Necktie Sublimation Instructions for NT3556

Hover transfer under open heat press for 10 seconds to dry excess moisture.

You will also need a 5" X 18" Teflon Pillow.

1) Ties are handmade and, as a result, are subject to dimensional tolerances of +- 3/16” from tie-to-tie. With this consideration in mind, it is recommended that images be positioned well within (not bled to the edges) the red-checked area of the software template. Prior to printing, delete the red-checked portion of the template to prevent it from transferring to the tie.

2) *For single sided printing, use heat tape. For doublesided imprinting: Apply a light mist of Condé Pro Spray to the surface of the transfer. When heat tape is used to secure the transfer, it must be affixed to the backside (non-imaging side) of the tie and used sparingly. After dwell time under a closed press, the tape will heat-bond to the tie, thus making it difficult to remove without malforming the affected area. However, after a cooling period the tape may be peeled, albeit carefully, to avoid damaging the substrate.

3) While allowing time for the Pro Spray to cure on the transfer, the blank tie should be deliberately cleaned with an adhesive-based lint roller, and then pre-pressed for 15 seconds on top of a Teflon pillow. Lint rolling will remove both visible and, more importantly, invisible contaminants from the surface of the tie; pre-pressing serves to remove excess moisture from the tie while smoothing and expanding the imaging surface. Adjust pressure to light (just enough to sung the pillow under the press) and sandwich the tie between 2 pieces of protective paper – one piece on top of the pillow and the other on top of the tie. After pre-pressing, apply the lint roller, once again, over the surface of the warm tie.

4) IMPORTANT: The protective paper and the transfer media should extend fully beyond the edges (horizontal and vertical) of the tie. This will prevent creasing of the tie along either paper’s edge during pressing. The software template is designed to allow maximum protection from creasing, but a limitation will develop if the press is longer or wider than either of the papers. In this instance, and where feasible, simply drape the un-imaged portion tie (usually the top, narrow part) off the bottom rubber platen and away from the heat platen. This will prevent heat from reaching the non-imaging area of the tie. Should this procedure not be followed, the tie will be permanently creased, but it can be smoothed somewhat with an ordinary iron or through careful repositioning on the press and reheating the affected area for a few seconds at “contact” pressure only.

5) Prior to the first run, preheat the Teflon pillow for 30 seconds under a closed press.

6) Repeat this process should the pillow become cool to the touch between pressings. Use of a pillow is optional, but is ideal for the best-quality transfer with the minimum of time and pressure. As these parameters increase the tie will begin to inordinately crease and develop a ripple or wave pattern, neither of which is reversible.

7) Place the tie, imaging side face down, onto the face up transfer. Center according to the available white space within the black outline of the template. If the tie is not centered properly, the outline may actually sublimate to the edges of the tie as it expands during press time.

8) The use of too much Pro Spray can cause small amounts of ink, especially on the unpressed end of the tie, to separate from the paper and stain the tie. To prevent this from happening avoid movement of the tie once applied to the transfer. Regardless of the method of adhering the tie to the transfer (i.e., Pro Spray or tape), if there is ink in the non-imaging area, which is draped over the edge of the pillow and away from the press, the image will need to be truncated accordingly in your software application and reprinted. There should be no ink coming into contact with the tie if it is not to be transferred onto the tie as trace amounts may be sublimated just beyond the edge of the press.

9) Once mounted to the transfer, flip the tie and the paper upside down and place onto the press with the imaging area of the tie face-up, transfer face down, on top of the Teflon pillow, which is resting on the bottom rubber platen. Set the dwell time to 40 seconds and close the press gently but with a single deliberate motion. REMEMBER: If the edge of any piece of paper, transfer or protective, comes into contact with the tie, permanent crease will develop in the substrate.

10) Following press-time, open the press with a single deliberate motion and peel the expended transfer likewise. As necessary, apply an ordinary iron or carefully re-press the tie to blend the appearance of the fabric’s pressed and un-pressed areas.

Updated: September 26, 2012