press marks on polyester garments

[paul 44]

HI folks,

This has probably been covered somewhere but when I press vinyl onto poly garments such as football tops, there is obviously a mark left where the pressing has taken place.
I'm using hotflex and pressing at 15 secs at 320f (160c) and garment is covered with heat proof paper also.
In the past when I have done these, the heat marks dissapear after washing as i believe it fluffs up the small fibers in the material.

I have a customer who dropped off some tops yesterday for her son, I always advise that a press mark will be seen on the garment but dissipates after washing (which most do) but is there any other way to help minimise the press mark. The tops are blue, when pressing, the area in question will turn a lighter shade of blue and the customer is a little worried that the press mark wont come out so i'm just looking to try and minimise the initial press mark if possible?

Would doubling over the heat proof paper help?

[pw66]

Most industry standard brands shouldn't discolour much (if at all) at 160c. Is the customer using very cheap garments?

Polyester sport fabric is dyed using a dye that behaves very similarly to sublimation ink. When it reachs temperatures approaching 160c the dye turns to gas in the same way that sub ink does. It will stain your platen and mark any subsequent white garments you print, but I have never known it to discolour the garment. I regularly press onto sports tops at 160 without a problem, and occasionaly sub black text onto dark colours at 200c with only slight discolouring.

You need to find a lower temperature garment vinyl to solve the problem. Some work at 130c. Only printing onto garments that are supposed to be printed onto will also help.

[paul 44]

Mine does discolour slightly but always bounces back after its been washed, I'm going to try a tester on one of my old football tops, i willl cover it with heat proof paper, then on top of that, use an old tshirt, then press the vinyl at normal temp (160 for 15 secs) and see if it helps with the initial marking, I will post results

[socialgiraffe]

A few things you could try...

Firstly, perhaps use a low temp vinyl might help to minimise the marks. Ideally one that is 120 degrees for 5 seconds so time under the press in nominal.

Also, get yourself a steamer so you could steam the garment afterwards to remove the mark yourself

Lastly, try using a teflon pillow to reduce the mark

[paul 44]

Thanks for that,i've just done a test print on an old football shirt of mine, used an old tshirt over the top of the print and without using grease/heat proof paper, added a few more seconds to the time, worked a treat, very slight mark but a lot better than just using heat proof paper, printed at the normal 160c

[Fletcher]

I have this issue all the time. all I do is spray a small amount of water over the area (out of a spray bottle) and wipe with a cloth. Then leave it to dry. Then the customer never see's the mark.