More and more people are getting hooked on personalized shirts, giving them the freedom to wear their own design and what they like to express. Perhaps, you are one of the many who is enticed to start up such business! Now, I am more than willing to share everything I know about what equipment is needed to make vinyl shirts.
To start, what equipment is needed to make vinyl t-shirts? You will need a personal computer and vinyl software to execute the designs, a cutting plotter or vinyl cutting machine for the production of ready-to-transfer designs, and a heat press machine to transfer the vinyl design to your primary medium. Complete your start-up business with your supplies of vinyl, transfer films, and plain shirts too.
Did the shortlist of equipment intimidate you? Or did it encourage you to discover more about the equipment for your dream business? Well, if you are up to learn more, then you are definitely on the right page because will be sharing more details about the equipment and how it will play its part in making your dream business big and successful.
The Computer And The Software
Are you that techie type of person who enjoys and easily understands the technicalities of computers and programs? Then you will find ease in building this business.
Just like in any other business, a computer will play an essential role in operating the entirety of your project. It is up to your preferences if you will opt to use a PC or a Mac.
Remember that it won’t only function as your primary tool in developing the designs and operating the cutting plotter, but it will also be your best buddy in keeping the business inventory updated, monitoring orders and deliveries, and processing payments.
Since your computer will be literally bombarded with virtual tasks and will ultimately run design programs, here is an ideal computer spec for an optimal software performance:
- Quad-core processor
- 3 GHz CPU
- 8 GB of RAM
- A Solid State Drive
- A Graphics Processing Unit of at least 2GB
But your computer will be no good if it doesn’t have the essential software that you will need to execute the design and prepare it for printing. Graphics programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and CorelDraw will be your mediums in developing custom texts and images.
A skill in graphics design, mastery of these programs, and good judgment are the basics in this aspect. Can you just imagine having that desire to create such a business without having the required skills in designing and the ability to execute?
Well, you may always have the option to hire someone to handle it, but it is always a good entrepreneurial trait to know all the ins and outs of the business, especially for start-ups.
Another piece which will play an essential part in your vinyl printing business is the t-shirt vinyl software. Since it is both vector based, the same software used in vinyl sign making is also applicable.
Vinyl cutting unit mostly comes with its own cutting software, however, you might not be able to utilize its full potential since it comes with limited features only. Here are some vinyl cutting software that might be your perfect buddy:
- Vinylmaster Cut
- Inkscape
- Easy Cut Studio
- CorelDraw
- Sure Cuts a Lot
Vinyl Cutting Machine
I am pretty sure that you wouldn’t want to manually cut your designs, especially the intricate ones. Manual cutting will not only be tiring and time-consuming but it will also be a cause for design inaccuracy.
The vinyl cutting machine will basically create your design in a ready to transfer material. It will automatically cut the vinyl-based on your created design. The vinyl cutting machine comes in 2 types, and may be categorized depending on your need – one is the personal cutters, while the other is for commercial use.
A personal vinyl cutting machine comes in a size that fits an office table top. It serves a small requirement that is usually personal use only. It is a machine that is very quick and operates on a very user-friendly mechanism.
A personal vinyl cutter ranges from $75 to $500 depending on brand and cutting width. On the other hand, a commercial vinyl cutting machine is of course, physically bigger in size and caters to a larger quantity of printing as well.
It is often used for cutting vinyl for signages and other supersized designs. Commercial cutting plotters are quite expensive too with price ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
But is determining the machine’s general purpose enough for you to decide which cutter to buy? I bet not. Because just like in choosing an item as you shop, you will also consider other details that will affect the expected performance of your choice.
Aside from the general purpose of your machine, there are also some factors that you may consider, such as its cutting width. Cutting width and depth varies in different cutting machines, with 2mm of depth as the maximum for a majority of models.
Another factor that is usually disregarded by many is the compatibility of materials with the machine. You may want to check this factor so you will be able to have any or all of your designs printed on all available possible materials.
Even though you are looking to start up a vinyl t-shirt business, it would also be nice to have a machine that will be able to cut other materials apart from vinyl. This may give you more opportunity to cater to more projects with material variations.
There will be loads of options in the market out there, endless actually, just make sure to go for a machine that cuts smoothly on most materials.
Another factor to consider is the machine’s ease of use. Who would have wanted to use a machine that is so complex and complicated when everything these days comes so handy and convenient?
I am pretty sure that none of us would want that, so check everything about the machine – from its actual operations to replacing accessories and parts. Invest in a cutting machine that operates on a less complex mechanism and a unit that goes well with the most type of materials.
Most machines when bought also come with accompanying software that will ease its operating functions. It typically comes with a collection of free designs that are readily available and may be used for quick outputs or you may use in test projects.
Make a shortlist of your items of choice. Then take time in reading user reviews and compare a brand or model with another brand or model. If there’s a chance to ask for advice from your supplier of choice, it will also be nice to do so.
Heat Press Machine
Choosing the best heat press machine is the most crucial part of putting up a business. Why not? Your heat press will be your primary equipment in your t-shirt printing business. It will eventually translate to the consistency of your project quality.
Even if you are new to the printing business, looking for a replacement for your old machine, or adding up units for better production, it is always necessary to know what to search for.
