Discover how to print your own high-quality plastisol heat transfers using SHALITEINK’s low-cure inks.
This detailed tutorial covers all the steps—from materials to heat pressing—to help you achieve vibrant, long-lasting prints with ease.
Heat transfers are a game-changer in many printing scenarios. From neck tags and live event prints to personalized jersey names, they offer flexibility and efficiency. While you can buy pre-made transfers, creating your own gives you full creative control. Not sure where to start? This guide walks you through how to make professional-grade plastisol heat transfers using ШАЛІТЕЙНК products.
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To make your own plastisol heat transfers, gather the following materials:
- Transfer paper
- Transfer adhesive powder
- ШАЛІТЕЙНК пластизольні чорнила
- Екрани
- Ракелі
- Машина трафаретного друку
- Конвеєрна сушарка
- Tape
- Термічний прес
- Plastic container
These items are typically available from local or online screen printing suppliers. The ink you choose is critical. Standard plastisol inks usually cure at 320°F (160°C). Low-cure inks like ШАЛІТЕЙНК cure at around 260°F (127°C), making the transfer process faster and easier. Lower temperatures mean quicker gelling, less paper warping, and a smoother workflow.
The Printing Process
Before applying ink, run your transfer paper through the conveyor dryer. Paper absorbs moisture from the air, which can affect ink performance. Pre-drying helps prevent warping—just be sure not to overheat. A flat, dry surface is essential.
Now for the fun part: printing. Squeegee pressure is key. Too much pressure pushes ink outside the stencil; too little won’t give full coverage. Aim for balanced pressure to achieve clean, crisp prints. Also, avoid applying ink too thickly, as it may flatten and distort under the heat press. Adjust your mesh count, emulsion thickness, and squeegee pressure to optimize results.
INK TIP: ШАЛІТЕЙНК plastisol inks are highly opaque and vibrant, so you’ll need fewer passes than with translucent inks—saving time during high-volume jobs.
Applying Adhesive Powder
Pour a generous amount of adhesive powder into a plastic container. After printing, place the transfer paper into the container, ensuring the inked area is thoroughly dusted. Gently shake or flick the paper to remove excess powder and avoid clumping. Return any unused powder to its container for reuse.
Gelling the Ink (Partial Cure)
Now it’s time to gel the ink, not fully cure it. Gelling dries the ink surface to the touch while keeping the inside uncured, allowing it to adhere during heat pressing.
Thanks to SHALITEINK’s low-cure formula, you only need to set your conveyor dryer to about 200°F (93°C). This is faster and helps protect the paper. Run each sheet through the dryer until the ink is dry to the touch.
Applying the Transfer to a Garment
Exact heat press settings may vary based on the type of transfer paper and powder, but here’s a good starting point:
- температура: 350°F (177°C)
- Pressure: 4–5 (medium to firm)
- час: 10 seconds
Place the transfer face down on the garment, close the heat press, and apply pressure.
- для hot peel transfers, peel the paper immediately after pressing.
- для cold peel, wait until fully cool before removing the backing.
That’s it — you’ve just created a professional-quality plastisol heat transfer!
Plastisol transfers are perfect for small batch orders, custom designs, or live event printing. Making them yourself with ШАЛІТЕЙНК products ensures consistency, bold color, and a handmade look that stands out. Now that you know the process, it’s time to bring your creativity to life—your way.
