To print on a T-shirt using this printer, you need the equipment
listed here, depending on your print project.
- Platen (provided with the printer or optional
item)
- The printer comes with an M size hanger platen. There are five
other types of platens available in different sizes.
- 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, pressing down
standing fibers on T-shirts before printing to help prevent nozzle
clogs, 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 piece of parchment (silicone) paper or a Teflon
(fluoro-resin) sheet at low pressure 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.
- Grip pad tool (included with printer)
- The grip pad tool is used to remove slack and creases when
loading a T-shirt on a platen with a grip pad.
- 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 parchment (silicone) paper, Teflon
(fluoro-resin) sheets, or other types of heat-resistant material.
Parchment (silicone) sheets tend to produce a matte effect and
fluoro-resin sheets tend to produce a glossy effect. You can also
use the sheet with the grip pad tool to load T-shirts on a platen
covered with a grip pad.
- Heat-resistant fabric (commercially
available)
- Use heat-resistant fabric to fix ink to uneven areas near
seams, such as around sleeves. For best results, use the same type
of fabric as the T-shirt.
- T-shirts (commercially available)
- For best results, use a T-shirt that is 100% cotton with thick
and tightly-woven (ringspun) material, or a T-shirt that is 100%
polyester. 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 on
cotton T-shirts, or when printing on polyester T-shirts. There are
two pre-treatment solutions: one for cotton shirts with a blend
ratio of 50 to 100%, and another for polyester shirts with a blend
ratio of 50 to 100%. If the correct pre-treatment solution is not
applied to the T-shirt, colors may not adhere to the T-shirt or
develop properly. For shirts that are a 50/50 blend of cotton and
polyester, either pre-treatment solution can be used, but there may
be differences in the results. Perform a test print to determine
which pre-treatment solution best suits your needs. For best
results, use a paint roller or sprayer to apply pre-treatment
solution to the T-shirt.
Note: Using
non-Epson pre-treatment solution may yield poor color, image
quality, or washability.
Note: The cotton
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 ink used and the device for fixing ink. The polyester
pre-treatment solution can be used diluted or undiluted, depending
on the type of ink used.
- Pre-treatment roller set (optional item or
commercially available)
- A paint roller can be used to apply the pre-treatment solution
to the T-shirt, and makes it easier to apply the solution to uneven
areas such as pockets. 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 and release,
and one whose handle is made of rust-resistant aluminum. Use a tray
to allow the pre-treatment solution to soak into the roller. When
using a paint roller, make sure to apply the pre-treatment solution
evenly, or the white print quality may not be as bright or printed
colors may appear distorted. The optional pre-treatment roller set
includes the roller, handle (roller grip), and a tray. If you don't
have the optional set, use a different paint roller for each
color.
- Distilled water (commercially available)
- Distilled or purified water is used to dilute the pre-treatment
solution and to clean sensor covers.
- Pre-treatment machine (commercially
available)
- A pre-treatment machine is used to spray the pre-treatment
solution onto the T-shirt. Using a pre-treatment machine is quicker
and easier than using a paint roller; however, more of the
pre-treatment solution may be used because of overspray. For best
results, we recommend an electric sprayer that allows you to
spray a fine mist. Check in advance if the solution can be applied
properly according to the pre-treatment solution and pre-treatment
conditions.
- 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 (optional item or commercially
available)
- Use a hard roller to press the fibers flat on the print surface
of the T-shirt before printing. Make sure that you prepare a
separate hard roller from the pre-treatment solution roller.