Impressions - October/November 2015 - 63
much waste as possible on each one. The
goal, however, is to keep an objective and
production-oriented mindset during this
process. If you get too creative with meshing designs together on vinyl sheets, you
can inadvertently make yourself an exacto
puzzle that takes more time to cut apart
than it saves in production.
A good rule to follow is to allow for
straight cut lines between designs and jobs
so you rapidly can separate them using a
large cutter. If you try to use all the negative space inside letters or save a lot of
vinyl scraps, you can make it a challenge
to quickly cut the designs apart. The headaches may not be worth the money saved
(see Figure 5). Without an honest, objective perspective, this idea of using every
piece of vinyl can lead to small shops
spending hours to save only a handful of
dollars in vinyl.
There are some cases where this can
make sense if the design isn't too complicated. When you have an asymmetrical design, you can sometimes get more designs
in a smaller amount of space. Just be prepared to spend more time extracting them.
Once you have practiced with selling,
designing and preparing cut heat-press
vinyl, it can become an ideal solution for
your customers. A process that is both safe
for expensive items and perfect for variable data or short runs, the correct art and
production will make a heat press a profitable option for your shop.
Figure 5. Creative staging can save vinyl, but only some designs are
worth the time involved.
Thomas Trimingham has been working
in screen printing for more than 23 years as
an industry consultant, freelance artist, and
high-end separator. He is an award-winning
illustrator, designer, and author of more than
125 articles on screen-printing art and separations. For more information or to comment
on this article, contact Thomas through his
educational website, screenprintingartist.com.
Suggested
Reading
Like this article? Read these and
other digital decorating articles at
impressionsmag.com:
* "Tips for Numbering Basketball
Uniforms"
* "Techniques for Eliminating
Carrier Sheet Marks"
* "Keys for Clean, Protected Heat
Press Platens"
Use Info*Action #26 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction
impressionsmag.com
October/November 2015 | Impressions
63
http://www.screenprintingartist.com
http://www.impressionsmag.com
http://www.heatpress.com
http://www.heatpress.com
http://www.impressionsmag.com/infoaction
http://www.impressionsmag.com
Impressions - October/November 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - October/November 2015
Impressions - October/November 2015
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
FYI
Product Gallery
ISS Conferences
On Design
Mega Multimedia
Performance Perfection
The Digital Directive
On the Front Lines
Mark Your Calendar
Shop Spotlight
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Digital Decorating
Classifieds
Online Directory
Ad Index
Impressions - October/November 2015 - CT1
Impressions - October/November 2015 - CT2
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Impressions - October/November 2015
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Cover2
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 1
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Contents
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 3
Impressions - October/November 2015 - First Impressions
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 5
Impressions - October/November 2015 - From the Show Director
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 7
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FYI
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 9
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 10
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 11
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 12
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 13
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 14
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 15
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Product Gallery
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 17
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 18
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 19
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 19a
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 19b
Impressions - October/November 2015 - ISS Conferences
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 21
Impressions - October/November 2015 - On Design
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 23
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Mega Multimedia
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 25
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 26
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 27
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 28
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 29
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Performance Perfection
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 31
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 32
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 33
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 34
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 35
Impressions - October/November 2015 - The Digital Directive
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 37
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 38
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 39
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 40
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 41
Impressions - October/November 2015 - On the Front Lines
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 43
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 44
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 45
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 46
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 47
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Mark Your Calendar
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 49
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 50
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 51
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Shop Spotlight
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 53
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 55
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 56
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 58
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 59
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Digital Decorating
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 61
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 62
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 63
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Classifieds
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Ad Index
Impressions - October/November 2015 - 66
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Cover3
Impressions - October/November 2015 - Cover4
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FW1
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FW2
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FW3
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FW4
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FW5
Impressions - October/November 2015 - FW6
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20241011
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