Iron-on transfers are images that can be imprinted on fabric. They are frequently used to print onto T-shirts.
On one side is paper, and on the other is the image that will be transferred in reverse. The image is printed with iron-on transfer inks.[1] After placing the iron-on transfer on the fabric and pressing with an iron or a heat press, the image is transferred to the fabric.
There are two primary types of iron-on transfer inks: plastisol-type and sublimation-type. Plastisol-type inks are thick with a lacquer base. Transfers made with plastisol-type inks will result in a flexible image on the fabric with a feel similar to rubber. Sublimation-type inks use dyelike pigments that can be transferred to polyester and nylon fabrics. Transfers made with sublimation-type inks literally transfer the pigments to the fabric and the pigments bond permanently to the fabric fibers.[1]
Commercial quality heat transfer paper used in a heat press will yield much better results in terms of 'hand' (how the print feels on the fabric) and durability than store bought papers or transfers applied with a home iron.
The advantages of commercial heat transfer over screenprinting are that it is relatively cheap and easy to create one-off, full color designs. Also, when compared with dye sublimation techniques, heat transfers can be used on 100% cotton garments, whereas dye sublimation requires at least a 50/50 poly cotton garment.
Iron-on transfer paper is available for use with computer printers. A number of inkjet, copier and laser printer toners have been developed to utilize this process.