Guide
Pre-pressing
A short press before the transfer goes down dries the fabric and knocks the creases out. Skip it and the film often lets go later, or the shirt shines where the steam was.
Moisture is the quiet reason a transfer fails in the wash. Cotton, denim and canvas hold it. When the platen hits a damp patch, steam lifts the film or blows a shiny mark. Xpres put the pre-press in the method, before the film goes down.
On the blank kids’ sets, pre-press the white chest, not a slogan and not the printed sleeves if you can avoid them. Those tops are described on the children’s clothing page. Hi-vis and nylon get a cover and a shorter touch. You are drying the cloth, not decorating it yet.
How to do it
- Heat the press to the temperature you will actually use. Pre-press at the temperature you are about to press, not at a random higher number. The dial may still be wrong. A scrap tells you more than the screen.
- Lay the garment flat. Thread a shirt onto the platen when you can, so you are not pressing a folded layer. On a tote, only the panel you will print should be on the platen.
- Press briefly. Xpres say to pre-press to remove moisture and creases. They do not print a number of seconds. Amaya say a few seconds. Long enough to flatten and to let steam off. Not a second full press of the design.
- Cover heat-sensitive cloth. Polyester, nylon and hi-vis get a cover sheet for this step too. An uncovered platen can glaze the fabric before the transfer is on it.
- Let the steam go, then position the film. If the shirt is still damp to the touch, press again for a moment. Then place the transfer. Do not lay film onto a wet panel.
Common questions
How many seconds is a pre-press?
The Xpres how-to does not say. Amaya say a few seconds. Cotton that has been folded in a packet, and denim or canvas, often want the longer end of a few seconds. If you can still see a crease or the cloth feels damp, it is not finished.
Do I pre-press a bought transfer as well as the shirt?
No. Pre-press the garment. The transfer is already cured. Heating the film on its own can start the adhesive before it is on the shirt.
Sources
- Xpres, how to DTF — powder cure, pre-press, 150–160°C for 10–15 seconds, cold peel, second press
- Amaya ProPeel DTF film — pre-press a few seconds; instant peel; second press 5 seconds