Here are some options:
Heat Press Vinyl – You must have a design program such as CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator, a vinyl cutter & a heat press. This process involves loading a roll of heat transfer vinyl into a cutter, programming your text or design in your sofware program, sedning the info to the cutter, the cutter cuts, you weed then heat press it to the garment. This process is ideal for single color text and basic designs (no photos). Multiple color designs can be achieved through multiple passes and layering of material. Very cost effective for lower quantities and personalization. Depending on vinyl, different feels and looks on garment. Some vinyls are glossy and thick others are matte finished and soft to the hand. Others are glittery or reflective or felt like. Durability is often guaranteed to outlast the garment.
Plastisol Heat Transfers – You must have a heat press and access to a heat transfer vendor. This process invloves, ordering your custom or stock design from a transfer house. When the transfers come in, you just heat press them on. This process is ideal for single or multiple color designs (no photos). Cost effective for mid to high quantities. Cost is based on size of design, quantity ordered & number of colors. Very nice feel on garment, just like screen printed ink. Durability is very good.
Inkjet transfer paper – Must have a heat press, inkjet printer and transfer papers (maybe a vinyl cutter w/optic eye). This process involves designing an image or scanning in a photo to print. Once the paper is printed, you have the option to trim around the design using scissors (or a vinyl cutter with optic eye), or not trimming at all (leaves a clear or white box around the image). Once printed and trimmed, you press it down to your garment. This process is ideal for full color or photo realistic designs. Cost is based on your ink prices and price of transfer paper. Ideal for lower quantities. Feel on garment varies per paper. Some are a very soft to the hand feel others are stiffer. Opaque paper is a special style that is used for dark garments.
