Blog / Avoid Worry!
Avoid Worry!
Troubleshooting Transfer Issues: No Need to Panic
At Jiffy, we understand that every crafter and business owner strives for perfection when creating custom apparel. Sometimes, though, it takes plenty of time and experience to learn all the ins and outs. Sometimes unexpected issues can arise during the transfer process if you're just getting started, leading to frustration. The good news... There's no need to panic! We’re here to help you troubleshoot and resolve these issues quickly, so you can get back to doing what you love.
Below are some scenarios you might encounter when learning to use Jiffy Transfers and our recommendations for resolving those issues.
1. Black Marks Towards the End of the Film Roll
What's Happening: When printing large volumes, the printer rollers may heat up from friction, causing black marks near the end of the film roll.
Solution: These marks shouldn’t impact your transfers at all. We recommend testing one of the transfers to ensure the marks don’t appear on your shirt. Printers often wipe the rollers when the film is changed to prevent this from happening again.
2. Color Mismatch Between RGB and CMYK
What's Happening: All images submitted in RGB are converted to CMYK for printing. During this process, the software attempts to match colors, but it’s not always consistent.
Solution: This is not a printing error but rather a result of color conversion. For better color accuracy, try using CMYK-friendly colors when creating your designs. While an exact match isn’t guaranteed, it can help improve consistency. If the color seems significantly off, you can email our customer service team with photos to request a closer match and check with our team if we can set a preferred printer to your orders moving forward.
3. White Background Misalignment
What's Happening: Sometimes, there may be a misalignment between the ink layer and the white background ink, which is applied to prevent garment colors from bleeding through.
Solution: If you confirm that the white background is not properly aligned, a claim should be submitted to us. If you're encountering this issue, please double-check your images and submit them to us for review, using our online claims form.
4. Pressure Issues Due to Seams or Raised Areas
What's Happening: Collars, zippers, or seams can interfere with the even pressure needed to properly adhere the transfer.
Solution: Even pressure is key to a flawless transfer. If the item was pressed without a pressing pillow or other support to apply even pressure, this could be the cause of the problem. If proper steps were followed but the transfer still didn’t adhere properly, a claim can be submitted for a defective transfer. Always use a pressing pillow or ensure your surface is even before applying the transfer.
5. Transfer Lifted from the Sheet During Transit
What's Happening: Transfers may slightly lift from the sheet during transit, but this usually won’t affect their usability.
Solution: Try pressing the transfer—if the transfer has lifted slightly, it should still apply well. Replacements can be ordered if necessary, but first, test the transfer to see if it adheres as expected.
6. Peeling Transfers
What's Happening: If your transfer is peeling after pressing, it’s often due to insufficient pressure, removing the film it too quickly, or applying it to an uneven surface.
Solution: Since this is usually due to an application error, this can often be fixed by reapplying the transfer with firmer pressure and peeling the film back slowly. Make sure you’re pressing on an even surface, or use a pressing pillow if needed. UV DTF transfers need to be applied with extra care, so take your time when removing the backing.
7. Spots or Blotches on Transfers
What's Happening: Sometimes, spots may appear on a transfer due to excess humidity during the printing process.
Solution: We recommend wiping the transfer with a damp towel and pressing it again on a clean garment. If the spots persist and don’t dissolve, submit a claim for a replacement and we will get those made and shipped out for you in a jiffy!
8. Dithering or Grainy Appearance
What's Happening: Dithering occurs when images contain non-CMYK colors, which are reproduced using small dots to simulate shading or gradients.
Solution: This is the result of how the image was printed. Reach out to our team and we can see if a closer color match is possible by connecting with our printers to see if the issue is related to color conversion. We also recommend editing your images to be more CMYK-friendly, which will prevent dithering.
9. Image Alteration When Vectorized
What's Happening: Sometimes, images may be altered during the vectorization process at the time of upload, especially if the images are too small.
Solution: This is an error that requires assistance from our customer service team, so ensure you enter a claim or email us at orders@jiffy.com.
10. Lines and order info along edge of printed film
What's Happening: In order to execute Quality Control and assemble orders accurately, our DTF film often comes with order identification details and a color test line printed along one edge of the transfer film, outside the margin of your designs. These can and will transfer to your products along with your designs, resulting in an inadvertent transfer to your shirt that can't be removed.
Solution: Always trim the film where these lines and printed order identification info exist, prior to pressing. You can save a lot of time and trouble having to reorder transfers and shirts to start your project again.
Final Thoughts
At Jiffy, we strive to support our customers as they master the art of custom apparel and hard goods creation. Troubleshooting these common issues will give you more confidence and prevent unnecessary frustration during your crafting process. If you're ever unsure, be sure to reach out to our support team for guidance—we're always here to help!
With the right approach, there’s no need to panic if things don’t go as planned.
Happy crafting!
