what would you use if you were printing on....?

First off, i apologize for posting a broad question in the PRINTERS section for i need info on an entire setup. I have found vague info throughout the internet on my research into printing on light weight polyester. and light weight nylon. What i want to do is print MY art work on hair salon hair cutting capes like the ones your barber or hair stylist put on you when you get a haircut. I researched this a few years ago and folks told me it would be difficult to transfer for the heat would ruin the garment, direct printers seem very expensive and im just a hobbyist. I have sold designs through a fulfillment company for over ten years but they seem not interested in adding capes to their product line. If you were to take on this task, what equipment would you use? i really don't want to get into screen printing so would have to be digital images transferred in some way...thanks for any tips you might have for me.

Sublimation printing will work on white 100% polyester - but most of the capes I've seen have been black.

nylon is a polymer so should be fine as well as polyester, but as mentioned above it would need to a light colour to be able to dye-sublimate it.
So, you would need a printer with sublimation ink, and a heat press. I would recommend getting a sample garment and getting someone else to try sublimation printing onto it for you, before you go and buy a load of kit!

I've kind of discounted nylon as it won't take the heat used to sublimate - well at least the nylon zipper bags I used didn't, and i've got around a few thousand of them sitting in my unit. :frown:

yes white was my choice of garment, im a hair stylist also and we do use white as well, if your a guy often time stylist will put a black cape on ya so you don't feel out of sorts..lol THATS a good idea to have some one try it first with their equipment!!!

Back in the day I used to screen print these by the thousand, all black :biggrin:

You can heat press vinyl into nylon, it goes on at a lower temp for a quick application time.

ok, so to do this i would need to print on vinyl? then transfer to nylon? would this solve some of the dark garment issues? i guess what i mean is would printing on vinyl first help render a non translucent image? hey thanks all BTW for all the great ideas!

we do them in vinyl, and have used obm too, looking forward to using white wow. (both from the magic touch)
we usually print back to front so they look good through the mirror.

If its just one colour basic text, you'll need a plotter to cut the vinyl, then, once weeded, a heat press to press it onto the capes. No printing involved.

or, you could find a factory willing to sublimate the nylon before it is but/sewn into the garment - you could then use a white/blank fabric and sublimation dye it to any colour, including black.

You could print with a eco slovent printer onto something like Siser C print PU vinyl and heat press it onto the capes. It is designed for use on cotton/polycotton/polyester and lycra so while it is good for a range of materials (it is very flexible/lightweight) compared to other materials the nylon might not take the 165 degrees C needed to press.

If you have a heat press and want to try a sample drop me a line here and I'll be glad to help out.

going to look into these many options...thanks so much. I know we are all from various parts of the world, but just a little insider info. for you folks, many hairstylist are getting really board with the same ol glamor printed capes with company logos and window covering print designs. If you do print on hair capes try doing some really off the wall stuff in your designs and i bet you will get some sales. Just my take on the matter. Thanks again.

Nice one Coopart - good input

Coopart..I too was a hairdresser and remember those ghastly gowns...(ours were black and yellow..woohoo!!!) Anyway, I just 'planted the seed' in a hairdresser friend's mind after asking a wee question about what they're made from now (I could of course googled it) and now he's interested in getting some done for his own salon....so yes, I think you could be right, these could be good sellers if we can get the print/vinyl right....xxx

Hi Justin
I have black barber capes to do and I need to add a white simple logo onto them, what type of vinyl would you use?
Is this durable and when washed lots of times?
any feedback would would good.
Thanks

Best start a new thread, this is well over 6 years old :-)