Tips and Tricks for
Cutting, Printing & Heat Pressing SEF Heat Transfer Films
Thank You For
Choosing
SEF HEAT TRANSFER
FILMS
With SEF films for plotter
cutting and printing, you can expand your product offering to include heat
transfers for sports teams, groups such as sororities, fraternities and businesses.
It’s a great way to ignite your sales and profits. Heat transfer materials can
be applied to t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, caps, bags or any fabric
material.
The SEF line of heat transfer
materials consists of four families of products. FlexCut™ and FlockCut™ are for
plotter cutting. FlexPrint™ and FlockPrint™ are print and cut materials. SEF
FlexCut™ and FlockCut™ heat transfer materials consist of a heat-activated
adhesive coated on either a polyurethane or flock facestock, laminated to a
plastic release liner or carrier film. With the carrier on the bottom, the top
layer is the adhesive. After the graphics are cut in reverse, the carrier serves
as the application film. This clear film carrier allows the user to accurately
position the graphic, which prevents misalignment.
FlexPrint™ and FlockPrint™
consist of a facestock coated with a heat-activated adhesive on a film carrier.
With the carrier on the bottom, the top side is the printable surface. After
the material is printed “right reading”, and contour cut, the matrix is weeded
and the graphics are laminated with a hot mask type of application tape, such
as SEF’s FlexTape.
Vinyl versus
Polyurethane
Vinyl heat transfer films
are often considerably less expensive than polyurethane films. These vinyl
films are thicker, less flexible and less durable than polyurethane. After
multiple washings, vinyl heat transfer graphics tend to become brittle and
crack.
Plotter Cutting
If you have a plotter, you
can use the same vector-based software that you use for cutting vinyl graphics.
The only difference is that you will cut the SEF FlexCut and FlockCut materials
in reverse or “wrong reading”. The 45° blade that you use for cutting vinyl
graphics is also the same that you will use when cutting any of the SEF films.
Always do a test cut prior
to production. The SEF FlexPrint™ and FlockPrint™ families of heat transfer
materials are digitally printable with solvent, ecosolvent and latex inks. When
printing SEF materials, a generic ‘heat transfer media’ profile will generally
provide acceptable color reproduction.
After the SEF media is printed, cut and weeded, apply the hot mask
application tape, such as the SEF FlexTape, with a squeegee to the printed
graphic. Remove the carrier or release liner of the heat transfer media and
apply it to the garment. Printed polyurethane or vinyl heat transfer media
generally require medium tack or high tack hot mask application tapes.
Transferring printed flock films is extremely
difficult, because of the highly textured surface of the flock fibers.
Standard application tapes used for vinyl graphics, including ultra-high
tack tapes, just don’t work.
For this very difficult application, SEF has
developed a special tape, which is designed to transfer printed flock films,
such as EcoPrint. This transparent polyester film is coated with a high
tack silicone adhesive and protected with a white embossed polypropylene
release liner (shown below).
The SEF FlexTape exhibits exceptional adhesive properties to transfer
printed appliques, including flock graphics with plotter cut copy, script or
intricate detail. The clarity of the film aids accurate positioning of printed
heat transfer appliques to garments.
After laminating the HotMask, peel the carrier
or liner from the back of the print.
During the heat press operation, SEF’s FlexTape protects the printed
media from the high temperatures of the top platen, preventing discoloration
and distortion of the applique. The polyester (PET) facestock of the masking
withstands heat cycles as long as 60 seconds at 330° F (166°C).
Following the heat pressing cycle, the SEF masking removes easily and
cleanly in one piece, within a few seconds, while it is still warm. The FlexTape
maskings are designed so they do not leave any residue on the printed graphic.
The new hot mask application tapes also work well with all brands and types of
printable flock heat transfer films.
Heat Press Warm Up
Heat presses take time to warm up to the optimal temperature. About thirty
minutes prior to production allow your press warm up. Set your controls for the
time, temperature and pressure settings recommended for the heat transfer films
that you will use.
Pre-Heating the
Garment
Prior to heat press transfer of the graphic, always preheat the garment
for three to five seconds. This serves three important functions:
- First, it drives out moisture, which could inhibit adhesion of the heat
transfer material.
- Second, it presses the garment smooth, eliminating wrinkles so the
heat transfer has a smooth surface to adhere to. No wrinkles in the garment,
means no wrinkles in the graphics.
