Here is a sample of some content from one of my latest websites heatpressthis.com

If you like innovative techniques and creating fashionable garments for reatil, I would recommend bookmarking the site.  There is limited content available now, but I will have more “fresh” ideas soon!

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Innovation: Reverse Embossing for Apparel

Innovator: Josh Ellsworth, Imprintables Warehouse

Contact Info: josh@imprintables.com - http://www.joshellsworth.com - 1-800-347-0068 x.236

City/State of Innovation: Uniontown, PA

Brief Description of Innovation: Heat pressing a cad-cut material on top of a puff material to give the garment a reverse embossed graphic.

Equipment Used for Innovation: Any Heat Press, Any Vinyl Cutter

Materials Used for innovation: Cad-Color Solutions Puff Material, Solutions Magic Mask, Eco-Film Heat Transfer Vinyl

Accessories Used: Weeding tools and a cover sheet (I used Teflon)

Other details: The process for this innovation was simple. I took a basic graphic that already was designed and being used in conjuntion with our cad-print system for doing full color graphics onto apparel. We have a unique material that leaves a puff effect, that is being used as a stand alone product. This material is being used primarily by people who own solvent printers like the Roland Versacamm. I thought that this material has a unique effect and I should be able to find an application for it for folks who just have a vinyl cutter. If I can find an application for it, I will be able to sell more puff material:) So that led me to expirementing. After consulting with other industry experts and getting some ideas from people using the material I arrived at this result.

Basically, I took my design - cut it out of puff instead of printing it and cutting it. Then I masked it to get it ready to apply to the garment. I then went into the software that I used (CorelDRAW) and added a box around the design. I sent this box (after rounding the corners) to the cutter and had it cut on a variety of materials - all in our Eco-Film line up - I ended up with our Eco-Film Electric in Orange for my favorite result. So then over to the heat press. I first applied the puff material down: 320 degrees for 5 seconds. Peeled away the masking material. Then I lined up my Eco-Film vinyl design right over top of the Puff. Heat pressed them together for 10 seconds, hot peeled the backing and thats it. A new innovation is born. I’ll rely on you experts to take it to the next level with design and effects.

Here are a few photos of my creation:

What’s the number one most important thing a PPD (Promotional Products Distributor) should know before delving into heat-applied decorating?

A:  Not all heat applied technologies are created equal.  Each technology/process needs to be evaluated independently of one another.  Some processes (that historically have given heat applied decorating a bad name) crack and fade in the wash and are not ideal for corporate clients, while other technologies will outlast the fabric it’s applied to.  Other differences include look, feel and performance aspects. 

What are the bare-bones minimum necessities to get into this decoration discipline?

A:  A Heat Press would be the minimum required.  Purchase a heat press that can accommodate different shapes and thicknesses of items and establish contact with a few good heat transfer suppliers for the different processes available and you are in the game.

What machines/combo of technologies do you recommend PPDs get started with?

A:  Option #1 would be just a heat press and a good relationship with a transfer supplier.  Be sure to find a supplier or suppliers that can offer you spot color and/or four color process transfers or digital transfers to service different design needs.  Also find a supplier that can offer you a transfer to stick to different types of fabric.  You will eventually want to press not just cotton and poly, but also nylon, spandex, polypropylene, leather etc.

Option #2 would be to purchase a heat press and add a graphics output device, such as a printer, vinyl cutter or a combination unit.  I think the most versatile technology for a PPDs needs is a Cad-Print System that includes a Roland Versacamm (which prints and cuts), a heat press and special print/cut materials that offer solutions for heat pressing to all fabrics.

How does this technology fit into a distributor’s business? (in other words, how can they balance it out with their current decorator as well as find time to complete the work?)

A:  Bringing technology like this in house will allow the distributor to take on programs that their manufacturer can’t and won’t service.  Position yourself to fill in the gaps with what your manufacturer is offering - especially custom programs that focus on one-off decoration.  Having these capabilities in house also offers benefits such as quality control, quicker turn times, more flexibility and additional profits.

Any surprising or new markets to target with heat transfers?

A:  The markets to target with heat transfers are vast and the addition of this technology doesn’t necessarily change the client you’re selling to, but allows you to gain additional business with current clients by offering customization programs where name drops, logo drops or photo drops are possible. 

However, if I had to identify future opportunities, I would say that having the ability to decorate synthetic fabrics and new blends of fabrics will be huge.  As performance fabrics and eco-textiles grow in popularity we will begin to see new blends and constructions of fabric never seen before.  I believe the understanding of new fabrics coupled with the ability to embellish them at all quantities will provide competitive differentiation for any shop.  So investing in the right system(s) and knowing the market is more important than ever.  I think successful shops will find the means to embellish all styles of jackets, performance apparel, bags, gloves, shoes and more.  The good news is that with the right style of heat press and the right heat applied graphics technology this is all possible.  Providing logos, photos or text on fabrics that are blended, coated, dyed and treated in different ways will be key for the remainder of 2008 and beyond.

