IColor Printing Solutions ICHTLIGHTA4 Light 1 Step Textile Transfer Paper Instructions
- June 13, 2024
- IColor Printing Solutions
Table of Contents
IColor Printing Solutions ICHTLIGHTA4 Light 1 Step Textile Transfer Paper
Product Information
- Product Name: IColorTM Light 1 StepTM Textile Transfer Paper
- Part Numbers: ICHTLIGHTA4 (8.27 x 11.7) (216 x 279mm), ICHTLIGHTA3 (11.7 x 16.5) (297 x 420mm)
- Available Paper Sizes: A4 and A3
- Temperature: 15 Seconds
- Paper Setting:
- IColorTM 500/600 – Media Type: Plain / Media Weight: UH1
- IColorTM 650 – Media Type: User Type 2 / Media Weight: UH5 321
- IColorTM 550/540 – Paper Type: Coated Glossy Thick
- IColorTM 560 – Paper Type: Thick to 105g
- IColorTM 800 – Paper Type: Thick to 163g
- Pressure: 5
- Description: IColorTM Light 1 StepTM Transfer Paper is an all-in-one media designed for use with light and colored garments. It is easy to use, inexpensive, and provides a soft hand feel. This transfer paper eliminates the need for an adhesive pressing step, saving time in the production process. It allows for direct printing and pressing onto the garment in just 15 seconds. No weeding is required, resulting in high-quality images and reduced production time. The finished garments can withstand up to 25 washes, depending on the laundering method.
- Tech Tips:
- Use only heat press-specific kraft paper to avoid sticking issues.
- For best results, use this transfer paper with light or medium colored garments as it does not have an adhesive backing. Darker substrates may wash out or mute the graphic.
- To correct halftones, print white on top of color either by running the sheet through the printer a second time or usingIColorTM TransferRIP or ProRIP Software to apply a white layer in one pass. This helps with toner coverage and adherence to the garment.
Product Usage Instructions
- Place the transparent transfer sheet into the appropriate tray of your printer. The plain, non-marked side is the print side.
- Printer Settings:
- In the RIP software settings, choose the paper type according to the printer being used.
- Ensure you are working within the overprint queue in the ProRIP software or ‘B’ Configuration if using the TransferRIP software.
- Set the job to mirror print to ensure correct orientation when transferred to the substrate.
- For best results, set white to 200% for white garments and 300% for medium colored garments (e.g., blue and gray).
- Set choke to 3, medium. For IColorTM 560 / 550 / 540 printers, do not exceed 280% white overprint. For the IColorTM 650 printer, set to 130% white overprint.
- Print the image.
- Preheat the heat press to the recommended temperature.
- Place the printed transfer sheet onto the garment, ensuring proper alignment.
- Apply pressure of 5 using the heat press.
- Set the time to 15 seconds.
- Wait for 10 seconds before removing the fixing or kraft paper to avoid sticking issues.
IColor™ Light 1 Step™ Textile Transfer Paper Instructions
Part # ICHTLIGHTA4 (8.27″ x 11.7″) (216 x 279mm)
Part # ICHTLIGHTA3 (11.7″ x 16.5”) (297 x 420mm)
AVAILABLE IN A4 AND A3 PAPER SIZES
| Temperature | Time | Paper Setting | Pressure |
|---|
Cotton 390°F / 200°C Poly 305°F / 150°C
|
15 Seconds
| IColor™ 500/600 – Media Type: Plain / Media Weight: UH1 IColor™ 650 – Media Type: User Type 2 / Media Weight: UH5 321 IColor™ 550/540 – Paper Type: Coated Glossy Thick IColor™ 560 – Paper Type: Thick to 105g IColor™ 800 – Paper Type: Thick to 163g|
5
IColor™ Light 1 Step™ Transfer Paper for light colored garments is an easy to
use, all-in-one media for use with light and colored garments. The IColor™
Light 1 Step™ Transfer Paper is easy to use, very inexpensive and features a
very soft hand. This one step system saves time because there is no adhesive
pressing step. Print and press directly to your garment in 15 seconds! No
weeding necessary – produce quality images while dramatically reducing your
production time.
Designed to work with the IColor™ series of specialty printers, the IColor™
Light 1 Step™ Transfer Paper will also work with many popular color laser
printers – please check with your printer manufacturer to be certain. White
toner enabled printers are suggested for best results.