- Third, preheating the fabric will cause it to shrink. That’s a good
thing, if you are layering several different materials. Without preheating, the
shirt and the first layer of graphics will shrink together. That will make
registration of subsequent layers impossible.
Will preheating prevent further
shrinking as the garment goes through multiple heat pressings? Not always, so
there are other fixes that may work, such as allowing for overlaps when you are
designing the graphics.
Heat Press Operation
Successful application
of heat transfer materials depends on three primary variables: temperature,
duration and pressure. Before heat pressing, refer the SEF literature for the
recommended time and temperature settings.
After pressing the
material, wait at least three seconds, before peeling off the carrier. While
you can remove the carrier cold, it removes more easily and in less time when it
is hot.
Test, Don’t Guess. Most of SEF films are designed for application
to cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester blends. Prior to production, refer to
the SEF literature regarding compatibility of the film to the fabric. Since we cannot
possibly test every film/fabric combination for compatibility, test the film to
ensure its adhesion.
NOTE: When applying SEF heat transfer materials to
thicker garments, you may need to increase the time to achieve good adhesion.
Registering Graphics
After you weed the
matrix for the SEF plotter cut films, you will turn the graphics over to
position the graphic on the garment. The clear liner allows for accurate
registration, which is critical when doing layered graphics. With the material in
position (the carrier should be on top now), the graphics should now be “right
reading”.
Be sure to carefully measure
the graphics, to prevent misalignment of graphics. To aid registration, several
tools are available on the market, such as the Tee Square It™ tool or alignment
grids.
After you position the graphics
on the garment, you can cover the graphics with a Teflon® blanket (optional). While
this blanket will evenly distribute the heat, the main purpose is to protect
the top platen.
Layering Graphics
Combining different materials
in apparel design creates visual excitement, which can be your competitive edge
in selling heat transfer graphics. Think of the possibilities of combining
colored flex films with a metallic film or a flock film. You can create designs
that are unique and different and difficult to reproduce using other
techniques, such as screen or digital printing.
Layering multiple color
designs involves cutting, weeding and heat pressing each color of film
separately. In heat pressing one color over another, make sure that the carrier
covers and protects all of the different layers which have been applied.
Garment Care
How long a heat transfer
image depends in large part on how the end user cares for his or her garment.
To achieve the optimal durability, the consumer should always follow a few
simple rules:
Washing
- To prevent abrasion as
garments rub together during the wash cycle, turn the garment inside out.
- Wash the garment in cold
or warm water. Use a mild detergent. Never use bleach.
Drying
- To protect the image
from abrasion as garments rub against each other, turn it inside out.
- Tumble dry on low OR
hang to dry (preferred).
If you have questions about cutting, weeding or pressing heat transfer films, call SEF Americas or your SEF distributor.
ABOUT SEF: For more than 35 years, SEF has provided the screen printing and garment industries with high quality flex films and flock films. Manufacturing at SEF is totally integrated. The factory formulates, casts and adhesive coats its own polyurethane (PU) films. SEF even manufactures its own flock fibers. With a corporate commitment to a greener environment, all of its film and adhesive formulations are water based. This ensures that no solvents pollute the atmosphere. Its only emission is water vapor. Today, SEF is recognized as a leading producer of heat transfer films for used in the fabrication of heat press appliqués for textile decoration. Its ultra-thin polyurethane films and super soft flock films are easy to plotter cut and digitally print.
FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT: SEF Americas provides a toll-free technical support service at 844-720-9601. NOTE: If your call is not answered by a tech support person during normal business hours, 8am to 5pm EST (Eastern Standard Time), please leave a message and we will do our best to return your call within an hour. Should you need to contact us after business hours, an alternate tech support number is 480-987-8028. You can also get answers to your technical questions by emailing: techsupport@SEFamericas.com.
About this blog: SEF Americas Heat Transfer Blog is dedicated to providing technical information about flex and flock films for heat pressing appliques to textiles. SEF, a leader in flock materials and polyurethane films, serves the garment, sign and screen print industries. SEF brands include Tatoo, Classicprint, Clearflex, Fiberplus, Metalflex and Reflexcut.
For More Information About SEF Americas:
14476-201 Duval Place West
Jacksonville, FL 32218
904-423-0211 - Phone
904-423-0899 - Fax
844-720-9600 - Toll Free
© 2015 Jim Hingst
