SEF Americas Heat Transfer Blog

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Stretching Garments Prior to Heat Pressing

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 appliqué will contract, resulting in the puckering of the heat transfer film. See the photo below.

Do not stretch the garment prior to heat pressing or the appliqué will pucker after the first washing.

Instead of stretching a garment prior to pressing, you should pre-press it. This causes the shirt to shrink. In addition, if there is any moisture in the fabric, pre-pressing will dry the shirt. Moisture can potentially cause adhesion problems. Pressing the garment also provides a smooth surface for the application of the heat transfer appliqué..

Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents

Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

Monday, April 20, 2015

Heat Pressing Appliques on Leather

Back when Marlon Brando rode into Hollywood stardom in the Wild One (1953), the leather motorcycle jacket, adorned with a biker back patch, symbolized the country’s rugged iconoclastic spirit. Since the era of Brando, the popularity of real leather apparel has not diminished. Little has also changed in how we embellish leather attire. Leather jackets and vests are still decorated with sewn-on embroidered cloth patches with club names and the complimentary adornment of skulls, eagles and dragons.

As an alternative to the embroidered patch, many shop owners have tried heat pressing appliques with varied results. After conducting heat pressing tests, I discovered that the problem is not getting a heat transfer material to adhere to the leather. Everything I have tried had bonded exceptionally well. Rather, the challenge was minimizing the effects of heat and pressure on the coloration and surface texture of the leather. Failure to control the process could get ugly. Just imagine the menacing visage of an enraged biker named Scum or Bone, after defacing his prized motorcycle jacket.

In evaluating various heat transfer materials and application processes, we noted that the discoloration of leather is much more apparent with lighter colors. In the photo below, I heat pressed the SEF Tatoo printable polyurethane film at a temperature of 330 degrees F for 17 seconds. Note that the area not protected by the Hot Mask transfer tape has darkened. The rectangular shape of the heat mask was also permanently impressed in the surface of the leather.

On a darker brown leather, I achieved much more favorable results. I used SEF FlexCut Sticky Nylon, a heat transfer material that adheres at a lower temperature. The heat activated adhesive coated on this film is designed for nylon, other coated fabrics and difficult to adhere to surfaces. Because leather is tanned using many different types of natural materials, such as tannins, chemicals or vegetable or animal oils, any one of these treatments could affect adhesion. Being the most aggressive adhesive, we felt that this product was a safe choice for leather. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.

Note: There are many different types of leathers, as well as many different textures, treatments, and chemicals used in its processing. While a heat transfer films, such as SEF FlexCut Sticky Nylon, can work great on many leather products, on other leathers nothing works at all. When feasible, it is always best to test and evaluate a film for a particular application. As I regularly remind people, “Test, Don’t Guess”.

The gold FlexCut Sticky Nylon Levi’s applique (shown below) was heat pressed at a temperature of 240 degrees F for 17 seconds. Make no mistake, we still experienced some darkening of the leather, but to a much lesser degree. Covering the entire leather piece with a Teflon sheet or brown kraft paper may lessen any detrimental effects.

Leather is a very soft and malleable, natural material. If you heat press an applique onto it, you can leave an impression of the carrier or Hot Mask transfer film in the leather itself. To minimize the impression of the polyester carrier in the leather, we trimmed much of the excess film around the perimeter of the graphic. Even after trimming, you will undoubtedly leave an impression in the leather, but it will likely be less aesthetically objectionable.

For Information about FlexCut Sticky Nylon: FlexCut Sticky Nylon Application Instructions

Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents

Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

ReflexCut Sweet Reflective Heat Transfer Films

Attention-getting films provide motorists with advance warning to prevent accidents.

Most people avoid the limelight. Others need to be seen. This is especially true of people, who work and play in poor visibility environments. By wearing garments decorated SEF ReflexCut Sweet retro-reflective heat transfer films, these people get all the attention they desire.

ReflexCut is a safety grade micro-bead retro-reflective polyurethane film. Constructed of micro glass beads, ReflexCut Sweet satisfies the EN471 High Visibility Standard. These heat transfer films are highly visible near a light source, such as the headlights of a car.

By reflecting light back to the light source, ReflexCut helps motorists identify people in the dark, so drivers can avoid accidents which all too frequently result in serious injury and death.

The opacity of ReflexCut Sweet provides excellent hiding power, allowing for application to dark garments preventing the telegraphing of the background color. Nevertheless, ReflexCut Sweet is thin and flexible enough for active wear.

Reflective films aren’t just for safety applications. In the design pictured above, ReflexCut is used to highlight the eyes of the tiger.

ReflexCut is ideal for decorating clothing worn by firemen, policemen, paramedics, highway construction workers, joggers, hikers and cyclists. These reflective films can be applied to cotton, polyester and cotton/poly blends for applications to jackets, trousers, tee-shirts and sweatshirts. ReflexCut Sweet is not suitable for nylon or coated textiles.

ReflexCut Sweet Application Instructions. For information regarding cutting, weeding and heat pressing ReflexCut Sweet read the application instructions: ReflexCut Sweet Application Instructions.

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.

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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents

Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

SEF 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.

Butch "Superfrog" Anton

Butch “Superfrog” Anton,a highly-regarded industry professional, has supported the technical service program with practical, real world answers based on his 40+ years of experience, doing the same type of work you do.

