Aligning transfer prints onto t-shirts (etc) Noob questions

[Joelmb]

Hi guys, you seasoned experts you. Just given my 2nd hand beta maxi a go yesterday and all is good. however one or two (edit: ok more) noob questions; how does one best align transfers to ensure their straight and central? Or is it just a case of judging by eye? Same I guess applies to other substrates.

Secondly, if I want to press several small items like keyrings (for eg) at once, what is the usual way of lining the inserts up with the transfer paper? I'm guessing there's some clever trick to doing that? Or do you again just try and judge by eye when placing the paper down onto the inserts? (assuming that is inserts placed below paper is best way that is!? That still confuses me! Is there a rule of thumb thicker the material likelier it goes on top to be heated through better?? Likewise, when to mirror print the transfer image and not??)

Third, handling the pressure. My BM has a manual pressure knob but no gauge. So do I just guess as to whether the pressure feels right? I was doing tees which the paper said high pressure but I can barely close the press on higher (not highest) pressure. I'll be aiming to do slates which this of course becomes more critical! Again advice please!

Alternatively is there a good all in one resource / handbook crib-sheet / website for this type of common noob-getting- going stuff?

[Customprintwales]

Alternatively is there a good all in one resource / handbook crib-sheet / website for this type of common noob-getting- going stuff?

Youtube is full of great video tutorials. I learn something new everyday

[loobyloo]

You can buy an t shirt alignment tool on amazon and ebay for about £34 but I fold down middle and press then get the tape measure out - but im very new to this and maybe others have better tried and tested techniques

[Quinsfan]

Eyes are the best for me. Unless you place the Tshirt on the press the other way round to the other 5 you have just done and press it upside down DOH!!


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[mrs maggot]

you will get there by sight eventually, get the hang of getting the t straight on the press to start with.

you should be lining up hard transfers by taping them onto the paper to start with, so with gaps on an a4 sheet then line them up and tape them on one edge only - making sure its the same edge on all, then when they are done, you can flip the sheet and they will all come off the paper enough to then remove completely once cool

[paul 44]

eyes for me to although I sometimes head for the trusted ruler and measure side to side if im not 100% sure.

Another tip, if you are printing text or images, find some straight lines on the image or text, place a ruler along the straight edges of text/image and gauge that with the base of the shirt to make sure the print is straight, if the ruler isnt straight either is the print, it takes 2 seconds and has helped me out on many occasions where I was a little doubtful

[Forgetful8]

Eyes are the best for me. Unless you place the Tshirt on the press the other way round to the other 5 you have just done and press it upside down DOH!!


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One for the Australian market? :biggrin:

I've only dabbled so far - but for a straight-edged design, eyes have worked well enough. Centralising the transfer was done by the trusty finger measurement method. One it's on the t-shirt nobody is going to notice a couple of mm either way or half a degree tilt.

[Earl Smith]

I use a piece of sturdy, A4 card which comes in every delivery carton from my supplier. ( Stops people from cutting the garments when opening the box with a knife.)
I lay the t-shirt/polo on the platen then measure down to where I want the print. Cut a suitable width of card and then mark on the card the position of the print. As the card is A4, its the width of the platen so its easy to get the print square on the shirt. Every print from now on is in the same place. If doing smaller shirts then make a smaller template.
Same for the back.