Impressions - Team & Active Wear - Spring 2019 - 13

Do What It Says

Following the instructions for your heat-transfer material is the first
step to success. Heat-transfer materials specifically designed to apply
to synthetics are adhered at different time, temperature and pressure
settings than materials applied to natural fibers. If the apparel is unique,
change the transfer or heat-transfer vinyl type to match the apparel,
not the application instructions.

Cool Down the Heat Press

You may think if some heat is good, more heat is better. On the contrary,
hot-melt adhesive is designed to adhere under specific conditions
and using too much heat will make the adhesive burn off without
properly applying.
Outside of performancewear, the garment industry is moving away
from 100% cotton and cotton/poly blends, with many garment manufacturers making special blends that include synthetics. Gone are the
days of pressing transfers and vinyl at 350°F and hoping for the best.
Today's fabrics require more specific care when applying heat. When
dealing with fabrics that can scorch, always use the lowest recommended
temperature for the material you're decorating. Err on the side of caution if trying a new process or material and you'll thank yourself later.

Stop Dye Migration

Another reason to cool the press down is when working with garments
made primarily of polyester, you may face dye migration. This occurs
when a polyester garment is heated above 280°F (138°C) and the ink
used to dye the fabric gets hot enough to return to its initial gas form.

By educating yourself about the type of
performancewear your customers want and which
products work best with them, you can ensure you
always deliver a quality garment.

A Supplement to Impressions

When the garment gets hot enough to release the ink, it will stain or
discolor any transfer being applied to it.
For instance, a white piece of heat-transfer vinyl applied to a red
polyester garment will turn pink if too much heat is applied. Get
ahead of this problem by selecting a material for lower-temperature
application or one that is made specifically to block dye migration.

Read the Label

Before heat applying it's important to understand the fabric that
makes up the garment. The garment's care label will indicate its fiber
content, along with percentages of each type. Garments containing
nylon, polyester, or Lycra/spandex require special consideration when
heat applying.
The highest percentage fiber is the one that determines the heat-transfer material and application guidelines you should use. For instance,
if the jersey's care label lists the fiber content as 30% polyester/20%
nylon/50% Lycra, choose the heat-transfer material based on Lycra.

Use the Right Tools
for the Job

With the growing popularity of these synthetic fabrics, heat-press
manufacturers are developing tools and accessories to reduce the risk of
scorching. Heat presses with interchangeable platens that are available in
different sizes allow the heat to be applied only where it's needed on the
garment. A heated lower platen is an even better option, as it allows heat
to be applied from below, which requires less heat on the garment's face.

Use Info*Action #106 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction

Spring 2019 * 13

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Impressions - Team & Active Wear - Spring 2019

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