Impressions - April 2023 - 31
Pillows help even things out
when pressing items with
buttons and zippers.
Photo courtesy of
HIX Corporation
fi tted around a platen), pillows and pads. In
fact, so ubiquitous are these items they can
be found everywhere from the work areas
of casual hobbyists to some
of the largest decorating
companies around.
In practice, craft paCraft
paper (right) has long been
a standby in the industry. Photo
courtesy of Insta Graphic Systems
per can serve multiple purposes.
Th ese include protecting the upper
platen from becoming contaminated with
inks or adhesives, helping hold a transfer in
place while pressing and preventing scorching.
Same thing with Tefl on cover sheets.
However, the two are not entirely the same.
In addition to being cheap and by extension
disposable, for example, craft paper is
better for absorbing inks and the outgassing
of dyes. It also works well when pressing designs
with a matte fi nish. A reusable Tefl on
sheet, on the other hand, works best at ensuring
things separate cleanly when you're
fi nished pressing. It is also, of course, reusable-though
it needs to be cleaned between
jobs so the ink from one job doesn't spoil the
next job in line.
" Sometimes one is better than the other,
like for sublimation Tefl on is a bad cover sheet
because the dyes will gas into the Tefl on, "
Aaron Knight, vice president of Geo Knight
& Co. explains. " Paper is best for that, since
it can be thrown away. "
" Many decorators like the longevity of a
reusable cover sheet since it can be wiped
down when needed, " says Dave Harding of
STAHLS'-Hotronix. " Alternatively, some heat
printers simply get in the habit of using kraft
paper. Once you see residue, just toss it and
grab a new sheet. "
Interestingly, HIX Corporation's Henri
Coƫme says on occasions he will actually fi nd
himself using a combination of the two in
Pads (above)
provide another means of heat pressing
around buttons and zippers. Photo
courtesy of STAHLS'
order to get the result he wants.
For example, he says he will sometimes
use a Tefl on cover " in addition to the
craft paper as a fi nal protection for the upper
casting or (as a Tefl on cover) as a protection
for the lower pad. "
As for pillows and pads, while these two
types of accessories may appear similar, they
also serve two very diff erent purposes. Specifi
cally, pads-which consist of a foam core
wrapped in Tefl on-are much softer than padding
and when placed underneath or inserted
into a shirt or bag serve to accommodate
the variations in thickness that result from
things like seams, hems or collars: basically,
by allowing them to sink into the padding,
pillows make possible to still apply the requisite
pressure to the area being decorated.
By contrast, pads are a good deal stiff er and
serve to raise up the area to be pressed while
allowing collars, seams, zippers, buttons and
other irregularities to drop off to the side.
Unlike pillows, pads which are composed of
a simple piece of foam, can also be cut and
shaped to size.
A sampling of the variety
of specialty platens available to decorators.
Photo courtesy of STAHLS'
" Having pillows or pads allows heat printers
to decorate a variety of garments and
placements without having to invest in extra
equipment or attachments for their heat
press, " Harding says. " Whether it's oversized
jerseys or onesies for babies, you can do it
all on the same heat press with just a few
pillows or pads on hand. "
" Generally speaking, a decorator will see the
best results using a platen as close to the size
of the transfer they are placing as possible, "
says Greg Farmer of Insta Graphic Systems.
However, he adds, " When this is not feasible
either due to cost restrictions or availability
of such a platen, then pads and pillows can
be a potential alternative. "
Custom Platens
Of course, the downside to pillows and pads
is the fact they need to be carefully positioned
April 2023
P.31
Impressions - April 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - April 2023
Impressions - April 2023 - CT1
Impressions - April 2023 - CT2
Impressions - April 2023 - Cover1
Impressions - April 2023 - Cover2
Impressions - April 2023 - 1
Impressions - April 2023 - 2
Impressions - April 2023 - 3
Impressions - April 2023 - 4
Impressions - April 2023 - 5
Impressions - April 2023 - 6
Impressions - April 2023 - 7
Impressions - April 2023 - 8
Impressions - April 2023 - 9
Impressions - April 2023 - 10
Impressions - April 2023 - 11
Impressions - April 2023 - 12
Impressions - April 2023 - 13
Impressions - April 2023 - 14
Impressions - April 2023 - 15
Impressions - April 2023 - 16
Impressions - April 2023 - 17
Impressions - April 2023 - 18
Impressions - April 2023 - 19
Impressions - April 2023 - 20
Impressions - April 2023 - 21
Impressions - April 2023 - 22
Impressions - April 2023 - 23
Impressions - April 2023 - 24
Impressions - April 2023 - 25
Impressions - April 2023 - 26
Impressions - April 2023 - 27
Impressions - April 2023 - 28
Impressions - April 2023 - 29
Impressions - April 2023 - 30
Impressions - April 2023 - 31
Impressions - April 2023 - 32
Impressions - April 2023 - 33
Impressions - April 2023 - 34
Impressions - April 2023 - 35
Impressions - April 2023 - 36
Impressions - April 2023 - 37
Impressions - April 2023 - 38
Impressions - April 2023 - 39
Impressions - April 2023 - 40
Impressions - April 2023 - 41
Impressions - April 2023 - 42
Impressions - April 2023 - 43
Impressions - April 2023 - 44
Impressions - April 2023 - 45
Impressions - April 2023 - 46
Impressions - April 2023 - 47
Impressions - April 2023 - 48
Impressions - April 2023 - Cover3
Impressions - April 2023 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20231011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com