As you continue your tour, teaching you about the heat transfer business, this page guides you through understanding the different paper types. Different types of heat transfer paper produce different effects and are used for different reasons. Totally understanding their applications increases your opportunities.
Because we are so picky about what we sell, we only offer what we think is the "pick of the litter".
We made shirts and caps for 22 years in our former retail shop and know the importance of offering good-looking products.
However, we still want to emphasize that while our paper is of the highest quality it is still just a heat transfer paper. This means that the film covers the entire sheet. What you don't trim off will go on the garment and you can see it; some more, some less.
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Alpha
Double Green Cool Peel for Inkjet Printers |
Transfer was done using |
The name Alpha Double Green has been around for years and has a reputation of having a vibrant look and soft feel or hand. A recent change in the coating process now gives us a choice in the look and feel of the finished transfer.
Alpha Double Green has been re-designed as a “cool” peel paper to accomplish two very different looks on the finished product. It can have either a smooth semi-gloss finish or a flat matte finish depending on how you decide to apply it. Both methods will leave behind a crisp and vibrant reproduction of the image you want to print.
Alpha Double Green still has the most vibrant color reproduction of any paper on the market and together with the new low price we think it will become a valuable asset to your business.
Alpha Double Green is best suited for heat press applications but it can be used as an iron-on paper as well.
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Of course, everyone always claims to have the “best” of whatever they sell. All we can say is that we have many hundreds of very happy (but picky) customers and our testimonial page is but a fraction of the comments that we have received.
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Alpha
Double Green |
1000 sheets | 500 sheets | 300 sheets | 200 sheets | 100 sheets | 25 sheets |
| 8.5
x 11 |
$650 65¢/sheet |
$325 65¢/sheet |
$195 65¢/sheet |
$130 65¢/sheet |
$65 65¢/sheet |
$20 80¢/sheet |
Purchase
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Alpha
Double Green |
1000 sheets | 500 sheets | 300 sheets | 200 sheets | 100 sheets | 25 sheets |
| 11x17 |
$1300 $1.30/sheet |
$650 $1.30/sheet |
$390 $1.30/sheet |
$260 $1.30/sheet |
$130 $1.30/sheet |
$40 $1.60/sheet |
 Click on the picture to see a larger version Transfer was done using TransMAgic! inks |
| Alpha
Blue Line Hot Peel for Inkjet Printers |
Introducing Alpha Blue Line; our latest hot-peel transfer paper for inkjet printers. Alpha Blue Line is a premium paper designed to leave behind a smooth finish while minimizing cracking and/or peeling that some transfer papers have trouble with.
Alpha Blue Line can be applied to white and off-white garments and has a soft hand (the part you can feel). Alpha Blue line is not recommended for colored garments.
Alpha Blue Line
can be applied with an iron but for best results we recommend using a heat press
for even temperature and pressure.
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| Alpha
Gold Dark For colored shirts |
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Transfer was done using |
This high quality heat transfer paper is specifically designed to print transfers to apply to dark colored fabric, including black, using an inkjet printer.
It has taken us a long time (working with a major paper mill) to get a superior “opaque” transfer paper that we could comfortably label as “Alpha Gold”. It has been worth the time and effort.
Alpha Gold Dark is a "single-step" paper, but this refers to the actual printing. The paper produces excellent results but does require more time (as compared to the speed of applying transfers to white garments) to apply correctly.
The image is printed on the white background (without reversing or flipping), trimmed, lifted off the paper backing (Peeling the back) and then placed on the garment, printed side up. A piece of parchment paper (provided with the Alpha Gold Dark) is then placed over the transfer (as a cover sheet, to protect the heater block) and the heat press is closed.
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The transfer temperature is (360º-390º F) depending on your presses and shirt materials (50/50 cotton/polyester shirts are not reccomended for opaque paper). After the 25-30 second heating cycle is completed, the heat press is opened and the shirt is allowed to cool (while still on the press) for about 30 seconds and then the parchment paper cover sheet is removed. Note: the parchment paper is reusable and one sheet of parchment paper is provided for every five sheets of Alpha Gold Dark.
The reason for Alpha Gold Dark is because if you put a regular inkjet transfer on a dark colored garment (like Alpha Double Green), the image will almost disappear because inks are so translucent. The “film” on Alpha Gold Dark paper is white (on regular transfer paper it is clear). The image is printed on the white background, trimmed, lifted off the paper backing and then placed on the garment (printed side up). This allows you to see the image, after pressing.
