Q&A for How to Heat Press a T‐Shirt

Inkjet is ideal as the ink easily transfers, but laser jet works, too. It will take a little longer, but there's not a big difference in quality.

You can print on polyester with normal InkJet transfer paper. The normal temperature range for polyester is 170 - 200 degrees Celsius depending on the transfer paper. You can also try dye sublimation, which is made for polyester materials; it gives a permanent transfer that will last forever.

Lay your t-shirt flat and put your iron on low to medium heat. If the iron is too hot, it may burn the cloth. Don't press the iron into the shirt too hard.

Only on the part where you placed the image, but then you peel the plastic off once the shirt is printed.

Try to use pigment-based inks, as they won't wash out as easily as dye-based inks. Make sure your printer is meant for pigment ink, as using pigment ink in a printer that's purposed for dye-based printing may clog the print heads. There are inexpensive pigment-based printers (of good quality) that can be purchased. Try the Epson Workforce line, or just do a search for pigment-based printers.

It should take less than a minute to complete.

Size shouldn't change anything because the same amount of heat is applied across the entire surface.

You can purchase a heat press machine online from Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, etc. You might also be able to purchase one at a local crafts store.

You can use the heat press up to the size of your press. So a 15x15 inch press is limited by the size. If you have a larger one you can use a larger one. There is a good tutorial on Heat Press Fun about this.

Yes. There exisr certain transfer papers depending on the type of ink you are using. For example, a common household inkjet printer would need only use transfer paper made specifically for inkjet transfers. In another instance, an inkjet printer may be fitted with sublimation ink - whether by the OEM or a third party - and that set-up would require the use of sublimation paper instead.