Screen print transfers are ink based, just like screen printing directly on the garment, except the ink is applied to a transfer sheet and then applied to the garment using a commercial grade heat press (cannot be applied with an iron or alternative heat method). The ink lays on top of the fibers, but typically feels smooth and soft. Due to the cost associated with screen printing, this option is selected when creating multiple items of the same design. This option is also great because the designs can be applied to any fabric and color! 

 

Sublimation is actually a chemical process where a solid turns into a gas, bypassing the liquid stage, which allows for colored dye/ink to infuse with polyester or polymer-coated substrates. When heat pressed at temperatures around 400 degrees (these designs cannot be applied with an iron or alternative heat method), the polyester fibers are actually dyed. So, rather than laying on top of fabric, it is infused, so there is no feel at all. Unlike screen printing and HTV, this method is only effective when pressed onto materials that have a high polyester count. Pressing onto 100% polyester materials will absorb the most ink from the transfer making the image most vibrant, while pressing onto 65% or less polyester materials will create a vintage or faded look. Also, sublimation is intended for light colored fabrics as it will not show up on darker colors. The sublimation process does not allow the printing of white colors. Therefore, if there is any white color on the design, it will end up being the color of the material you press it on.

 

Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is a special type of vinyl used specifically for decoration and personalization. The vinyl used for apparel personalization is a special polyurethane that is flexible, soft to the touch and extremely durable. Using a vinyl cutter, a design can be cut and applied to fabric with a heat press. HTV lays on top of the garment and bonds to the fabric fibers. This option can be applied to any fabric (cotton, polyester, cotton/poly blends, nylon, etc) and can also be applied to any color. This option is most cost effective for a small number of designs that cannot be mass printed or for personalized items.