To print on a T-shirt using this printer, you need the equipment
listed here, depending your print project.
- Heat press (commercially available)
- A heat press is required before you can print on a T-shirt. A
heat press is used to remove creases from T-shirts, and to fix the
pre-treatment solution and ink. Your heat press needs to be larger
than your platen and able to sustain a temperature of 338 °F (170
°C) or more for 90 seconds. Check the accuracy of your heat press
temperature with a probe; temperatures exceeding 356 °F may result
in dull colors. For best results, use a heat press with a foam
sheet or mat to allow the steam to escape.
- Heat tunnel (commercially available)
- A heat tunnel is used to fix the ink after printing. A heat
tunnel is not necessary if you have a heat press.
- Heat-resistant release sheet (commercially
available)
- A heat-resistant release sheet is placed over the T-shirt to
prevent any pre-treatment solution or ink from sticking to the heat
press. You can use silicon paper, fluoro-resin sheets, or other
types of heat-resistant material. Silicon sheets tend to produce a
matte effect and fluoro-resin sheets tend to produce a glossy
effect.
- T-shirts (commercially available)
- For best results, use a T-shirt that is 100% cotton with thick
and tightly-woven (ringspun) material, and a cotton blend ratio of
100 to 50%. Printing on materials with high polyester content will
result in more subdued colors. Since the print quality cannot
always be guaranteed for some types of fabric, perform a test print
first.
- Pre-treatment solution (available from
Epson)
- Pre-treatment solution is necessary for printing White ink
(White Edition). If pre-treatment solution is not applied to the
T-shirt, White ink does not image correctly or adhere to the
T-shirt. Also, colors that are printed on the White ink do not
develop properly. For best results, use a paint roller or sprayer
to apply pre-treatment solution to the T-shirt.
Note:
Pre-treatment solution must be diluted with distilled water at a
minimum 1:1 ratio. The amount of water added can vary depending on
the material type and color of the garment.
- Distilled water (commercially available)
- Distilled or purified water is used to dilute the pre-treatment
solution.
- Paint roller and tray (commercially
available)
- A paint roller is used to apply the pre-treatment solution to
the T-shirt. The tray is used to allow the pre-treatment solution
to soak into the roller. Choose a paint roller made of short
polyester fiber with excellent liquid absorption. The handle of the
roller should be made from aluminum to prevent rusting. When using
a paint roller, make sure to apply the pre-treatment solution
evenly, or the whiteness may not be as bright or printed colors may
appear distorted.
- Sprayer (commercially available)
- A sprayer is used to spray the pre-treatment solution onto the
T-shirt. For best results, use a sprayer that allows you to spray a
fine mist (an electric sprayer works best). Using a sprayer is
quicker and easier than using a paint roller; however, more of the
pre-treatment solution is used because of overspray.
- Sticky tape or lint roller (commercially
available)
- Use sticky tape or a lint roller to remove lint from the print
surface of the T-shirt. Take care not to pull fibers up from the
T-shirt.
- Hard roller (commercially available)
- A hard roller is used to press the fibers flat on the print
surface of the T-shirt. For best results, use a hard roller that is
different from the one you use to apply pre-treatment
solution.