What is the Difference Between Transfer Paper for Light Shirts and Dark Shirts?

The main difference between transfer paper for light shirts and dark shirts lies in their color and transparency. Here are the key differences:

Transfer Paper for Light Shirts: This type of transfer paper is transparent in color and is ideal for white or light-colored fabrics. It requires the ink to be printed on the paper in a mirrored way before transferring the image onto the fabric. The coated film for light shirts has to be put in horizontally when transferring.
Transfer Paper for Dark Shirts: This type of transfer paper is white in color and is suitable for dark-colored fabrics. It allows the image to appear on the garment exactly as it appears on the paper, including all the white edges and spaces in between the image. Dark transfers work well on both colored and white/light-colored fabrics.

In summary, transfer paper for light shirts is transparent and designed for white or light-colored fabrics, while transfer paper for dark shirts is white and suitable for dark-colored fabrics. When choosing between the two, consider the fabric color and the desired appearance of the image to ensure the best results.

On this page

What is the Difference Between Transfer Paper for Light Shirts and Dark Shirts?

Comparative Table: Transfer Paper for Light Shirts vs Dark Shirts

The main difference between transfer paper for light shirts and dark shirts is the way the image appears on the garment. Here's a table summarizing the differences:

Feature	Light Transfer Paper	Dark Transfer Paper
Suitable for	Light-colored shirts, especially white	Dark-colored shirts
Image appearance	Image appears on the garment as it does on the paper, including white edges and spaces	Image appears on the garment exactly as it does on the paper, including the white background
Background	Transparent when heat pressed onto a shirt	White background is transferred along with the image
Image limitation	Light images work well on white shirts	Dark images work well on dark shirts, but light images may not show up properly
Inkjet vs. laser printer	Inkjet transfer paper works with inkjet printers, while laser transfer paper works with laser printers	Both dark and light transfer papers can be printed on an ordinary inkjet printer with ordinary inks

In summary, light transfer paper is best for white or light-colored shirts, while dark transfer paper is ideal for dark-colored shirts. If you use light transfer paper on a dark shirt, the design may or may not show up properly, depending on the colors used.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.