Heat transfers vs screen printing

With the use of a heat press, heat transfers—which are pre-printed images on unique paper—are put to the clothing. Heat transfers are rapid, simple, and reasonably priced. Sometimes a garment with a heat-pressed image is mistaken for one with a screen-printed graphic. The quality of a heat transfer shirt simply can’t compete with a screen printed garment, however. Heat transfers don’t have the same high quality and detail as screen printing on a shirt, but they still look fantastic. They also don’t stay as long (they eventually wash away). Screen printing is not cost-effective for printing small volumes, typically between 1 and 24, due to the significant setup expenditures required. If you need a personalized, distinctive design on a few shirts at a reasonable price, using a heat press is the ideal substitute for screen printing.