-style tattoo design onto the skin. One of the most important of using this transfer paper is its speed and efficiency in the designs.
Custom thermal transfer paper in Just 10 Steps
Acquire vital needs– we’ve got a complete list of the things you will need.
Using graphic designing software such as Adobe family, mockup your tattoo design on the computer to make sure that the size and color are correct.
Depending upon your application and product, you can even print your company logo custom design onto the special thermal transfer paper using key injection ink pigment ink or sublimation ink.
Create your design using a Vinyl cutter to refine your image. However, this step is only vital for the printed supplier or store-bought transfer paper, not necessary for every case.
The heat of the warm press opens the press, separates the heat plate from the thermal pad and leaves it open until the heat plate is warmed up. The initial lead thermal transfer application should set the temperature between 177 to 191 Celsius.
Adjust the pressure in such a way the pressure of the press is upon the fabric used. There is no general adjustment of the process as it depends upon the material. For example, the thickened fabric required less pressure, and the other projects required medium and high pressure.
Time management is crucial at the time because there are differences related to the various thermal transfers. Therefore, you can use the below timing as the guideline.
Time Guideline
- 10 to 18 seconds for injector transfer paper
- 20 to 30 seconds for the dye sublimation transfer paper
- 22 to 30 seconds for Digital Applique transfer paper
- 45 to 60 seconds for The Vinyl transfer
Place the thermal paper in the transfer very precisely and carefully. The placement of the thermal paper is critical and you should definitely learn how to use stencil paper alongside these transfer papers. If your product is not in the right position between the place and the thermal transfer paper. It will never be according to your desire because you’re in is not within the pressing area. Note (If you are using the Vinyl transfer, you need to cover the thermal paper with a cloth to protect it).
Once the product is placed in the immediate right position, close press and pull the handle down towards the clump to press shutdown. By now, you have to set the time, temperature, and pressure and press the start button
Carefully remove the flame when the timer goes off. Simply open the present, remove the film while that thermal paper is still hot, and your design should be printed onto the product. Your thermal transfer is completed.
Which equipment and supplies are necessary for the thermal transfer paper?
Thermal transfer can be accomplished via various methods. However, our main focus is on the professional application for the thermal transfer paper instead of dye heat transfer you can do at home with an iron. Here are what the thermal transfer experts use to apply your desired logo or design to the product Through The Heat:
Computer: Computer is necessary to run the graphic designing software which will help you in creating the customized designs which are printed for thermal transfer
Printer: a printer is utilized for the thermal process application. They are usually larger than your average printer by a fair margin to accommodate the larger design. Apart from the size thermal printer used for the heat transfer function. The normal inkjet printed just with the different ink and specialized thermal transfer paper.
Ink: There are plenty of things available in the market that you can use in thermal transfer printing to achieve different finishes. However, the most commonly used ink in thermal transfer paper is injected as it is easily available and most affordable. You can also use pigment ink for fade-resistant sublimation ink for dye sublimation printing.
Thermal transfer paper:
It is a particular type of paper designed for thermal transfer. It is usually coated with the pigments polymer films and coated in wax. As a result, it makes a permanent Association with the fabric fire when heated. Usually, the thermal paper is between 13 inches to 19 inches sheet to increase the freedom of larger design.
Cutter: it is used to cut on your design from the transfer paper and applied to substrate. not that the cutter is only used in the vinyl printing
Heat press: the market is flooded with your area’s design sizes, and the shape of heat presses depends upon the thermal transfer application. For the custom shirts and Flat apparel, the swing away flatbed machine and calm shell pressie are used. On the other hand, the cylinder press is used for printing objects on the customized water bottle and mugs.
Heat pads: are placed between the bottom plate of the thermal press and serve as a surface for your design in the thermal transfer process. Usually, the heat pads are made of a heat resistant form of silicone rubber.
Heat Tape: the purpose of the heat is to hold the thermal transfer paper in the right position so that you got an accurate design
Heat resistant sheets: These sheets are typically made of telephone and placed between the heating plate and transfer paper. To keep the heat press clean and prevent the thermal transfer paper from scratching.
Substrate: actually, they are not necessary, but they are used for decoration. For example, you can use them to customize T-shirts, Polo shirts, bags, water bottles, and much more. It is the Canvas for your thermal transfer Masterpiece.
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