Davis Brown
You can easily print large images with a small heat press machine. When you come to fill an order, you are asked to sublimate a 17 x 17-inch image or multiple prints on a large transfer paper while you have a 15 x 15-inch heat press.
Will you plan to fulfill such active needs by purchasing a large-size heat press machine? No, not at all. On the latter part of the equation, are you planning to move on or carve out to shine with your existing equipment?
Without you having to brainstorm time to fulfill your prospects, we have framed out quick, actionable steps to producing the right materials for closing the order. Let’s get started.
Materials Required:
Suppose you are decorating a mat with an image size of 17 by 17 inches. This method is applicable for multiple print sizes. Get the following products below:
1. Wooden Board:
Get a wooden board from the local market. It should be thin enough that it fits the heat press. If already you have it, then get it. The wooden board works as a lower platen for a large substrate in the heat press machine. Most importantly, its width should be equal to or less than the heat press while the length is comparatively larger so that you can easily slide the board to the left or right with the substrate onto it.
Simultaneously, you can move the printed transfers to get a smooth press when you are sublimating the image.
2. Use Swing Away Heat Press:
It is easier to print using a swing-away heat press than the clamshell because of the slants at the inner part. As we are placing wooden board, clamshell may be stuck at a higher slant and prevent the even application of the heat press over the entire transfer area.
Steps to Print Large Image Using Small Heat Press:
You can quickly sublimate a large image on a substrate using a small heat press with the five steps below.”
Step 1:
First, place the wooden board(as we discussed above) onto the lower plate. Better use Teflon sheet/parchment paper below to protect the silicon pad.
Step 2:
Second, place the over it and heat press to get the moisture out.
Step 3:
Next, put the image transfer with the print side down onto the mat(substrate) and check the top and bottom if it exactly fits the print area.
Step 4:
And then, press for the full 60 seconds. Now, we will be following the most crucial step of this press. Once the heat press is done, instead of lifting the picture, push the wooden board and apply the heat press again to get an even press so that you do not mess up with the integrity of the first image printed earlier.
Step 5:
Just imagine how you would iron for sublimation transfers. Similarly, you can print multiple areas one after another using a heat press.
Cut the image into pieces:
There is also a way to cut your image into two pieces and repeat the process in step 3. So you don’t have to do just one full picture. But you would have to heat-press it twice.
You may know, printing one full image by applying heat press twice while moving the board instead of placing the images together. But, sometimes, you still have to place your images depending on how big and what it is you are pressing.
Conclusion:
You have a 15 x 15 inches heat press, and the image you are pressing is 13 x 19 inches. That means the full image won’t completely fit up under the heat press to do one smooth heat press. So, if you have this situation, all you need is to get something firm. Put under the bottom of your image, so you don’t have your image pressing the two. The two images because it’s just one image, but doing the double press, slide your board to the other half of the image you need to press and then press that for the same amount of time. Pull the sheet off, and it will be one smooth surface.
This is good for people that are doing home depot mats, and you know that’s pretty big as it relates to your heat press. So if you want to get it smooth, this is the way you do it because you know that mats going to hang off your press.
