When to use a Print Perfect Pad vs. a heat printing pillow?
If I got a $10 bill every time someone asked me when they should heat print using a heat printing pillow or a Print Perfect Pad, I would be rich! First, let’s take a look at what each of these useful heat application tools are:
Heat Printing Pillow
A heat printing pillow is basically 2 sheets of non-stick material sandwiching a foam core. There pillows are great to use when you have odd shaped garments to heat apply, such as tote bags, hoodies with front pockets, and open mesh basketball uniforms with holes. The cushioned surface of the pillow allows for zippers, seams, snaps and buttons to absorb into the pillow because all these bumps throw off flat, even pressure underneath your heat press.
Heat Printing Pillow
Print Perfect Pads
A Print Perfect Pad is a piece of lower platen rubber – the same rubber that is permanently attached to the bottom of your heat press. Print perfect pads can be cut down, to a custom size, with just scissors or used in the various sizes they come in. The pads are heavier and less cushion-like than a heat printing pillow. They are great for building up an area underneath the heated part of your press so you end up only pressing that raised area – this way the press doesn’t press down on zippers, snaps or buttons.
Print Perfect Pads
So When Do You Use Each One?
The rule of thumb is this: if you are using any type of transfer, on a paper, use Print Perfect Pads – don’t use pillows. Why? Transfers (screenprinted, inkjet, etc) need a firm, flat surface in order to print well – pillows are just too squishy.
If you are cutting your own roll goods, such as CAD-CUT® materials, using a pillow will work just fine. Same goes for die cut lettering or numbers – a pillow will work.
So, when reaching for a pillow or pad, just keep in mind the type of design you have and you will end up with mistake-proof printing.
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