Fixing the Pre-treatment Solution (Heat Press)

If you are using a heat tunnel to fix the ink, you must use a heat press before printing to remove creases from the T-shirt and to fix the pre-treatment solution. Always place a heat-resistant release sheet, such as parchment (silicone) paper, between the T-shirt and the heat press.

Note: Do not wet the T-shirt or leave it in a humid location for a long time after fixing the pre-treatment solution, or White ink may absorb into the wet sections and cause poor print quality. If the T-shirt is left for an extended period of time in a humid location, press it for 5 to 10 seconds with parchment (silicone) paper just before printing.

The fixing conditions vary depending on the amount of pre-treatment solution used. The following guidelines are approximate.

Note: If the pre-treatment solution is not completely dry after the suggested amount of time, extend the duration while carefully checking if the pre-treatment solution is dry. Make sure the T-shirt is completely dry before loading it for printing; otherwise, the print quality may decline.

Fixing conditions for cotton pre-treatment solution

Application area size Temperature Time Pressure
Letter/A4 and smaller 338 °F (170 °C) 45 seconds 6.1 Psi (4.2 N/cm2)
Larger than letter/A4 45–90 seconds

Fixing conditions for polyester pre-treatment solution

Application area size Temperature Time Pressure
Letter/A4 and smaller 266 °F (130 °C) 60 seconds 4.4 Psi (3.0 N/cm2)
Larger than letter/A4 60 seconds
Note: Optimum conditions may vary depending on the type of heat press used; make sure to test in advance to determine the correct conditions for your heat press. If traces of the pre-treatment solution are visible, try washing the T-shirt in water. However, the effects depend on the T-shirt material.