Heat Press for Professional T-Shirt Printing at Home

If you have a heat press, you can do professional t-shirt printing at home using various methods such as printed DTF film, printed sublimation sheet, or screen-printed heat transfer film. As a beginner, there’s no need to invest in DTF or a sublimation printer. Instead, you can create a design and send it to a t-shirt printing shop to get the printed sheet for heat transfer.

Heat Press: As the name suggests, heat and pressure are applied for image printing through heat transfer. Different sizes are available, with the most commonly used ones being 11” x 15”, 16” x 16”, and 16” x 20”. The heat press consists of an upper platen and a lower platen. Inside the upper platen, a network of heating coils is placed, and the temperature is regulated by a control unit, adjustable up to 220 degrees Celsius. Pressure is regulated by a large screw-like knob, which can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the fabric or substrate thickness. Medium pressure is usually enough for normal heat transfer.

Control Unit: The control unit also includes a timer to indicate the duration of the heat transfer process. The recommended timings for DTF heat transfer are 150 degrees Celsius for 5-10 seconds and for sublimation, 195 degrees Celsius for 50-60 seconds.

Types of Heat Press: There are different types of heat presses available in the market, with the most commonly used models being Clamshell and Swing away.

Clamshell Model: This model opens and closes like a clam, with a maximum opening angle of 450 degrees. It is relatively affordable, making it ideal for beginners. The Clamshell heat press is easy to operate, requires less space, and has a straightforward control unit.


Swing Away Type: The Swing Away heat press allows you to move the top platen to the left or right as needed. It provides uniform pressure and is more energy-efficient. However, it requires more working space due to the movement of the platen. High-end costly models are available with options for different platen sizes based on the fabric’s size.

Precautions: Pre-press the fabric for 5-7 seconds before heat transfer to remove any moisture present in the fabric. This step is crucial for ensuring a long-lasting printed image, especially in humid conditions.
Correct temperature and pressure are essential for quality transfer. For example, DTF heat transfer requires 150 degrees Celsius for 5-10 seconds, while sublimation needs 195 degrees Celsius for 50-60 seconds.
When dealing with white or light-colored fabrics, it’s advisable to use printed sublimation paper for heat transfer. The ink from the paper transfers into the polymer fabric, resulting in a vibrant and durable color image.
For black or dark fabrics, use DTF heat transfer film. The printer uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and white textile ink to provide a high-contrast image on dark fabric. Pure white printing is also possible using this method.


For any assistance, please contact:

WhatsApp: +971 55 9610529 or Email: fotongraphics@gmail.com

2 thoughts on “Heat Press for Professional T-Shirt Printing at Home

  1. Fashion

    You actually make it seem so easy along with your presentation but I in finding this matter to be actually something which I believe I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely wide for me. I am having a look ahead on your next submit, I will attempt to get the hang of it!