What advice can you offer newbies for sorting through the heat-transfer puzzle with the number of existing heat-applied materials, presses, custom and pre-made transfers, etc. out there? What should they be looking for? What’s universal that they can ignore? (make your own versus premade? in-house artwork versus sub it out? digital versus analog? inkjet versus laser?)

A:  There are literally hundreds of factors to consider.  I would recommend identifying a core service (meaning product and design options) that you want to offer and approaching several suppliers to obtain recommendations and partnership opportunities.  In this venture, if you do not have the expertise within your current staff, you’ll find an even greater need to build a relationship with a supplier who you can trust for advice and direction.  Make sure that you find a supplier that is experienced and can offer complete solutions for the items that you want to decorate.  An added bonus is when they know the market enough to offer advice on additional options and recommend other experts within different areas of the industry. 

Now having said that – here are a couple things to look for or know before you start:

• Anyone that tells you that all heat presses perform the same, does not know heat presses.  While a heat press is perhaps the least expensive piece of equipment in your shop it may be the most important.  Do not be limited by your heat press. This means find a heat press that can accommodate the items that you envision decorating.  Send your prospective heat press supplier(s) the items that you want to decorate and ask for explanations on how you will effectively decorate each item with their press – even have them decorate it and take photos or video.  Something to know is that all heat applied graphics applications rely on 3 key elements; time, temperature and pressure.  Make sure you have a heat press that delivers all three of these elements accurately across all of your items.  HINT:  If you want to do bags, you need to have a heat press and platen that you can “thread” your bag over that effectively raises the print area on the bag above any seams, zippers, drawstrings or buckles.  Seams, zippers, drawstrings and buckles are just a few things that can interfere with obtaining an even pressure on your graphic.
• Match each heat applied graphics technology to your substrate & design expectations.  For example, if you wanted to offer a logo program on moisture wicking polyester polo’s you would find that Sublimation is only good for light colored garments and may restrict your offerings.  Likewise, you would find that transfer paper printed with a desktop inkjet printer may not give you the best durability and certain plastisol transfer types may not be compatible with polyester. Furthermore maybe your polyester poses dye migration issues and you need a product that will block dye migration if?  The point is - have a general idea of what you want to accomplish and an understanding of your substrates then weigh each technology accordingly. 

Why opt for this technology versus inkjet to substrate?

A: I won’t say that every heat applied graphics technology should be opted for over inkjet to substrate, but once again it should be evaluated on a process by process basis and also be contingent on your business’ goals.  While an inkjet to substrate system can be evaluated for cottons you cannot print synthetics, such as nylon, 100% polyester, spandex or polypropylene.  Synthetic fibers are widely used in the development of promotional products and continue to be the base fibers of more and more technical and performance oriented fabrics.  Also know that a direct to substrate system can pose certain limitations as far as what kind of items of shapes that you can decorate.  Some machines also will not do dark colored fabrics, but work great on light colored cotton.  Again, a crucial part of considering either investment involves investing a little money in a small inventory of items that you will want to accommodate and sending them out to be decorated with each potential process.  With the most versatile heat transfer technologies you can accommodate all fabrics of all colors, but as mentioned all heat transfer technologies are not created equal.  If you were to evaluate the sublimation versus inkjet to substrate, Cad-Print versus inkjet to substrate and plastisol transfers versus inkjet to substrate you would get 3 completely different evaluations.  The system or combination of systems for your business relies on what you want to accomplish. 

Anything else to consider before investing in a heat-transfer system?

A: Consider the types of designs/logos you will want to apply and make sure the technology you invest in is capable of producing your designs.  For instance, cad-cutting is ideal for 1 to 2 colored text based designs or simple logos.  If you want to offer full color graphics it wouldn’t be a viable option.  Likewise, if you want to offer single color text, printing onto transfer paper would be counter-productive.

General advice for PPDs forging this territory?

A:  I would recommend that they consider the following technologies to begin their research: The Cad-Print Process, Cad-Cutting, Sublimation, Plastisol / Screen printed transfers (both spot and four color process independently), digital transfers and inkjet to substrate.  I would also recommend that they complete the recommended sampling process after qualifying each technology.  Attending a trade show or scheduling a supplier visit where they can see the processes in person can be helpful – in light of traveling expenses, online videos may be another option.

Anything to add?

A:  Consider how you will sell and market your new offerings.  Your naming convention, presentation of samples and overall belief in the process you offer will translate into sales.  Set up a sales presentation that highlights the advantages of the technology that you will be using. Focus on performance factors, design capabilities, and customization options.  Also be sure to have applied samples at your disposal that feature your best designs on your most profitable items.  Allowing your customers to touch and feel samples of your new process is a key to making sales.  And lastly, understand the adhesive process that your technology uses and be prepared to explain its advantages over the old styles of heat press transfers - showing laundered garments at various life cycles can also help to dismiss prejudices associated with heat applied graphics and can lead to a sale.

