Transfer & Heat Transfer Printing — Vinyl, Flock, Foil and Plastisol

What is Heat Transfer Printing?

Heat transfer printing uses a combination of heat and pressure to permanently bond a pre-made design onto a garment. The transfer — which can be made from vinyl, plastisol, flock, foil or reflective materials — is applied using a professional heat press. The result is a bright, sharp print that sits cleanly on the fabric surface, unaffected by the garment’s base colour.

The majority of the printing Indigo Clothing does for clients is screen printing, but certain products, logos or fabrics are better suited to transfer printing. This method involves heat pressing vinyl, plastisol, foil, flock or CAD-cut materials onto garments using professional clam presses — delivering bright, sharp results on virtually any fabric.

When to Use Transfer Printing

Transfer printing is the go-to method in several situations:

• Individual names and numbers — perfect for sportswear and team kits
• Personalised t-shirt transfers — single names, slogans or photos on individual t-shirts
• One-off samples — for client meetings, press events or prototyping
• Multicolour logos — that need to look bright, bold and eye-catching
• Nylon and synthetic fabrics — waterproofs, hi-vis jackets, umbrellas
• Lycra and Spandex — sports and leisurewear that needs to stretch
• Special effects — flock (velvet-like texture), foil (metallic shine) and more
• Small runs with no minimum order — from a single item upwards

Compare transfer printing with other printing methods →

Types of Transfer Printing

We offer a range of transfer types to suit different designs and effects:

• Vinyl (CAD-cut) — our custom heat transfer vinyl is precision-cut from coloured sheets for clean, crisp logos and text. Available in a wide range of colours including metallics, fluorescents and glitter finishes.
• Plastisol transfers — screen-printed onto transfer paper, then heat pressed onto garments. Great for detailed multicolour designs with excellent colour accuracy.
• Flock transfers — creates a luxurious, velvet-like raised texture. Popular for premium branding and fashion items.
• Foil transfers — high-gloss metallic finishes in gold, silver and other colours. Ideal for eye-catching event merchandise.
• Reflective transfers — for hi-vis workwear and safety garments.

How Our Heat Press Works

Indigo heat presses in-house using the latest 40×50cm magnetic clam presses from Stahls — industry-leading equipment trusted by professionals worldwide. Unlike screen printing, where ink absorbs slightly into the garment, transfers sit on top of the fabric. This means designs look sharp and bright because the garment’s base colour doesn’t affect the finished result.

Preparing the transfer

Your design is produced as a pre-made transfer — whether that’s a CAD-cut vinyl shape, a screen-printed plastisol sheet, or a specialist foil or flock. Each transfer type is produced to your exact artwork specifications.

Setting up the press

The press is calibrated to the correct temperature and pressure for the specific transfer type and garment fabric. Different materials — cotton, polyester, nylon — require different press settings to ensure a permanent bond.

Heat pressing

The transfer is positioned on the garment and the press closes for a precise dwell time — typically 10–15 seconds. The heat and pressure activate the adhesive layer, permanently bonding the design to the fabric.

Cold peel and finish

We normally use cold peel transfers: the garment is left to cool after pressing, then the backing paper is removed, leaving the transfer permanently bonded to the fabric. The result is a clean, sharp finish with no visible edges.

Which Fabrics Can Be Heat Transfer Printed?

One of the key advantages of heat transfer printing is its compatibility with fabrics that other methods struggle with. Here’s a guide to which transfer types work best on common garment materials:

Are Transfers Durable?

Transfer printing technology has come a long way in recent years. Modern transfers are fully wash and colour fast at 40°C in all popular washing products, can be dry cleaned, and can even be tumble dried at low temperature. While screen printing may edge ahead on longevity over hundreds of washes, transfers deliver excellent durability for the vast majority of use cases.

Transfer Printing vs DTF — What’s the Difference?

You may have seen DTF (Direct-to-Film) mentioned alongside traditional heat transfer printing. DTF is a newer digital transfer process where artwork is printed directly onto a film sheet using inkjet technology, then heat pressed onto a garment. It works across cotton, polyester and blended fabrics and produces photographic-quality, full-colour results.

At Indigo, we use DTF as part of our digital printing service. If your design is photographic, uses complex gradients, or you need a very small run of mixed sizes, DTF may be the better option. For bold logos, individual names and numbers, specialist effects (flock, foil, reflective) or work on nylon and synthetic fabrics, traditional vinyl and plastisol transfers remain the preferred choice.

Transfer Printing vs Other Methods

We also offer embroidery for a premium, textured finish — ideal for workwear, polo shirts and corporate clothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is transfer printing?

Transfer printing uses heat and pressure to bond a pre-made design onto a garment. The transfer can be made from vinyl, plastisol, flock, foil or other materials, and is applied using a professional heat press. It’s the preferred method for individual personalisation, synthetic fabrics and special effects.

Is there a minimum order for transfer printing?

No — transfer printing works from a single item upwards. It’s one of the most flexible methods for small orders, samples and individual personalisation.

Can you print on waterproof or synthetic fabrics?

Yes. Transfer printing is one of the few methods that works well on nylon, polyester, Lycra and other synthetic fabrics. This makes it ideal for hi-vis workwear, sports kit and outdoor jackets.

What special effects are available?

We offer flock transfers (velvet-like raised texture), metallic foil (gold, silver and other finishes), reflective transfers for safety wear, and standard vinyl in over 25 colours.

How much does transfer printing cost?

Pricing depends on the type of transfer, the number of colours, and the quantity of garments. As a guide, individual names and numbers for sportswear start from around £2–£5 per item; larger runs reduce the unit cost significantly. Contact us for a free quote tailored to your specific project — we’ll always recommend the most cost-effective approach.

What is the difference between heat transfer printing and iron-on transfers?

Iron-on transfers (available from craft shops or home printers) are designed for one-off DIY applications. Professional heat transfer printing uses industrial clam presses with precise temperature and pressure control, commercial-grade vinyl and plastisol transfers, and produces results that are fully wash-fast and built to last. See our guide to iron-on transfers for a full comparison.

Does Indigo Clothing offer DTF transfers?

Yes — DTF (Direct-to-Film) is available as part of our digital printing service. It’s ideal for photographic designs, complex gradients and full-colour artwork across cotton and polyester. Our team will recommend whether DTF or traditional vinyl/plastisol transfer printing is better suited to your project.

What is custom heat transfer vinyl?

Custom heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is coloured vinyl that’s precision-cut to your design and heat pressed onto a garment. It produces clean, durable logos and lettering in a wide range of colours and finishes, including metallic, fluorescent and glitter. It’s ideal for names, numbers and single-colour logos on t-shirts, sportswear and workwear.

Can you make personalised t-shirt transfers?

Yes — personalised t-shirt transfers are one of our most flexible options, with no minimum order. We heat press individual names, numbers, slogans or full-colour designs onto t-shirts, making it ideal for team kits, events, stag and hen parties, and one-off gifts.