The basic elements of a heat press machine are the press type, the pressure, and the temperature. One heat press machine unit ranges from $120 to $300 depending on brand and features.
For the press type, there are two heat press models that are available in the market, the clamshell and swinger press models. Beginners are usually advised to go for the clamshell models since it occupies less space and very ideal for the smaller scale of a shirt printing business.
But if you’re into more complicated designs and more accurate outputs, then a swinger press might be the one for you.
Inspect the machine’s quality. An ideal heat press frame is made from steel instead of plastic. Lesser welds in the frame, if any, is always better. Check reviews about the manufacturer and its models.
A good manufacturer of a heat press machine has reliable tech support and customer service that can provide troubleshooting assistance online or over the phone. To give you an idea, 5 years is the industry standard for heat press machine warranties.
The machine’s timer and its accompanying functions are one of its most essential features. An accurate timer eventually results in lesser production issues. Digital temperature and pressure reading are always preferred over analog.
If your budget permits you to have a unit with a press that automatically opens up when the time for pressing is up, then go for it because it will allow you to do several jobs during peak season without leaving your material on heat for too long. This, of course, will cause damage not just to the design but to the garment as well.
A long-lasting heat transfer application greatly relies on an accurate heat press temperature. There are heat presses that use a bimetallic thermometer which comes with 5-10 degree variance and an RTD probe with plus or minus 2-degree variance.
For the heating elements inside the press, it is ideal that they are spaced no more than two inches apart. This ensures a well-heated edge to edge plate without the chance for cold spots.
And for the press platen, thinner and lighter loses heat more quickly, unlike the ¾ inch thick platens. A heat press typically heats up in 20 minutes. The temperature requirement for design application may require as high as 400 degrees.
And what about the right pressure in operating the machine? Well, the pressure is also an essential element in creating a quality heat transfer design. It is a good option to have a machine with a digital pressure reader because this provides you with an accurate reading.
Guesswork won’t work on this kind of business. You may also want to test if the platen for even pressure throughout its four corners by putting four square of paper on each corner of the platen; close the press and pull out the papers, if you can pull out one of the four papers easier than the others, then the platens are not providing an even pressure.
And talking about platens, a heat presses standard platen size measures between 15 by 15 inches to 16 by 20 inches. The larger the platen goes, the more flexible you will be able to work especially on those oversized shirts and hoodies.
Platens also come in different sizes and shapes that serve different purposes – for shirts, shoes, hats, bags, and more.
Heat Press Vinyl Supplies
Image by lovebird_heartworks
Now that we’re done with the equipment, let’s take a quick look on some of the supplies needed for your awesome design.
Two of the vinyl supplies on the list are PU and PVC. The polyurethane or PU is the film of choice as the medium for transfer designs. It tends to be thinner and stretchable giving that feels that the print is part of the garment. Aside from comfort, the material is also safe for kids.
PVC, on the other hand, is quite thicker but less pricey. But being thicker than PU means it is less flexible and does not appear to be as soft as the latter. The material is also not considered safe for kids that’s why it is typically used to design apparels for adult wearers.
The PU and PVC films suit well with cotton, acrylic fabrics, polyester, and cotton & polyester blends garments.
These materials may already comprise most of the casual and sports apparel, however, materials such as nylon, leather, and spandex may be damaged due to the time and heat requirement of the transfer.
Now, do you have any idea about the warm and cold peel? Well, the liner of the adhesive is basically removed when the heat press films are cooled to room temperature. The process allows the adhesive to cure and fully bond with the garment but of course, it takes time.
And this might get frustrating if you are having loads of projects to finish. A warm peel on the other hand only needs 5 to 10 seconds of cooling time prior to the removal of the liner.
Supplemental Supplies
There are still some materials that you will need in your business and will make your project better. Quip yourself up with some Teflon sheet, a safety ruler, weeding tools, a T-square, and a handy thermometer kit and you are ready to go.
Now that you almost know all that you need to have to put up the business, you may start searching for the perfect equipment in the market and start putting up everything together to kick start your career as a vinyl t-shirt maker!
Many have been able to make big profits out of their design skills, nurtured and grew in the four corners of a spare room, garage, or even a dining table top. If you are quite sure about getting into this business, make sure to invest in the right equipment and work hard.
Related Questions
What is the difference between vinyl printing and screen printing? Vinyl printing uses the heat transfer method, a combination of heat and pressure, to apply custom designs on garments and other materials. In vinyl printing, a cutting machine cuts out designs in colored vinyl. On the other hand, screen printing uses the screen printing method wherein actual screens are used together with stencils of designs. An ink spread over the screen is the primary coloring agent that will create your designs on your desired material.
Can you print designs on vinyl sheets? Yes, you can print your designs on vinyl sheets using an inkjet printer. The design is ideally printed on the matte side of the vinyl sheet for better ink absorption and better print quality.
What is sublimation heat printing? Similar to heat transfer paper, sublimation printing is a process that involves printing a graphic using a sublimation ink into a sheet called sublimation paper. The printed output is then transferred into a garment using a heat press machine. Sublimation ink eventually turns from solid to gas when heated and transfers itself into the fabric. It goes back to s solid state when it is cooled down and eventually becomes a permanent design.