Click Here to Visit Butch Anton's Website
Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

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 use 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 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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents
Click Here: Access Printer Profiles

Tips for Cutting Flock Material

If you want to provide your customers the rich look of an embroidered emblem, but the cost of embroidery is too rich for their blood, consider using SEF’s VelCut™ flock material. This velvety soft material is a great alternative at a fraction of the cost. Flock heat transfer appliques are cut in reverse (mirror image). The technique for cutting a flock film is a little different than cutting polyurethane or vinyl heat transfer films. Here are some helpful tips, when cutting VelCut™ or any other brand of flock:

Always use a sharp sharp 60⁰ blade w"hen cutting VelCut™ or any other flock material. Let me emphasize that you will need a sharp blade.

When setting the blade depth, the tip of the blade should be just barely exposed. Many people make the mistake of setting the blade too deep. While flock material is thicker than flex film, you do not need to cut all the way through the flock. You just need to cut through the heat activated adhesive layer.

Cutting flock does require more downforce pressure than cutting a flex film. Cutting SEF’s VelCut™ requires a downforce pressure between 120 and 140 grams. Downforce pressure will vary depending on the sharpness of the blade, the type of plotter used and the type of flock material cut. Some brands of flock do not cut so easily as the SEF brand.

Use a slow cutting speed. When cutting with the Roland VS540, we set our cutting speed at 8.

Prior to production, always perform a test cut. Adjust your offset value and other settings to achieve the desired results.

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 use 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 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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents
Click Here: Access Printer Profiles

Friday, April 17, 2015

Rules for Overlaying Heat Transfer Films

The array of colors in the SEF flex and flock film product line opens the door to endless design possibilities. While many different films can be heat pressed on top of one another, you should follow the few simple rules listed below for trouble-free applications.

· You can overlay any polyurethane flex film with any other flex film in the SEF heat transfer film product line.

In the design pictured, FlexCut Sweet Black was heat pressed first for five seconds; then FlexCut Sweet Yellow was applied over the black for five seconds. Finally, Flexcut Sweet Red was pressed for 15 seconds. The total time for heat pressing amounted to 25 seconds.

· While you can heat press a flock film over any polyurethane flex film, never apply any other heat transfer film over any flock film, nor should you apply any flex or flock film over a puff film.

In the applique above, VelCut Neon Pink is heat pressed over the initial layer of FlexCut Sticky White.

· When overlaying multiple layers of film, heat press each layer for five seconds except the last layer which you should press for 15 seconds. Avoid exposing heat transfer films to protracted periods of heat, which can compromise the adhesion of the applique to the garment.

· Limit the total number of layers of heat transfer films to four films.

Four different films were used to create the graphic pictured. FlexCut Sticky Black was heat pressed for five seconds. Next, FlexCut Sticky Green and FlexCut Sticky Yellow were each pressed for five seconds each. The fourth layer of FlexCut Puff White was pressed for 15 seconds. The total time for heat pressing was 30 seconds.

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 use 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 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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents
Click Here: Access Printer Profiles

The Differences Between Polyurethane and Vinyl Films

Many in our industry use the all-encompassing term “heat transfer vinyl” to refer to any heat transfer flex film. The fact of the matter is that many of the heat transfer films on the market today are not vinyl at all. Much of what is sold today is polyurethane or a polyurethane blend.

The reason that I make this distinction is that there is a big difference between polyurethane and vinyl films. What’s more, a 100% polyurethane film is also quite different than a polyurethane-based blended film. Let me explain the differences.

Polyurethane films are very soft and stretchable. There’s a reason for this. Polyurethane is comprised of very long molecular chains, which provide it with elasticity. By comparison, vinyl is composed of molecules which are very rigid.

100% polyurethane heat transfer films are much more elastic than plasticized vinyl films.

To make vinyl films more elastic, plasticizers are added to the formulation. Plasticizers are oils which can leach out of the film, every time the garment is washed. As the plasticizing oils leach out of the vinyl they can cause allergic reactions. Plasticizers have also been linked to other medical issues, which is why some plasticizers have been banned under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for use in the manufacture of children’s garments.

As plasticizers leach out of a vinyl, the film increasingly becomes more rigid and brittle. Eventually, appliques manufactured from vinyl heat transfer films will crack.

Polyurethane films do not need plasticizers to make them stretchable. These films are naturally elastic. That’s why appliques made from polyurethane heat transfer films retain their flexibility and provide long-term service life. In fact, if garments are washed and dried properly, polyurethane appliques should last as long as the garment itself.

Compared to vinyl heat transfer films, polyurethane films provide other desirable performance properties. Polyurethane is also more abrasion resistant than vinyl, which makes it ideal for punishing athletic applications. Used to decorate performance fabrics, polyurethane films provide the elongation and memory, allowing the appliques to stretch as the fabric stretches.

Caveat emptor

Be aware that not all formulations of polyurethane films are the same. While all of the SEF heat transfer films are 100% polyurethane, many other competitive products are classified as “polyurethane based”. These polyurethane based films are blends of polyurethane and vinyl. Because these blends contain PVC, they may not be CPSIA or OekoTex Standard 100 compliant.

With the addition of vinyl to their formulations, polyurethane-based films are also typically stiffer, less elastic and not so durable as 100% polyurethane.

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.

Click Here to Access Printer Profiles

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 use 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 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

Ordering: sales@SEFamericas.com

Web: NEW SEF Americas Website

Click Here: SEF Americas Shared Public Folder

Click Here: SEF Product Application Guide

Click Here: SEF FlexCut Product Color Guide

Click Here: SEF Print & Cut Product Guide

Click Here: For SEF Documents
Click Here: Access Printer Profiles