> Tip <
March 01, 2005

Since printing directly on a garment is simple once you get the hang of it, why should you go to the trouble of making a heat transfer? Simply, there are markets where printing your own transfers makes more sense that direct screen printing.

For instance, using transfers on baseball caps gives a sharp print on both light and dark styles -- especially when printing multicolor. With direct printing, fine lines and detail are hard to hold on the cap's soft surface.

Small orders are great for transfers too. When the client needs to reorder, you'll have his job ready on transfers instead of shirts, saving the expense and room needed to house finished garment inventory. And "preprint" transfers work well to keep your inventory costs at a minimum. Preprints (sometimes called stock designs) are themed lines designed and printed by your shop, then sold at retail, through mail-order or other avenues.

Additional niches that warrant a good look include events such as fairs and festivals; those that require athletic numbering or lettering; and for start-up decorating businesses needing a way to create multicolor designs without the expense of buying a multicolor press and garment inventory.