Exploring Multimedia III Embroidery Project

Another popular means of creating multi-media designs is through a combination of transfers and embroidery. Transfers present the appearance of screen-printing, without actually requiring the process to be done in-house. They are readily available as stock designs, though custom transfers can be created as well. Most transfers are applied via a heat press, so this technique can be offered for a very low investment.

The first attempts at multi-media production utilized direct screen-print and embroidery. Thus, it was pretty much limited to shops that had both types of equipment. Transfers were the natural evolution of this process. However, the early transfers were usually not of a very high quality and were generally shunned by embroiderers as a viable multi-media offering.

Over the past few years, though, the quality of transfers has improved greatly, as well as the number of stock designs now available for purchase, causing new interest from embroiderers looking for interesting multimedia effects. According to Pat Baldes of Stahls, St. Clair Shores, MI, 50% of their new customers are purchasing transfer-related equipment, with 30% of them using it for creating multimedia effects. Says Baldes, “transfers combined with embroidery is becoming a ‘huge’ market. This combination allows for easy customization, while keeping stitch counts low. For example, a large jacket-back design for a school can be created quickly and inexpensively by using a stock transfer for the mascot and then adding in embroidered text for the name of the school. It’s quick and simple, yet very cost-effective.”

Cost effectiveness is a key word here. To embroider such a jacket might result in a 100,000+ stitch design, which would probably be too expensive for the customer resulting in no sale at all. By having an alternative method, you can produce what they want in a price range they can afford.

Pat also points out that there are multiple types of transfers. “Transfers typically fall into three categories; Plastisol Ink on paper, color laser copier, and Bubble Jet,” says Baldes. Probably the best quality comes from the Plastisol Ink transfers, but just like embroidery, it depends on the production process. Essentially, Plastisol Ink transfers are screen-printed designs on paper that are applied by heat. Most of the stock design transfers use this method. The color laser copier method tends to have good results as well. (Many print shops offer this service.) The Bubble Jet method of creating transfers can be done using a relatively inexpensive printer purchased from an office supply store, but the quality is not as good as the other two methods.

Regardless of the type used, transfers are a simple, low-cost method for producing multi-media designs within an affordable price range.