Month: November 2008

Comparing the Versacamm – Direct To Garment

Many of my customers have asked me to compare the Versacamm to many different types of Garment Decoration technologies.  The most common of which is Direct To Garment printing. 

The first thing to keep in mind is cost.  Generally speaking, the popular Direct To Garment printers have a price range of $10,995 up to $29,995.  Keep in mind this is only pricing the Direct To Garment printers that are in the same “class”.  What do you get for your money?  The lower end printers give you the ability to print onto 100% white Cotton T’s, that’s it.  There is also a printer in the $20,000 range that will give you the ability to print onto both light and dark garments, as well as some Cotton/Poly blends with a pretreatment.  The recurring cost in any printer that you choose is the ink.  For a dark garment, you’re looking between $4 to $5 per shirt for a 10×10 print. 

Unfortunately, the pretreatment can add as much as three minutes to each shirt that you press.  Time is money.  Durability is also an issue on the dark garments.  A shirt printed with Direct To Garment printing onto a dark garment will only last about 20 washes.  For most of your customers, this will not be enough.  You can actually get a similar quality using a $60 inkjet printer and Opaque Inkjet Transfer Paper.  Curing a dark garment will add a couple more minutes to each garment.

How much extra time do you have to service your machine?  With most Direct To Garment printers, you need quite a bit.  Clogging print heads is a common problem.  The cost to replace a print head is around $300.  Do you have to ship the machine back to have it replaced?  If so, you better make sure it is well packaged.  Those machines aren’t very light, how much will the shipping charge be?  If your supplier ships you one, are you qualified to change it?  Will you void the remaining warranty if you get in there and do something that you’re not supposed to?  These questions and many more have to be considered when making your purchasing decisions.

Now for the Versacamm.  For the purpose of this post, we’ll limit our comparison to the 30″ models.  54″ models are also available, but we’re comparing machines that are primarily for garment decoration here.  There are two 30″ Versacamm’s available, the SP-300 and the VP-300.  The SP-300 costs the same as the low end Direct to Garment Printers, $10,995 while the VP-300 runs $14,995.  The difference between the Direct To Garment prints and a shirt done with a Versacamm is that the Versacamm prints on a transfer media that has to be pressed onto the shirt.  For cost comparison sake, if you add the cost of ink and the cost of the transfer media, you’re looking between $3.50 and $4 per transfer. 

Quality wise, it is very tough to be the quality that a transfer printed with the Roland Versacamm will give you.  Durability is unmatched.  Once pressed, the transfer should look the same wash 100 as it does the day you apply it.  How many other decoration methods can you say that about?  The feel of the transfer is also exceptional. 

As far as the maintenance on the machine, take a vacation.  First, when you buy the machine, the company that you purchase from (This guy – adam@imprintables.com) will come to your location, install the machine and train you how to use it.  The Versacamm has a great feature where it will clean itself.  You can program the machine to run a head clean as often as you wish.  As long as you leave the main power on (there is a power switch on the machine that basically puts in in sleep mode), the Versacamm will turn itself on and run a little bit of ink through to make sure there are no head clogs.  Now if something where to go wrong with the machine, the installer is still responsible to come out and fix any issues. 

Now what if you want do decorate some materials other than the standard cotton or cotton/poly blend?  With a Direct To Garment printer, you’re out of luck.  With the Versacamm, it’s your lucky day.  The materials offered by Imprintables Warehouse for use with the Versacamm give you the ability to decorate virtually any type of fabric.  Using our Solutions Opaque material, you can apply to cotton, poly, Nylon, leather, canvas, performance, spandex and more!  Solutions gives you an amazing hand, opacity, durability and stretchability.  You can decorate bags, gloves, shoes, jerseys, compression wear, performance wear, mouse pads, jeans, hoodies…ok I’m rambling.  A lot! 

Here is my challenge.  If you’re considering any Direct To Garment printer, do your homework. 

– Ask me for a sample of what you’ll get with a Versacamm and ask the same of the company that your considering a Direct To Garment printer from. 

– Wash test.  Take those same samples and wash them under the conditions that you think you’re customers will be washing them.  See which one looks better.

– Compare costs.  I’ll be happy to help you get the true cost of any prints done with the Versacamm vs. the Direct to Garment. 

– Make a wise investment.  Either way you look to go, you’re going to be spending some money.  You need to make sure it’s going to be profitable for you both short term and long term. 

I’m sure there are a lot of questions that you still have.  Be on the look out for posts in the near future comparing the SP-300 to the VP-300, introducing the 54″ machines and more comparisons to other competing technologies.  If you can’t wait, please email me at adam@imprintables.com with any questions you may have.

Heat Applied Vinyl? Or Film?

A common misconception amongst Garment Decorators is the decorating method commonly known as “CAD-Cut” is using a Vinyl based material.  While that may have been true a few years ago, Heat Applied Vinyls, as they’re still known, have come a long way.   

