Reverse Embossing for Apparel – Heat Press Innovation

Innovation:  Reverse Embossing for Apparel

Innovator:  Josh Ellsworth, Imprintables Warehouse

Contact Info:  josh@imprintables.com -  http://www.joshellsworth.com – 1-800-347-0068 x.236

City/State of Innovation:  Uniontown, PA

Brief Description of Innovation:  Heat pressing a cad-cut material on top of a puff material to give the garment a reverse embossed graphic. 

Equipment Used for Innovation:  Any Heat Press, Any Vinyl Cutter

Materials Used for innovation:  Cad-Color Solutions Puff Material, Solutions Magic Mask, Eco-Film Heat Transfer Vinyl

Accessories Used:  Weeding tools and a cover sheet (I used Teflon)

Other details:  The process for this innovation was simple.  I took a basic graphic that already was designed and being used in conjuntion with our cad-print system for doing full color graphics onto apparel.  We have a unique material that leaves a puff effect, that is being used as a stand alone product.  This material is being used primarily by people who own solvent printers like the Roland Versacamm.  I thought that this material has a unique effect and I should be able to find an application for it for folks who just have a vinyl cutter.  If I can find an application for it, I will be able to sell more puff material:)  So that led me to expirementing.  After consulting with other industry experts and getting some ideas from people using the material I arrived at this result.

Basically, I took my design – cut it out of puff instead of printing it and cutting it.  Then I masked it to get it ready to apply to the garment.  I then went into the software that I used (CorelDRAW) and added a box around the design.  I sent this box (after rounding the corners) to the cutter and had it cut on a variety of materials – all in our Eco-Film line up – I ended up with our Eco-Film Electric in Orange for my favorite result.  So then over to the heat press.  I first applied the puff material down: 320 degrees for 5 seconds.  Peeled away the masking material.  Then I lined up my Eco-Film vinyl design right over top of the Puff.  Heat pressed them together for 10 seconds, hot peeled the backing and thats it.  A new innovation is born.  I’ll rely on you experts to take it to the next level with design and effects.

 

Here are a few photos of my creation: