Wondering why your cotton shirts aren’t performing as well as your poly blends? Have you ever accidentally transferred onto a wrinkle in a garment? Learn why pre-pressing could be your key to success. Curious how to improve the look or feel of your printed transfer? Learn what to use to re-press your garments for finished products your customers will love!  

Pre-Pressing 

Pre-pressing your fabric is pivotal to a successful application. Whether you’re heat pressing on shirts, sweatpants, totes, or even koozies, pre-pressing is always a good idea.  

1. Removes moisture. Pre-pressing removes the moisture from the fabric, thus causing the transfer to adhere better. When moisture sits in the fabric, there’s a higher chance you could experience adhesion issues or even wrinkling, fading, cracking, or peeling after laundering the garment. We recommend pre-pressing garments, especially cotton and cotton blends, in 4 second increments until they no longer emit any steam.   

2. Removes wrinkles. Removing wrinkles is extremely important in the pre-press stage because if you press your transfer onto wrinkles or creases, you will see the wrinkle or crease through the image after application. This could also lead to adhesion issues.   

3. Helps test the temperature and pressure of your heat press. By pre-pressing, you’re able to test your heat press’ temperature and pressure to make sure it’s accurately set. 

4. Activates the fabric fibers. Activating the fabric fibers will help bond the fabric and transfer, resulting in a more durable end product, and who doesn’t want that?  

Re-Pressing 

There are different forms of re-pressing, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Keep in mind that re-pressing is not necessary unless you’re looking for the following finishes or unless otherwise stated on the application instructions included with your order.  

1. Teflon re-press. Using Teflon to re-press will help make the transfer glossier. For example, if you re-press our Glitter screen-printed heat transfer with Teflon, the image will become shinier, creating an almost wet-looking effect.  

2. Parchment paper re-press. A parchment paper re-press is strongly recommended after applying our digital transfer options, including colorVIBE Hybrid. This quick re-press will improve the finish and feel of the printed transfer, providing a softer, more pliable feel.  

3. Fabric re-press. Did you know you can re-press any of our custom transfer options with a piece of fabric to give the finished product a more textured look and feel? Experiment with different fabrics that provide more or less texture to see what works best for you. You might prefer a simple cotton shirt or a thicker, heavy linen. This step is not required but may just add a unique look your customers will love!