There are still a few true Vinyls out there.  For the most part, however, the transfer material that you purchase from your supplier (hopefully me) is probably a Polyurethane based Film material.  Why does this matter to you?  The materials that are still considered to be vinyls are PVC based.  PVC based films are typically a bit cheaper than their PU based counterparts.  The key word there is Cheaper. 

A PVC based film will be fine for most one-color applications onto cottons, polyesters or cotton/poly blends.  You will have a bit of a stiffer hand initially and also after washing.  PVC’s tend to stiffen up over time.  True Vinyl materials should not be recommended for multi-color applications where the colors are layered one on top of the other.  Over time, PVC based materials will separate from each other.  I don’t think anyone wants to see an angry customer come into their shop with a couple numbers in their hands instead of on the garment where they belong.

Polyurethane based Films are a much more durable application.  They are typically quite a bit thinner and have a much softer hand.  When used as a one-color job, today’s films rival the look and feel of a Screen Print.  If you’re a Screen Printer, you may be able to see the difference, but odds are your customer won’t be able to.  Multi-color applications are bonded permanently, just as a single color would be.  PU Films can also act as a base color for a PVC if you choose. 

When choosing your “Heat Applied Vinyl” supplier, be sure to ask if the material that you’re going to receive is PVC or Polyurethane based.  Not knowing what you’re working with can lead to trouble down the road. 

The Spectra Eco-Film that I represent with Imprintables Warehouse is a Polyurethane based material.  Free samples and color swatches can be requested simply by emailing me at adam@imprintables.com with you’re contact info.  PVC based materials are also available for comparison.  If you’d like to see the differences between the materials, just email me and let me know.

Moving Fashion Forward

The Heat Applied Material Market is ever-changing.  Proof of that is wide range of new materials that is available from the company that I work for, Imprintables Warehouse.  If you haven’t seen it yet, we’re launching a new marketing campaign titled “Spectra Goes Hollywood”.  The first ad can be seen in the November issue of Printwear Magazine and has already generated an astounding response.  Imprintables Warehouse is the industry leader in bringing more Heat Applied Materials to the market that  cater as much to the Fashion Industry as any other. 

Today’s economy doesn’t allow you to have tunnel vision or become complacent.  You have to be proactive in finding new business.  Do you know the easiest way to do that?  Sell more to your existing customers.  Offer them more products, more options. 

A large portion of the Heat Applied Material Users are extremely focused.  I’m not one to say this is a bad thing, necessarily, but why not branch out into other areas?  Say you’re a Sports Shop doing a lot of Names & Numbers.  Does that Football or Basketball Team have a Cheer leading Squad, Dance Team or Spirit Squad?  Why not offer them custom decoration as well?  Odds are they’ll want something a little more flashy than the standard Red, White and Blue that’s on the players uniforms. 

The funny thing about consumers is that they usually want to see it before they buy it.  A great way to generate interest in any new product is to show your consumers just what it is that they’re getting.  You’ll see later in the post a few pictures showing you the materials.  My bet is that won’t be good enough for you or your customer so I’m willing to send out samples of the materials for you to try.  Just email me at adam@imprintables.com with your info and the material that you’re interested in and I’ll be happy to send out your free sample.

A break down of the materials follows: 

Spectra Alloy
alloy

Spectra Alloy is similar to the Foil that is currently offered by Imprintables Warehouse.  One of the differences is the Alloy is a bit thinner.  Also, the Alloy isn’t offered as a Sparkle finish the way some of the Foils are.  Alloy is a more flexible option with a new color offering.  Anyone currently using the Foils should also give the Alloy a try. 

Spectra Glitz 
glitz

Have you had inquiries about an extreme glitter custom decoration?  If so, Spectra Glitz is the product you’ve been waiting for.  I know that sounds like a cheesy intro, but the shoe sure does fit!  The Glitz is another option that is similar, yet still different from Spectra Megatallic.  Glitz is full-on Glitter.  You know how you used to put some glue on paper in Kindergarten and then throw some glitter on top?  Imagine that on a shirt, only a lot less messy.

Fashion Flock

fashion-flock

Up until the Fashion Flock was introduced, Flock has been a little boring and one dimensional.  Now, there is a selection of colors to choose from giving you many different options.  Flock is really an underrated material.  For the Fashion Market, it’s great!  A raised appearance, soft hand, 3D type look can be very popular.  All you have to do is show it!

Spectra Glowz

glowz

How about a Glow in the Dark Material?  That’s what you get with the new Spectra Glowz.  Glow in the Dark materials can be used year round.  What are the possible markets?  Bars or Night Clubs, Trick or Treating (there’s always next year), accent to another type of custom decoration, etc. 

What are your ideas?  Leave your comments below.