Laser-cut T-shirt transfer film

Another of the tasks a laser cutter/engraver excels at is cutting heat transfer stencils for sportswear graphics. The laser’s ability to cut extremely detailed graphics with great precision make it ideal for the task. By using a transfer film that is designed for textile graphics, you can cut and weed detailed graphics that can then be applied to textiles with a heat press. This approach is ideal for short runs and for prototypes.

In this example, we’re using LaserFlex transfer film. It is also quite opaque and has a high elasticity, which allows it to flex with the fabric when in use. It can be washed and dried at temperatures up to 140 degrees, which is compatible with household laundry temperatures.

This design was a single unit, so we had the laser cut through both the film and the carrier. But the film can also be weeded by the laser, which saves time. For detailed graphics, or when the design includes individual letters or graphics, the laser is set to engrave rather than cut. The engraving settings are adjusted to completely remove the LaserFlex film, while the carrier is not affected. The laser evaporates the unneeded film. This allows for very fine details due to the pinpoint accuracy of the laser.