Let's Turn Up the Heat!Heat transfer starts with a design printed in beautiful full color onto a piece of paper. This isn't any ordinary piece of paper, though. You can't just print your design on regular notebook paper and hope an iron will press it onto your backpack. That's a good way to start a fire!Instead, heat press uses a special Teflon-coated paper that's made to withstand extreme temperatures, as well as other kinds of wear and tear. The back of the paper is coated with an extra-strong adhesive to make sure your custom design won't peel off of your items for a long time.
Heat Press is ForeverOnce the design has been printed, trimmed, and set into position, it's time to make it permanent. Remember how heat transfer was a lot like using those old iron-on decals? Well, here's the point where you'll really see a difference.In order to accommodate large-scale custom orders, manufacturers have to use large-scale industrial equipment. Makes sense, right? These are significantly larger than a regular iron. In fact, the heat press machines used by manufacturers are probably a lot bigger than what you have space for in your laundry room or basement.
Wow! That's Hot!When that giant iron comes down to press the design into the fabric, it operates at a pressure of 30 to 40 psi (pounds per square inch). For comparison, the pressure inside USA-made pressure cookers is 15 psi, while most hot water heaters operate at pressures between 12 and 25 psi. These giant irons are extremely powerful!Heat transfer machinery works at temperatures above 300°F. At such high temperatures, the adhesive on the back of the special transfer paper melts right into the fabric. It doesn't take long before your design becomes a thing of beauty that people will marvel over for years.
Alyssa Mertesamertes@qualitylogoproducts.com866-312-5646 x 277Alyssa is the Lead Copywriter at Quality Logo Products. As a promo expert, she's uncovered the world's first custom tote bag, interviewed the guy behind rock band AC/DC's logo, and had a piece published by the Advertising Specialty Institute, a leader in the promotional products industry.