Finished garments will last up to 25 washes depending on how it’s laundered.
- It is recommended to wash finished garments inside out in cold or warm water and low agitation.
- Avoid fabric softener.
- Tumble dry on low setting – For best results, hang to dry.
- If ironing is necessary, you must place a piece of kraft paper between the pressed image and the hot iron. Failure to do this will result in a melted transfer.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BEST RESULTS
-
Place the transparent transfer sheet into the appropriate tray of your printer.
The plain, non-marked side is the print side. -
IColor™ 650 / 600 / 500 / Most Oki Printers: Print side face up in the Multipurpose Tray.
-
IColor™ 800 / 560 / 550 / 540: Print side face down in the Bypass Tray.
-
Printer Settings:
-
In the RIP software settings, choose the paper type according to the printer being used. Make sure you are working within the overprint queue in the ProRIP software or ‘B’ Configuration if using the TransferRIP software.
Specific print modes and sizes for this paper are available when using the IColor™ ProRIP software. -
Listed as ‘UNINET IColor 1 Step Light’
-
The page size should match the size of the paper being used (A4 or A3).
Otherwise, use the following settings based on the printer:
-
IColor™ 600 / 500 / Most OKI Printers: Set media type to ‘Plain’; and media weight to ‘Ultra Heavy 1’.
-
IColor™ 650: Set media type to ‘User Type 2’; and media weight to ‘Ultra Heavy 5 321 – 360’.
-
IColor™ 560: Set paper type to ‘Thick to 105g’.
-
IColor™ 550 / 540: Set paper type to ‘Coated Glossy Thick’.
-
IColor™ 800: Set paper type to ‘Thick to 163g’ (Thick to 220g may be needed for extra heavy coverage) If not already done automatically in the RIP, remember to set the job to mirror print, ensuring the correct orientation when transferred to the substrate.
For best results, set white to: 200% for white garments, 300% for medium colored garments (such as blue and gray). Choke should be set to 3, medium.
For IColor™ 560 / 550 / 540 printers, do not exceed 280% white overprint.
For the IColor™ 650 printer, set to 130% white overprint. -
Print the image.
-
Preheat the press to 390°F / 200°C and keep the press closed for a few minutes before proceeding to heat up the lower platen.
-
Place or thread your garment on the press. Position the transfer sheet (print side down) onto the garment.
- It is suggested that you use heat resistant tape to secure the sheet to the garment. Otherwise, opening the press can cause the transfer sheet to lift prematurely.
- For more precise placement, lay the garment out on a table, position the transfer sheet appropriately and tape the corners before placement on the press.
For polyester garments, press at a reduced temperature of 305°F / 150°C.
-
Cover the transfer sheet and textile with a kraft or PTFE-based sheet.
- Press at 390°F / 200°C for 15 seconds with medium pressure.
-
Open the heat press and wait 10 – 15 seconds, leaving the garment and transfer in place.
- Peel the transfer sheet diagonally in one smooth motion.
- The waiting time before peeling is very important. Do not peel immediately or too late.
- You might have to experiment with what works for your heat press.
- This is all done while the garment is on the press to retain the heat.
If the transfer does not fully adhere to the textile, the peel was performed too early.
If the transfer paper sticks to the garment and rips, the peel was performed too late.
-
Re-Pressing (AKA post press or fixing press) the image into the garment is important for wash durability.
- Place the textile back on the heat press.
- Cover with kraft fixing paper on top of the image for a matte finish.
- Re-press the image for roughly 30 seconds at 390°F / 200°C or at the temperature it was originally pressed.
If this step is not done, the pressed image could bleed during the wash cycle, so take great care that the re-pressing is done correctly.
-
Wait 10 seconds before removing the fixing or kraft paper to avoid any part of the transfer from sticking to the kraft sheet.
- Pull slowly in one smooth, continuous motion. It is important to wait before pulling the paper off, otherwise it could pull the design off the garment!
- While the garment is still on the press and still hot; lightly stretch the material to allow the toner to soak into the fabric to prevent cracking.
TECH TIPS
There are many variables that could produce different results. Specific steps may need to be altered based on:
- Type of image: Photos or full-color graphics may require a longer press time than vector images or text.
