Heat Transfer vs. Screen Printing

[OneUpTenn]

I am new to the business and my question is this...

Is there some "rule of thumb" that you use for screen printing vs. Heat pressing?

This goes for signs as well.

I read somewhere that anything under 100 they would use a heat press and print them on heat transfer material. Anything over 100 they would screen print but wouldn't this depend on the number of colors or no?

Thanks for any input.

[Bogie]

I do transfers, but pretty much just because I don't know what size shirts I'm going to be asked for... I don't want to go to a match where I'll sell a hundred shirts, and find out that everyone's gone on a diet, and I'm gonna eat 2-3 dozen XX and XXX shirts...

[Rich]

I offer both. Full color transfers are ok for short runs on white or ash shirts. Screenprinting although more time and effort will hold up much longer on any color shirt.

[rcook99]

I compared the cost of screened transfers to sending it out to a printer and it was about even for any run over 36pcs. So at this time I still offer the cad cut transfers for 1-2 doz but anything over that I send out. I work with a screen printer out of Mass. who treats me very well and the work is perfect. We have been working together for about 2 years. I would rather be selling more jobs and dealing with the customer than printing t-shirts. Now the sign end is a different story.

[Boomer]

We drop ship our larger orders for shirts to screenprinter, he is set up for it and can do it very reasonable.Small orders we can print or cut heat material and press ourselves. We will not take a job for heat press with small lettering or graphics they are too difficult and time consuming to weed.

[Studog79]

The number of colors would greatly affect the cost per garment because of the number of screens needed thus thats where quantity comes in to spread those costs over. Since we do screen printing, now have a new 10 color auto, I have screen printed orders starting at 1 shirt, but I charge enough to cover expenses and make some profit. You really just need to break down the costs per and get where the price break is different. Also don't forget to include your time and electric to put on the transfers.:thumb: