Silkscreen transfers: definition, benefits and uses
Sports jerseys, workwear, event tote bags… Silkscreen transfers are everywhere, often unnoticed. A manufacturer since 1976, Seripress explains the process, its strengths and its uses.
Definition
Screen printing is a printing technique in which ink is pushed through a screen made of a more or less fine mesh. For a silkscreen transfer, the design is printed this way on a paper carrier, then transferred onto the item with a heat press. Only the ink is transferred: no cutting, no material to remove.
Benefits
- Durability: colours and adhesion retained after many machine washes, up to 60 °C.
- Detail: technical designs, illustrations, photos; 0.3 mm details with SeriOne.
- Ready to apply: sharp outlines, no weeding.
- Delicate materials: can also be applied to windbreakers, nylon, luggage, umbrellas, non-woven or leather, with suitable settings.
- Cost-effective: no ink stock, no printing machine to maintain; you decorate items as orders come in, with no unsold stock.
- Options: glitter, Pantone special colour, fluo, phosphorescent, super opaque, stop colour-bleeding for sublimated textiles, low temperature for heat-sensitive materials.
Seripress silkscreen transfers
- GreenLight: matt photo-quality four-colour, unlimited colours, highly stretchable. See the four-colour transfer.
- SeriLight: four-colour with a very thin feel, no adhesive border, cost-effective. See the four-colour transfer.
- SeriOne: single colour in the shade of your choice, no adhesive overflow. See the monochrome transfer.
- Serilabel: care or size label without stitching. See Serilabel.
- Stop colour-bleeding and low temperature options.
Where are they used?
- Workwear: company logos on staff uniforms (catering, construction, services…).
- Sport: club logos, names, numbers and sponsors on jerseys, shorts, socks.
- Events and promotion: staff T-shirts, tote bags, giveaway textiles at trade shows.
- Fashion and garment making: collections, lingerie, swimwear, childrenswear.
- Medical, automotive, footwear, bedding…
How is it applied?
Heat press set between 140 and 180 °C; the paper is peeled cold, once the textile has cooled. Exact settings are given on the application sheet supplied. See our heat press guide.
Quality
Transfers made in France, in Saint-Marcellin (Isère); certified OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, REACH compliant, free from PVC, phthalates and BPA; GreenLight and SeriLight flame retardant to EN ISO 15025.