Choosing the Right Heat Transfer Paper for Toner Based Heat Transfer Printers

Heat transfer printing can really level-up any personalization business. From the ability to transfer to everyday objects and cotton t-shirts to the ability to transfer white toner on to dark items, heat transfer is becoming a go-to technology to quickly create customized items.

One of the key factors in your success with heat transfer printing is choosing the right paper for the right substrates. Not all heat transfer papers are created the same, so whether you’re creating custom shirts and garments or personalizing home décor or signs, picking the right paper can make your process more efficient and improve your transfer results.

Paper for Garments and Soft Goods

Transferring to t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, and other soft goods is one of the best uses for heat transfer printing. With the ability to do short to mid-sized orders on a wide range of fabrics, there’s no shortage of customized options you can offer your customers.

There are several different transfer papers made specifically for garments and fabrics, each with its own unique properties based on your customers' needs and budget.

Paper for Signs, Drinkware, and Other Hard Surfaces

Heat transfer printing isn’t just for garments. Your printer can create any number of personalized items, including drinkware, awards, signs, and home décor items. There are papers available for any number of hard substrates, and choosing the right paper is critical when customizing with heat transfer.

To begin with, the iColor 1-Step Hard Surface transfer media is a good all-around choice for personalizing acrylics, metal, ceramics, glass and wood. It will offer good color reproduction and durability and is ideal for items that might not have day-to-day handling, such as home décor products and awards.

For items that require additional durability, such as drinkware and leather goods that may be handled on a regular basis, the iColor 1-Step Premium Hard Surface transfer media is the better choice. It offers additional protection against, scratching and chipping along with vibrant color reproduction.

Finally, if you’ve got a special request for a metallic look for a transfer, the iColor Presto! 1-Step Metallic Hard Surface transfer media is the answer for you. This transfer paper works with glass, ceramics and metals, making it a great way to take drinkware personalization up a notch. Ideal for bridal party drinkware or special occasions like milestone anniversaries and birthdays, creating personalized transfers with this media will set you apart from the competition.

WOW Your Customers!

Choosing the right paper for the right project can make all the difference in the success of your business. When you pick the right paper for the right substrate, transfers look and feel their best and last as long as possible. The beauty of heat transfer is that you can customize thousands upon thousands of items, and having the right paper handy will have your customers saying, “Wow! I didn’t know you could do that!”

Johnson Plastics Plus is here to help you get the most out of your heat transfer printer. From helping with paper selection to tips and tricks when doing your first transfer, we’re never more than a phone call or email away.

Check out our heat transfer paper guides for textiles, hard surfaces, and specialty applications. They’re a great place to start to help you choose the right paper for your next project.