How can decorators decide which transfer to use for a job?

When considering heat printing from a very high level, there are four main buckets of products:

1. Heat transfer vinyl
2. Screen-printed transfers
3. Digital transfers
4. Special finishes and effects

While there are many choices, finishes, and styles within each, dispatching the work often comes down to having a solid understanding of the buckets. Consider these fast facts.

• Heat transfer vinyl is best used when the logo is two or fewer colors and 24 or less in quantity
• Screen-printed transfers are best used when the logo is low in the number of colors and 24 or more in quantity
• Digital transfers are best used when the logo has three or more colors and can potentially be used at any quantity
• Special finishes and effects is a category that needs to be explored because there are a lot of unique options available such as sublimated twill, dimensional logos, and patches that deliver looks beyond a standard logo

With this baseline understanding, you can get a job within the right technology bucket and dig further into a specific product choice based on finish, feel, and fabric compatibility. While a logo can be produced in almost any way, not getting a job into the best method may leave you short on your profitability goals, priced out of the market, or overburdened with labor.

—Stahls’