Images Magazine Digital Edition October 2018

www.images-magazine.com OCTOBER 2018 images 81 HEAT TRANSFER & VINYL PRINTING Telling it like it is: Heat-applied decoration West 9 Print: Stahls‘ Hotronix Fusion and Films fromTarget Transfers This month, we talk to four decorators about how their transfer and vinyl printing systems are working out for them Chris Heath, owner Tell us a bit about your business About ten years ago when a shop I owned at the Savoy Hotel closed, my sister-in- law, who worked for Hanes, suggested I start printing. I ‘accidentally‘ bought an Adkins heat press from eBay that came with some transfer papers and bits and pieces, and started printing for fun. I carried on learning, going to college to learn Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and bought a Roland BN-20 cutter press. I now print for a wide number of clients with my colleague Pete Charlton (as well as still running a shop and managing some property). What heat press do you use, and when did you get it? I have two Hotronix Fusion presses and my original Adkins press. About seven years ago I became hooked on the videos by Josh Ellsworth from Stahls‘, which introduced me to the brand. I was doing lots of left chest logos on things like hoodies and wanted to be able to quickly change out the platens. Martin Borley [managing director of Target Transfers] suggested a Stahls‘ Hotronix Fusion and it transformed my business. I bought a second one last year. What films do you use? Because I‘d seen the Stahls‘ videos and seen the SportsFilm Extra on there, I bought it. Now I buy my ordinary vinyl from Target as well – I‘ve got a good relationship with the company, and the films just seem to cut very well for me and give great detail. I did a lion‘s head for a trainer today using the SportsFilm Extra and it took just five seconds to press and was hot peel. Is there anything you‘d like to see in an upgrade or don‘t like about the heat press? No. I‘m really pleased with it. The Hotronix has really revolutionised my production with the quick-change platens, so doing left chest logos where you have zips and seams that get in the way are not a worry! The very clear programmable display for different media is a great little bonus and visual reminder of what settings need to be used. What is it used for? I make hoodies for St Mary‘s Hospital at Paddington, as well as printing for local clubs, electricians, window cleaners, personal trainers and a few ad and branding agencies – we‘ve even printed clothes for British tennis player Johanna Konta. We get a lot of fast turnaround jobs. We‘re in the market where people want half a dozen to 20-30 shirts at a time. At the moment we‘re doing a job of 150 caps. What would be your advice to others looking for a new transfer system? I‘d say give Stahls‘ a look – watch one of their videos, there are so many. I‘ve learned so much from them. www.west9print.com Chris Heath of West 9 Point with the Hotronix heat press