How To Print On Transfer Paper For T-shirt [2022]- Complete Guide

Nowadays, sublimation printing has a massive trend. Everybody wants to customize t-shirts, mugs, stationery, and many other products with their personalized design, names, logos, etc. So it’s a great pick to set up a Sublimation printing business. Sublimation printer and Heat transfer paper support you to print on the material. If you are already familiar with or new to this type of printing. If you don’t know how to print on transfer paper, don’t worry. We will clear you all concepts and queries regarding printing. 

In this blog, we will know you how to print on transfer paper for T-shirts. We will briefly define how to use transfer paper in the best way to get excellent results. You should know an entire spectrum of things, from transfer paper to heat transfer machines. So, let’s start with a guide to recognizing, Heat Transfer Paper and how you can use it? 

How to print on Transfer Paper for a T-Shirt

The heat transfer paper is basically used as a sticker on which you can print designs, then these designs are shifted on a t-shirt with the help of a Heat Press. This is the modern way of decorating and designing a t-shirt.

You can print a variety of customized products from fabric to wood sublimation to canvass. Most of this paper is used for t-shirts, mugs, etc. Only the best sublimation printer can give you outstanding results and an energetic appearance when transferred to the shirt. But you should know how to use sublimation paper.

We are providing step by step guide to go through the complete process. We believe that if you follow all the precautions and suggestions you will definitely achieve the best outcome.

Types of Heat Transfer Paper used in T-shirt printing

Before starting printing you should know the models of heat transfer paper and their uses because different types of sublimation sheets vary in type and value. You must have heard that printer and ink matter whether the design is printed well or not. Absolutely not, the main thing is transfer paper. The reality is that the paper type plays a vital role, and determines the quality.

There are two main types of heat transfer paper.

• Light Transfer Paper
• Dark Transfer Paper 

Light Transfer Paper

Same as the name the light transfer paper is basically used on light color shirts to transfer design. The paper only works with an inkjet printer and the ink used is usually pellucid. 

These papers come in pretty high colors like baby pink, white, yellow shaded, or extremely super light colors. Can only be for light-colored stuff.

Dark Transfer Paper 

Dark transfer paper is the opposite of Light Transfer paper, when you are using any fabric or stuff that has bright color, you should use dark paper because inkjet printers only print on white background. 

We go through both papers. So choose the right paper according to your need and make sure you should work on an inkjet printer.

What is the best Printer ink for T-Shirt Transfer Paper?

Many people trying to identify which ink provides them the best transfer result on T-Shirt. However, you do not need to worry about the variety of inks. Whatever printing ink would you use will perfectly work, but you need to note three things before purchasing the sublimation paper for the t-shirt.

• The paper type you are using for the transfer.
• The color tune of the fabric or t-shirt you want to design.
• The Sublimation printer Printer. 

How To Use Transfer Paper for a T-Shirt – Beginner’s Guide

In this guide, we will provide you with a detailed guide about the sublimation of t shit printing business. We defined the whole process step by step from designing a graphic to printing a t-shirt. So let us start without tunneling you with stories.

These steps are pretty easy and beneficial for both newbies and field persons. If you follow our set of instructions and precautions you will get awesome results.

Select Best Sublimation Printer For T-shirts

Sublimation printers maybe your best option if your business deals with t-shirts. Sublimation printers are different from most printers because they print directly on the fabric. If you are looking for a sublimation printer, you need to consider the size of the printing field, the number of ink colors, the printing speed, and the cost.

There are several types of sublimation printers available based on the size of the media and the complexity of the printing. Our recommendation is to use either Ricoma R550 or Epson F570 for Sublimation. These are the best sublimation printers for t-shirt printing.

Check out Ricoma R550 or Epson F570 for Sublimation Printer Review.

Appropriate Heat Press Machine

Before using sublimation paper, you should have a heat transfer machine and at least some knowledge about heat press. These have different types and sizes. 