- Type of garment: Cotton, Polyester, Spandex and Lycra material all respond differently to heat. All instructions are based on cotton garments.
- If your presses are not pulling cleanly, preheat the lower platen of the press in the closed position for several minutes to retain the necessary heat to perform this step.
- Toner Coverage: Halftones in image may cause undesired results. Toner coverage should not be less than 70%otherwise there may be issues with transferring the adhesive to the transfer sheet. The RIP will add the necessary amount of white to the image to avoid this situation. Those printing outside of the RIP software may encounter issues such as incomplete adhesive transfer.
- Type and brand of Heat Press: The temperature and duration varies slightly based on the heat press being used. All instructions are based on using a Hotronix Fusion press (recommended). Clam shell and other types of swing away presses may also yield different results. Always place the transfer paper in the middle of your heat press. Some heat presses do not have uniform heat and pressure distribution, which can affect your final project.
Only use kraft paper made for heat press applications! The use of butcher paper or other kinds not specifically designed for heat transfer applications can cause the image to stick to the paper.
This transfer paper is recommended for use with light or medium colored
garments because it is a 1 Step paper without the adhesive backing. As a
result, the darker the substrate, the more your graphic will be washed out or
muted. If this look is the intent, then it is perfectly acceptable to use the
IColor™ 1 Step Transfer Media in this way.
Halftones can be corrected by printing white on top of color (either running
the sheet through the printer a second pass, or using the IColor™ TransferRIP
or ProRIP Software to apply a white layer in one pass). This will assist with
toner coverage and proper adherence to the garment.
There are many types of coatings and finishes applied to textiles and
synthetic fabrics, so make certain adhesion is satisfactory and test for
washability or scuff-resistance when applying transfer paper to such
materials.
It is recommended to wash finished garments inside out in cold or warm water
and low agitation. Avoid fabric softener, as it may prematurely degrade the
transfer. Tumble dry on low setting – For best results, hang to dry. If
ironing is necessary, you must place a piece of kraft paper between the
pressed image and the hot iron. Failure to do this will result in a melted
transfer.
If there is a background around your transfer, reduce the transfer time or
pressure. If there are areas which are not completely clean, it is recommended
to post press again with light pressure and kraft paper to weed out the
undesired areas.
IColor™ 650 Tips:
- When printing the color black, change the color code of your black elements to 65% C, 65% M, 60% Y using the job color replacement tool in the ProRIP.
- When printing solid black images with no color, use the provided black cartridge and set your artwork to 100% K in the job color replacement.
- Optionally, use your IColor Clear toner kit for outstanding results when pressing onto a white or light colored textiles.
Optimal Humidity Level: 45% – 65%
- Regulated with A/C, a humidifier or de-humidifier, depending on current atmospheric conditions.
Optimal Temperature Range: 50°F / 10°C – 75°F / 24°C
Use of this paper outside of these recommend parameters may lead to poor
results.
To see video instructions for IColor™ Light 1 Step Transfer Media, visit
www.icolorprint.com/video
ALSO AVAILABLE:
- IColor™ Premium 2 Step Transfer Paper for light and dark colored garments
- IColor™ Select and Select Ultra Bright 2 Step Transfer Paper for light and dark colored garments
- IColor™ Standard 2 Step Transfer Paper for light and dark colored garments
- IColor™ Glitter Adhesive 2 Step Transfer Paper (for use with IColor™ Standard 2 Step Transfer Paper)
- IColor™ Light 1-Step Transfer Paper for light colored garments
- IColor™ Presto 2 Step Transfer Paper for textiles and hard surfaces
- IColor™ Temporary Tattoo 2 Step and Easy Tattoo Transfer Paper
- IColor™ Premium, Wood and Leather and Ceramic Hard Surface 1-Step Transfer Paper
- IColor™ AquaClear 1-Step Transfer Paper for candles and other substrates not resistant to heat
- IColor™ Label / Sticker Paper (Clear and White) in Letter and Tabloid size
- IColor™ Window Cling Media (Clear and White) in Banner and cut sheet options
- IColor™ Banner Paper
- IColor™ Magnetic Media in Letter and Tabloid size
…and more! Contact your dealer for more information.
IColor™ Transfer Paper Comparison Charts
May 2023 Revision – A newer version of this manual may be available at www.icolorprint.com/support (Or scan this QR Code)