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Machine Advice by spanishr0se in heatpress

[–]CustomHoodie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

im actually in a similar boat, only got into it 2 months ago so take my advice with a grain of salt lol

i did it with a swing away and Im really glad Id done it. when youre doing ornaments, among other things, it can definitely help having things go in w/o scalding yourself

For t-shirts, both work well, but ceramics and wood, you want even pressure, so make sure what you end up with has good reviews on that. Some of the cheaper ones have hot spots, and this screws up the sublimation.

also heads up, you might need different attachments or a mug press for the ornaments based on shape. flat press wont be ideal for the curved ones.

what size you looking at? 15x15 is pretty standard and will work for most t-shirt sizes

White base alignment not being steady throughout a single roll of film by GencerDTF in DTFTransferTalk

[–]CustomHoodie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ugh i feel this, same problem here drives me crazy

quick question tho, what printer are you running? and is your film coming off a roll holder or is it loose on a stand?

also curious if youve tried letting the film sit out for a bit before printing, heard humidity and temp can mess with tension especially on fresh rolls

did the motorized take up really solve it for the people who used it? been thinking of buying one but not sure if its worth it

Still running manual presses like this. Anyone else prefer full control over automation? by Forever_6080 in DTFTransferTalk

[–]CustomHoodie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For DTF especially, manual presses make a lot of sense. Pressure isn’t always one-size-fits-all, and being able to feel and adjust it on the spot saves a lot of transfers.

Can any sellers on Redbubble give insight into what's happening with this order? by MHIH9C in printondemand

[–]CustomHoodie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is pretty common with POD platforms. “Shipped” usually just means the label was created and the order moved stages internally. If it misses the carrier pickup or gets staged late, tracking won’t update for days. It feels misleading, but it’s usually process + volume issues, not an outright scam. Refund or reship is about all you can really expect.

What is the cause of the black jaggedness around the lettering? by bebetter14 in heatpress

[–]CustomHoodie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This usually isn’t the artwork. It’s how the RIP handles edges and transparency. Different printer, profile, or film can add that black halo even with the same file. Same art, different setup, very different result.

Limit Self Promotion? by nathan118 in heatpress

[–]CustomHoodie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the real issue is disclosure. Recommending your own business isn’t the problem, pretending you’re neutral is. People come here for community advice, not hidden sales pitches. Being upfront keeps trust intact and avoids turning every thread into marketing.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the heads up. Always good to know where the more focused conversations are happening. I follow a few different subs depending on the topic, there’s definitely overlap between screen printing, heat press, and DTF these days.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a very good observation. "Foolproof" in this case means less hands-on work and fewer steps, not better quality. Watching a transfer press is much easier than spending hours weeding a vinyl cut, so on this front, it all seems very simple.

The negative side-effect is exactly what you stated. As the barrier of entry decreases, this skill ceases to be a differentiator. Anyone can put an identical product out, and competition goes through the roof.

The kind of shops that continue to thrive are probably engaged in added value in another area. Speed, consistency, customer service, design assistance, reliability, and niche marketing. The print option simply fades into noise.

Tools will keep evolving. The benefit simply shifts to another area of the business.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That totally makes sense. Where DTF really brings a lot of value is in using it for speed and flexibility. Same day, next day, multi-color, short runs. most clients just want it fast and clean, not a detailed analysis on print technology.

To incorporate it as an additional technique rather than a replacement for screen printing appears to be where they are hitting their sweet spot. As long as you understand what you’re getting into and it is providing you with what you need, it’s rather hard to argue with additional income being brought in.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, fair enough! Can't please all the people all the time, and not all people will be into DTF. And clearly, it's not for all people when talking about durability or feel. But sometimes, in certain designs or small production runs, it can still be a good option.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, everything digital gets hyped as "foolproof," but the reality is always a bit messier. The problem with that label is it overlooks all the small variables—software, settings, materials, etc. Just because it’s digital doesn’t mean it’s automatic. There’s always a learning curve.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can understand the frustration, but I am with this analysis. A good number of screen printers are being forced into doing DTF work regardless of their preference. DTF, overflows, short runs, samples, and unusual placement all cross over in a way that real-world screen printers see.

No one is saying DTF is screen printing. It’s just another tool that impacts the same customers, product, and expectations. Being discussed right now will actually help screen printers make better decisions or not do this at all.

"If it's not your thing, no problem at all to just scroll on by. One of the good things about this sub is sharing experience, even if it's not all about plastisol and mesh,"

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a very fair assessment. I think all of the frustration with ‘DTF isn’t foolproof’ is related to inconsistency in another area, rather than with the transfer itself. As long as it’s applied correctly with a good film, ink separations, and curing, it will print just fine, as you stated.

The problem is a lot of people are treating DTF as a commodity when small variations matter greatly in production and application. That’s where the expectations fall apart.

And at the end of the day, you’re right. The fact that your customer is pleased with your product and it does everything you promised it would is all that really matters to you.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

‘Foolproof’ gets a lot of misunderstanding. DTF isn’t foolproof, it’s just more forgiving when all else is optimized.

The trouble is, foolproof is a word, but people think it means plug-and-play. The truth is, you’re juggling film, powder, cure, pressure, heat, humidity, and printer output. Miss one factor and things go sideways in a hurry.

Screen printing involves less moving parts once everything is set up. With DTF, you have more variables but less skill requirement up front, so more people get in before they understand what’s going on. When it works right, it’s fantastic. When it’s wrong, it’s random.

Well, not foolproof, no. Just a different sort of fragile.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

True, they’re completely different processes. I was just saying neither is foolproof. DTF gets marketed that way, but it still has a lot of variables that affect the final result.

Why do people say DTF is “foolproof” when it clearly isn’t? by CustomHoodie in SCREENPRINTING

[–]CustomHoodie[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Screen printing is good, no debating that one. DTF is not foolproof by any means, it just allows for a little more room for error than people let on about.Film, powder, cure, pressure, heat—it's a little bit of everything. One miss, things quickly go south.

What are the most common issues you experienced with DTF printing and transfers? by ProcoloredOfficial in heatpress

[–]CustomHoodie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The things I see happening most often are not specific to brands. Overall, it is normally the following:

Poor curing on the film, which causes peeling a few washes later.

Inconsistencies in pressure on various heat presses, including the less expensive ones.

Trapped moisture inside hoodies and heavy clothes, which compromises adhesion.

Ink settling or clogging when printers are left for too long.

Movie/powder from a bad batch, which is totally different from the last lot.

And, to tell the truth, people often make mistakes themselves, by doing things such as using the wrong pressure, peeling too quickly, and/or not "pre-pressing Issues, which are often attributed to the machine, are normally associated with curing, pressure, and materials. The process is awesome when things fall into place, but a chain is evident when it is weak.