The underlying white film is thick enough to block the color of the garment and, while still thicker than the film used for white garments, thin enough that it doesn’t feel like a piece of cardboard.
There are many potential customers who want images on dark shirts. However, for you to make a decent profit, you must charge more than for work on a white shirt.
Dark shirts cost more, the transfer paper is more expensive and the preparation time is longer. Charge accordingly. Customers will pay, if that is what they want. You shouldn't work for free.
Alpha Gold Dark is included in the “Alpha Sampler Pack” we mentioned.
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| 11
x 17 |
$2,200 $2.20/sheet |
$1,150 $2.30/sheet |
$720 $2.40/sheet |
$500 $2.50/sheet |
$260 $2.60/sheet |
$75 $3.00/sheet |
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| Jet-Pro
SofStretch Hot Peel for Whites & Inkjet Printers |
 Click on the picture to see a larger version Transfer was done using |
We added Jet-Pro SofStretch to our to our well-known Alpha brand heat transfer papers to provide a heat transfer paper that has as soft a feel (hand) as is possible.
The paper also leaves very little residue on the garment in untrimmed areas (especially after washing) so is also our best paper to apply lettering to white T-shirts. However, we should caution you that “very little” does not mean totally “invisible”. The discerning eye can still see and feel it. It’s just the best that we have seen for this purpose (the noticeable line around the lettering in the close-up picture is from the paper edge, not the film).
The
Jet-Pro SofStretch heat transfer paper also has a certain amount of “stretch”
(when peeled hot) so it also resists cracking when washed. It also does not
“flake” at all, as some of the expensive specialty ink and papers
do.
With all the upside to this paper, you may wonder if there is any downside in using it for your white T-shirts.
There are potentially two. First, while the printed colors are nice, they are totally flat. If you are decorating shirts with photographs, a great number of customers will prefer a slight “photographic sheen” like that produced with our Alpha Double Green paper.
Second, while Jet-Pro SofStretch has very good washability, and retains color very well, it is still not quite as good as our Alpha brand heat transfer papers for whites (currently there is no effective paper for colored fabrics in the “soft” line).
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| 11
x 17 |
$980 98¢/sheet |
$550 $1.10/sheet |
$240 $1.20/sheet |
$140 $1.40/sheet |
$80 $1.60/sheet |
$50 $2.00/sheet |
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A simple and easy method of putting just names and numbers on garments and caps.
Flock Appliqués (transfers) are precut velour fabric, with a heat activated adhesive on the backs of the letters and numbers.
Heat transfer paper is not a very good method of putting just names and numbers on fabric. Unlike plastic looking vinyl, flock presents a very desirable, high quality image because it is a fabric.
Many, especially embroiders, like flock because it gives them the ability to provide
a quality image, on small orders. Their philosophy is 
that
if you have to tell a customer “no”, on something simple, you may
lose them for everything.
The most common combinations are black letters on white shirts and white letters on black shirts. Royal Blue and red are the next most popular. Fuchsia (pink) is quite popular with young girls.
| Alpha
Hi-Gloss pressing sheets |
Transfer was done using TransMagic! inks, pressed with Alpha Hi-Gloss as the pressing sheet instead of parchment paper. |
Alpha Hi-Gloss pressing paper produces a bright gloss finish on the Alpha Gold Dark paper, mentioned above.
You do not print on the paper itself. You use Alpha Hi-Gloss as a pressing sheet instead of the parchment paper mentioned in the Alpha Gold Dark section.
After the Alpha Gold Dark transfer is printed and placed on the garment (see above), an Alpha Hi-Gloss sheet is placed over the transfer. Note: it is not necessary to trim the Alpha Hi-Gloss sheet because it leaves no residue on the fabric.
Pressing time and temperature is the same as if you were using the parchment paper pressing sheet (Don’t worry about times and temperature. Every pack of paper is sent with detailed instructions).
There are two major facts that you must remember, when using this paper. First, the Alpha Hi-Gloss pressing sheet must be peeled off cold. In this case, cold means room temperature and “air-cooled”. Here’s why.
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Click on the picture to see a larger version This picture really illustrates the Alpha High-Gloss. Notice the light reflection from our camera flash over the cars right fender. |
If the shirt is warm (much less hot) when you peel the paper, the Alpha Gold Dark film will pull off of the shirt. The same thing happens if you “force-cool” the shirt. Let the garment cool naturally. Test the temperature by touching the paper over the transfer (bare parts of the garment cools faster).
