Screen-printed transfers — pre-printed stock you heat-apply when the apparel arrives
A screen-printed transfer is a finished plastisol print waiting to be born. The artwork is screen-printed onto a hot-peel release paper with a heat-activated adhesive, the sheet is delivered flat, and the customer heat-presses the design onto the garment whenever the apparel arrives. The technique decouples printing from application — the transfers can sit in inventory for 12 months, and the apparel arrives in waves from the maquila or the import broker without holding up the production calendar. For uniform programmes that span maquila plants in Tijuana, Juárez and Querétaro, screen-printed transfers are the logistics trick that keeps the brand colour consistent across geographies.
Where screen-printed transfers earn their place
The case for screen-printed transfers is decoupled inventory. The customer orders the transfers once, in the volume that fits the programme, and receives a flat stack of A3 sheets each carrying a precise layout of the artwork. When a uniform shipment lands at the Tijuana maquila, the operator opens a heat press, peels a transfer off the sheet, presses it to the garment for 12 seconds and ships the finished piece — no print shop on site, no inks, no screens, no environmental controls.
The technique fits programmes with stable artwork and variable volume. A retail chain rolling out 200 stores across Mexico with two seasonal staff tees per store, four cycles a year: one transfer print order covers the year, and each store applies transfers as the apparel arrives. The case against is short runs with unstable artwork — for those, direct screen printing on the garment or DTF is more flexible. The case against is also full-colour artwork with gradients — plastisol is a spot-colour system and gradients look posterised.
Recurring applications across Mexican corporate programmes
Maquila-uniform programmes
Brand-identity tees for staff at maquila plants in Tijuana, Juárez, SLP and Querétaro. Transfers printed centrally in our workshop, shipped to each plant, applied on site as the staff uniform order arrives. Eliminates the screen-print shop investment at every maquila.
Multi-site retail and hospitality
Polos and aprons for restaurant chains, hotel groups and retail banners with locations across Mexico. Transfers printed once, shipped to each region, applied by the local housekeeper or store manager with a 38 × 38 cm heat press.
Annual corporate apparel programme
Blank apparel sourced separately under a corporate apparel contract, transfers printed once per quarter against the locked-in artwork. Replenishment orders reuse the same transfer inventory until the design is refreshed.
Event and conference apparel
Pre-printed transfers for events whose apparel sponsor is confirmed well in advance. The conference agency prints the transfers, the conference bag supplier receives the blank tees, and the final garment is assembled at the conference venue a day before the show.
The screen-printed transfer production flow
The artwork is colour-separated, with each spot colour output as a positive film. The films are exposed onto a mesh screen coated with photopolymer emulsion; the unexposed emulsion washes out, leaving the artwork as open mesh. The screen is mounted on a manual or automatic press, and plastisol ink is forced through the mesh onto a silicone-coated release paper. Each colour is printed in sequence with a flash cure between colours to set the ink without over-curing the previous pass.
The final pass lays down the hot-melt adhesive powder that activates during heat-press application. The finished sheet is inspected, die-cut to size or gang-laid out for multi-position printing, and packed flat between silicone sheets. Application at the customer site: place the transfer on the garment, press at 170 °C for 12 to 15 seconds with medium pressure, peel the carrier hot. The transfer bonds permanently to the fabric and the carrier is discarded.
MOQ, pricing and delivery
The cost-effective MOQ starts at 250 transfers per design for screen-printed transfers — the screen setup and colour-separation cost only amortises above that. The unit price drops clearly at 500, 1,000, 2,500 and 5,000 pieces. We print transfers in batches up to 10,000 and store the remaining stock for call-off orders inside the 12-month shelf life.
Lead time is 7 to 10 business days standard for a new design, including the physical sample on the actual garment to confirm colour and feel. Re-runs of an existing design are 5 to 7 business days. Quotes are in MXN ex-IVA, 16% IVA itemised on a CFDI 4.0 stamped by SAT against your RFC. We can quote and invoice in USD for maquila clients shipping under IMMEX, with the comercio exterior complemento on the invoice.
FAQ — screen-printed transfers in Mexico
What is the shelf life of a screen-printed transfer?
12 months stored flat in a cool, dry environment, away from direct sunlight. Beyond 12 months the adhesive can begin to pre-cure and the bond weakens. We mark every batch with the production date and rotate stock on a first-in-first-out basis.
What heat-press equipment do you recommend for application?
A 38 × 38 cm flat platen press with even pressure and a digital timer is the minimum. For caps and small-format work a curved-element press is needed. We supply a one-page application guide with every order.
How many colours can the transfer carry?
Up to six spot colours per design in production. More colours add screens, increase the chance of misregistration and lengthen the press cycle. For four-colour process artwork, DTF or heat transfer is the better fit.
Does the transfer work on polyester and stretch fabrics?
Yes, with a low-bleed additive in the ink and a press temperature dropped to 155 °C. Without the additive, polyester dyes migrate into the plastisol and discolour the print over time. We always confirm the substrate before production.
Can you print variable data such as names?
Not on screen-printed transfers — each colour is a screen and each screen is fixed. For variable data on apparel, heat transfer or DTF is the right call.
Request a screen-printed transfer quote
Send us quantity, ink colours, garment type and the deadline. If you have Pantone references or a printed colour sample, attach a photo so we can match without a physical proof; if not, we will run the proof at no charge.
Corp-Merch.MX is an independent screen-printing and corporate merch workshop. We are not a partner, sponsor or official supplier of the apparel brands, maquila plants, retail banners, hotels, venues or events referenced on this page. Trademarks and brand names belong to their respective owners and are mentioned solely for descriptive purposes to identify the production context.