By Brit München


The print is applied to the textile using a mirror-inverted transfer.

The basic principle of transfer printing is an indirect process: The transfer print doesn’t involve a motif being directly applied to a textile or other surface, but via a so-called transfer. A transfer is a film, which has already undergone a special processing (i.e. is velvet flocked or reflective) and which a motif can be punched or cut out of (i.e. letters, numbers or one-coloured logos).

Or it is a transfer film – usually white – on which a motif is imprinted. The latter can be manufactured using diverse printing technologies and with inks that are customary for this method: From screen-printing through to digital technologies such as cutting plotters, inkjet printers and laser printers. Differently coated transfer foils are used for the different printing processes. The transfer – whether printed or cut – has a hot-melt adhesive layer on the reverse side and normally lies on a transparent backing film. It is then removed together with a slightly adhesive transfer foil and applied to the textile. In the case of cut or punched foils the own backing film serves at the same time as the transfer foil. In a transfer press that is equipped with a hot plate, it is then transferred onto the material. In the private or manual sectors one is familiar with this principle from iron-on motifs, which can simply be ironed onto the material (or pressed on in copy shops using hand presses). On the other hand pneumatic, i.e. air-pressure operated presses are implemented in the industrial sector, because for a good transfer constant, full-surface working temperatures as well as an even pressure is absolutely necessary. The transfer motif is transferred onto or into the fibres of the textile via the transfer press with differing degrees of permanence through the heat and time effect. In contrast to thermo-sublimation printing (see below) the adhesive side of the motif is also transferred together with the ink, which provides a certain material thickness, so that the motif is not only visible, but also tangible as a surface lying on the textile.
After being pressed onto the textile the backing foil or the masking material, if used, is re-moved from the textile. With certain foils this has to be done straight after being pressed, while the transfer foil is still hot. In this case they are called hot peel-off transfer foils. In the case of cold peel-off transfer foils, the transfer foil cools down completely before being pulled off. Transfer printing is suitable for large-surface and multi-coloured textile prints as well as for small and detailed patterns. The strengths of this method lie on the one hand in the simple and individual personalisability and customisation of textiles. (In team sports for example each kit can be fitted out with the individual player’s name and number. Such small volumes are not cost-effective using screen-printing methods.) On the other hand special effects can be realised using this method (velvety flock, reflective transparent films), which are not possible using other techniques. Transfer foils are divided up into two categories: Cuttable foils that already have a specific surface ink structure (i.e. a velvety flock) or a certain surface effect (i.e. reflective foils), and those foils that are initially imprinted with different inks, which can then be cut out. Since these transfer foils are imprinted like normal paper, all possible inks and raster methods can be implemented. The method is also suitable for small volumes and stands out because of its high-quality results with a very good colour application, adhesion and due to its high colour-fast and washable properties. As such transfer printing has established itself in all areas of textile customisation.