The second important fact to remember is that Alpha Hi-Gloss can not be used with sublimation ink. It can only be used with regular or heat transfer inks. It doesn’t matter what type of ink, just that it not be sublimation ink.
We did marketing research to prove to ourselves that Alpha Hi-Gloss pressing paper would make our friends and clients more money. Click Here, to read about our tests.
Alpha Hi-Gloss is offered in one of our Sampler Packs that we mentioned. It is only offered in 100 sheet quantities because, quite frankly, it is so cheap that it is not worth our time to count it out for broken (25 sheets) packs.
Our final thought about Alpha Hi-Gloss is about a good marketing idea, to help your profits.
“Names” are important. They add perceived value. On the other hand, “no-name” products have no extra value.
To us, calling this beautiful product a “heat transfer” (to your customer) sounds about as exciting as talking about paint drying.
Think of a name, like “Photo Gloss Shirt” or anything that sounds exciting. If you sound exciting, there is a good chance that your customer will follow your lead.
Because you now have excellent, but new, knowledge about all heat transfer papers, you may be confused about which you should chose, for your work.
In this section we briefly discuss the pros and cons of each paper (because no paper does everything), to help you in your decisions (and you can also call us).
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– a warm peel paper (removed from the press and peeled in about 15 seconds) that leaves a relatively smooth finish, with a slight photographic sheen.
It is excellent for photographs and images where the brightest colors possible are desired. It is not recommended if you must print words by themselves, off the main image. The unprinted areas will be quite noticeable. One way to circumvent this fact is to print on the image itself.
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– a cool peel paper (the shirt is removed from the press and the parchment paper is peeled when cool to the touch) that produces a relatively flat finish and is our only paper for colored fabrics.
Our one-step opaque heat transfer paper is thick enough to block out the background of even black fabric, while it is white enough to provide good color. The necessary thickness (to block out underlying fabric color) is the only objection that some folks have. While the paper is certainly not stiff cardboard, it does have more hand (feel) than any other type of transfer paper. It also washes the best of all opaque papers that we have tested.
Some of our customers do refuse to offer colored shirts because of the necessary physical properties of opaque heat transfer paper. However, based on experience, you will give up 40-60% of your sales by only offering white shirts.
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- a hot peel paper (the paper backing is removed within 10 seconds, while the shirt is still on the press) that leaves a totally flat finish, but with the softest hand (feel) of any heat transfer paper on the market.
Use this paper when it is necessary to print non-geometric (easy to trim) images and/or just lettering on white fabric. However, we still want to emphasize that untrimmed portions of the transfer are not invisible, just usually acceptable to the buying public. While this paper does wash acceptably, it does not retain colors quite as good as our Alpha paper.
You can get some of some of everything with our Alpha Sampler Packs: JPGDS-20 (5 sheets of all 4 papers), JPGDS-100 (25 sheets of all 4 papers) or JPDGS-200 (50 sheets of all 4 papers). The samplers have enough to not only test and make samples but also enough to make small orders. We even have a tiny Trial Sampler of 20 mixed sheets for only $19.95. Testing is not a bad idea because people are so different in what they want (20 minutes of observing people in a mall will underscore that fact).
However, if you know exactly what you want to offer, then get just a small or standard pack of only those heat transfer papers.
Because this page is so long, we grouped all of our paper prices and options on a separate page. If you want to review them now, click here and then hit your back button, to continue learning.
Because of constant manufacturer quality control problems, we have decided to offer heat transfer paper for inkjet printers only.
The main problem is consistency from one paper lot to the next. On a good day, prints from CLC and CLP systems are OK. On a bad day the prints are a nightmare to run.
Actually, nightmare is a bit of an understatement on the papers offered for Color Laser Printers. All too often, the fusers in laser printers melt the heat transfer paper and it sticks to the fuser. What’s worse is the fact that even if it doesn’t melt it instantly, small particles of the film can build up on the fuser, requiring frequent fuser replacement.
We want to send you printing solutions, not problems.
A professional grade heat transfer paper is essential for quality work. However, a superior T-shirt ink is equally important. On the next page you’ll learn why that’s important to you…
Peel Alpha Double Green HOT for a distressed look! Experiment with your
peeling method to get it just right.