Biggest Heat Press Comparison Video Ever.

If you are looking to buy a heat press this is a must see.  Over 15 different models of presses are shown from many different price points

Click to view the Heat Press Comparison Series

Also while you are clicking - click here to subscribe to my blog by email.

Here is a link to a nice write up with lots of photos: Monopoly Shoes

Here is a photo of my favorite pair: 

Goes well with Eco-Film Black and Metallic Silver.  If you want to get real crazy, use the new Eco-Film Electric Metal with Black for an added effect.

The below post will recommend an example of how you can benefit from purchasing supplies in bulk. With the rise of gasoline increasing freight costs and the general state of the economy everyone can afford to save - this is just one way that can benefit your business’ bottom line.

When purchasing cad materials or heat transfer vinyl for your vinyl cutter it is imperative to leverage pricing from your supplier. Brands of material can have a cost difference of $1.00 - $2.00 per yard depending on the roll size ordered. Another factor that comes into play is freight costs. View the figure below to find realize the advantages in investing in a stock of primary colors of cad-cut once you settle on a supplier.

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New Heat Press System Present Opportunities for Apparel Manufacturers, Sporting Goods Dealers, Promotional Products Manufacturers & Retailers in synthetic fabric decoration.

As I head into a new fiscal year - starting tomorrow, I am collecting my thoughts and planning a focus to start July.  This year I have made a decision to focus a large portion of my efforts on what I see as a tremendous growth opportunity for my customers and new prospects.  This post will cover in short this opportunity, which also happens to be Imprintables’ unique advantage in a crowded marketplace. I will also identify some specific applications that can benefit from this opportunity/advantage.

Opporunity / Imprintables Warehouse Advantage

1. Cad-Print System:  We are a fabric decoration focused seller of the Roland Versacamm printer/cutter.  We have the leading line of print/cut materials for apparel and fabric, educational resources, traveling seminars and a nationwide support network for this printer.  If you are looking at new technology to decorate low to mid size runs of apparel or other fabric constructed item with a heat press - you must look at our company and this innovative process.

The Top Business Applications that can benefit from the Cad-Print System

1. Anyone looking to decorate synthetic fabrics of any color. 

• Heat Press onto performance apparel including 100 polyester moisture wicking fabrics (we have a material for this process that block 100% of dye migration)
• Heat press onto nylon or polyester based compression wear (material available that stretches and rebounds with the fabric)
• Heat press onto denier polyester bags (material takes on finish/pebble of bag)
• Heat press polypropylene (+/- 20 degree variance allows for low temp applications)
• Heat press nylon jackets  (I haven’t found a jacket that this wont stick to - take that as a challenge)

Of course this system can also do cotton and cottong/poly blends as well as leather and some soft plastics.

Sporting Goods Dealers, Promotional Products Manufacturers, Nationwide Retailers - email me and send me your products - I will heat apply them and send them back for review.  Email josh@imprintables.com

This is a system that is revolutionizing low-medium run apparel decorating.  The feel is soft, the results are extremely durable and will not crack, peel or fade.

Please email me to set up an appointment to discuss whether or not this system can benefit your business.  We have reps around the nation and can schedule an on site visit to most locations or schedule a phone meeting to start the process.

Watch a video of this process here:  Cad-Print Process

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As promised, the new promotions box in the right hand column has been updated with a list of used heat presses for sale.  If you have been delaying buying a new heat press this could be a great opportunity for you.

Versacamm Sales Promotion - VP300

By popular request I have added a Promotions ‘Box’ to the right sidebar of the homepage of Heat Press Yourself. This widget will keep you updated on the latest promotions and packages that are available to you as a reader of my blog. The goal of these promotions are not to have the bargain basement price - sorry:( - but to have a fair price and offer some sort of added value for choosing to do business with me and Imprintables Warehouse.

The next videos in line are:

Versacamm Video Training - Cad-Color Solutions Clear

Versacamm Video Training - Cad-Color Solutions Sub-Block

Versacamm Video Training - Cad-Color Solutions Metallic

Versacamm Video Training - Cad-Color Solutions Puff

The business of heat applied graphics or heat printing can be lucrative. Start ups are naturally drawn to this sector of the decorated apparel industry due to the low cost of investment and the ‘ease’ of operation. While it can typically cost upwards of $20,000 to get into embroidery or screen printing, the heat printing market can be entered for as little as $3000.It is easy to think of the possibilities with heat printing - it is a craft that all can do with some time and effort and many can master or even become experts. But the question is will all this knowledge and expertise build a thriving business? Or for those existing businesses will it provide the growth that you have been looking for?