Sign Builder Illustrated contributor Jim Hingst writes: “Some screen printers who print directly onto t-shirts or who print plastisol heat transfers will stretch the garment before printing or heat pressing. By doing this, the weave of the shirt opens up allowing the ink to better penetrate the fibers of the fabric. This practice is believed to prevent cracking of the ink.
“While stretching garments may work when printing t-shirts or heat pressing plastisol heat transfers, you should not stretch shirts prior to heat pressing a polyurethane heat transfer film. Here’s why. After the shirt is washed, it will shrink back to its original shape. When this happens, the polyurethane applique will contract, resulting in the puckering of the heat transfer film.”
To read more, check out the latest “Hingst’s Sign Post” blog.
