Starting points for time, temperature, pressure and peel — sorted by what you're pressing and what you're pressing it onto.
Read this first.
These are starting points, not instructions. The spec sheet from whoever sold you the film, vinyl or ink always wins — brands differ enough that following a generic chart can ruin a garment. Presses also lie: a dial reading 320°F can be 30 degrees off across the platen. Always press one test piece and wash it before you run a customer's order.
Look it up
Starting settings
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temperature
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press time
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pressure
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peel
Every combination
Transfer
Fabric
Temp
Time
Pressure
Peel
Getting a press right
Pre-press the blank for 5 seconds. It drives out moisture and flattens wrinkles. Skipping this causes more failed transfers than any other single thing.
Check your real temperature. An infrared thermometer or a set of test strips costs little and tells you what the platen is actually doing versus what the dial claims.
Check pressure by feel. Medium is roughly the effort of closing a firm handshake; you should have to work a little to latch it. Uneven pressure shows up as patches that lift after the first wash.
Use a cover sheet. Parchment or a teflon sheet protects both the garment and your platen.
Post-press for 5 seconds after peeling, with a cover sheet, to sink the print into the fabric and knock back the shine.
Wash-test before you deliver. Press one, wash it hot, tumble it dry. That is the only test that means anything.