It all depends upon the project on which you are working. You should know at what temperature and pressure, and time frame according to your plan. However, there are two main factors to consider before getting a heat press.

The Designs and Sizes

In marketplaces, there are various types of heat transfer in different designs and styles. Every machine has different primary determinants like time, temperature, pressure, etc. Each has different and unique features.

These features and determinants vary on your project requirements, and what you are planning to print. Usually, heat transfer includes malfunction, swing-away, and slide-out drawer. If you require something more flexible and versatile, then go for the swing-away. 

Moreover, size also matters in sublimation t-shirt printing and plays an important role in printing designs. Choose the size according to your requirement, if you want to print small designs, text, and images go for the small size, it will deliver you the best results.

Normally there are three general sizes for heat press. 

• Small
• Standard 
• Large

Determining a Right Fabric

As we all know, sublimation printing involves heat and not all fabrics are heatable. So make sure you should have the right stuff to avoid any mishappening. All the garments that meet the color terms of transfer paper will not be appropriate for printing. 

You need to figure out which fabric gives you the perfect outcome. You can choose from include Cotton, spandex, and polyester. they are suitable options.

Selecting the suitable Heat Transfer Paper

As we already inform you above about heat paper, there are different models of paper. light transfer paper is applied for light color t-shirts and dark transfer paper is used for dark color fabrics.

Choose the correct model as per your needs, and also check whether the paper is compatible with the printer or not? The paper also depends upon the printers and methods.

Preparing the Graphics

once you have the right sublimation printer, ink, fabric, and paper. Now it’s time to design the graphic. You can design any graphic like logo, trademark, picture, text, quotes, etc for your t shit. 

For this, you will need a good computer that can run graphic designing software, Usually, graphic designers use Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Corel-draw software.

If you know graphic design, it will be very beneficial for you. You can entirely customize the design with your creativity. Else you can hire a graphic designer from freelancing platforms.

Print on Transfer Paper

Now, You have all the things to start the printing on heat transfer papers. So power on your printer and get ready to start printing, Don’t worry it is the same as normal printing but you need to take note of some points. 

Make sure the design will print on the coated side of the heat paper. After the first print, you will be able to identify whether the color of the print is perfect or need some adjustments. 

Also, you have to remember to reverse the picture before printing. This is especially important while you are using light transfer paper.

Test the Transfer Paper

When you finally get the perfect print after some tries. So it’s time to test the Transfer paper. So ready to heat press for transferring the design on the t-shirt, also adjust the pressure, time, and heat limit of your machine. You will get all the instructions from the machine’s user manual. 

Take the old canvass, fabric, T-shirt, etc, and transfer the design onto it. 

You have to check the size ratio, color, sharpness, margin, etc of your design after printing. Then you can do whatever changes you want. This test sample will guide you, whether you have some problem or not?

Print the Shirt

Now you have all things to start printing t-shirts, you have tested your designs. So set up your heat transfer features according to your fabric, you will find out the value of temperature, pressure, and time in your press manual. 

Take the t-shirt and place the printed heat transfer paper exactly where you want to print your design on shit. Also, make sure the adjustments and margins before applying the heat press.

To avoid the ink mark on the other side of the shirt you can you a clipboard. Place the board between the t-shirt and then press. After printing, you must dry the print before folding the t-shirt.

Common Mistakes in Printing with Transfer Paper for T-shirts

These are the few common mistakes that people do while designing a t-shirt with transfer papers and a heat press. Avoiding them makes your printing clean and awesome.

• Choosing the right model of transfer paper.
• Make sure to mirror the design.
• Printing design on the coated side of the paper.
• Test the heat transfer paper.

Conclusion:

Now you got all the initial information, on how to print and use heat transfer paper for your t-shirt. We provide you with the track, just follow each step and you will definitely achieve the best results. 

These steps are not super hard. We avoid the technical words and tried to make the guide simple and easy to understand. We hope you will find it useful and hope so this guide will clear the process of t-shirt printing.