Decoration methods
Transfer
Spot-color artwork printed in premixed solid inks onto a film, then heat-bonded to the surface as a smooth, thin applied layer that flexes with the material.
How transfer works
Heat transfer prints your design in premixed spot inks onto a film, then bonds that film to the surface under heat and pressure. Each color goes down as its own solid ink, so edges stay crisp and color stays even across the mark. The result reads as a smooth, thin bonded layer — low-profile and flexible enough to move with the fabric, not ink soaked into the cloth.
Best when your artwork is solid spot colors needing flat, even coverage — for photographic or gradient artwork choose Heat Transfer — Four Color, since spot inks print as flat solids rather than continuous tone.
Is transfer right for your artwork?
- Best for
- Solid spot-color artwork where flat, even color coverage matters, and a smooth low-profile mark that flexes with the material is preferred.
- Not the fit for
- Not the fit for photographic art, gradients, or tonal blends, which require process printing rather than spot colors.
- Fine detail
- Holds crisp lines and fine solid detail; very small text or hairline elements may soften slightly at the bonded edge.
- Pantone matching
- Pantone (PMS) color matching is available as an option for an additional charge per color.
- Choose something else if
- Your artwork is photographic or full of gradients and tonal blends — choose Heat Transfer — Four Color for true process reproduction.
Transfer questions, answered
- What is a heat transfer imprint?
- Heat transfer prints the design in premixed spot inks onto a film, then bonds that film to the surface under heat and pressure. Each color goes down as its own solid ink, so edges stay crisp and color stays even across the mark. The result is a smooth, thin bonded layer that flexes with the material rather than ink soaked into the cloth.
- Can heat transfer print photographs or gradients?
- Standard heat transfer prints spot colors as flat solids, so photographic art, gradients and tonal blends are not a fit; those need a process-color transfer, which many products list as a four-color or full-color transfer option. Very small text and hairline elements may also soften slightly at the bonded edge, while crisp lines and fine solid detail hold well.
Every product page lists the decoration methods it offers, with the imprint locations, color limits and charges for that item, and a Questions & Answers section where you can ask about transfer on a specific product.