HEAT PRESS

This method applies an image by fusing a substrate (vinyl) to the garment using heat and pressure.
One colour letters or shapes are cut out of a coloured substrate (vinyl) and heat pressed onto the garment. This product does not have ink applied to it as the vinyl comes pre-coloured. A good example of this is the numbers on the back of football shirts.

The picture to the left shows an example of this print method. A local business required their logo in both black and white on their workwear.

SCREEN PRINTING

Without a doubt the most durable method is screen printing which fuses ink with the fabric and is heat cured. It is bold, colourfast and permanent. A well designed screen printed t-shirt will stay fresh looking. 
To create screen printed garments, the first stage is to make screens, one screen is required per colour. The garment is placed on our carousel and the screens placed in the frames. The operator swings the screen over the garment and ink is applied.  The garment then passes through a heat tunnel which cures the ink. This set-up enables us to produce large numbers of garments at once with up to 6 colours.

The image to the right shows the process of a 2 coloured t-shirt print.

DTF

The newest addition to our printer family at APS is our INKTEC direct to film printer. As the name suggests, this printer allows us to print high quality, full colour images and logos directly onto a film to create a transfer ready to be heatpressed onto your garments.

This form of printing creates a flexible transfer, due to it’s flexibility the print is long lasting and durable even after washing.
A benefit of printing onto film rather than direct to the garment means there are more fabric and garment options. It also allows us to print on harder to reach areas.