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It’s impossible to imagine a graphics design studio without computers and laptops equipped with the standard software like Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc. today. In fact, many graphic designers use a variety of additional tools for refining and editing their works to meet the requirements of their clients.

It’s safe to say that technology has had a huge impact on this creative industry. We still see companies like Temploola creating designs with Microsoft Word, but most graphic design startups use more advanced programs.

Graphic Design Before the Age of Computers and Technology

It goes without saying that a lot of labor went into creating graphic designs in the past. Instead of the convenient cut and paste commands that the graphic designers today have at their disposal, back in the day they had to manual make the cuts with x-actoknives which also meant they had to take accurate measurements down to the millimeters. Similarly, for creating the designs, all they had were just some sheets of paper and pencils/markers. So, as one can imagine, making changes to the designs was far from easy or simple.

Just like the designs/images, fonts and types used to require a lot of manual work as well. The designers had to actually discuss at length the size and styles of fonts they thought would work for a logo or a design. If there were any doubts, they would rethink before moving ahead.  The reason was that they couldn’t just slap dozens of fonts on the design just see the difference in real-time like they can do with software today. They had to actually print the type and paste on the design to see how it looked.

In the same way, there were plenty of challenges and hassles with video designs, printing, phototypesetting, etc. However, those days are gone now.

Graphic Design Today

As mentioned earlier, in today’s tech-driven world, there is no dearth of versatile software that can make graphic design a piece of cake. In fact, top brand Adobe alone has an entire range of professional graphic design software replete with every single tool that a skilled graphic design can ever ask for. It even has a state of the art image workshop app called Photoshop Express for the mobile devices! Who could have ever imagined this kind of achievement some odd 2 decades ago?

In truth, we have actually stepped into the next generation of graphics design already. This is because companies like tailor brands are automating design companies like tailor brands are automating design using advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. They are offering low-cost branding and graphic design services which means that even small businesses can create professional logos, customized social media banners, presentation files, etc. from the comfort of their own office or home.

Even web design has become so easy today that one is only limited by their creativity. This is because there are numerous website builders that offer every service needed for building a quality website such as social media buttons, website email forms, banner images, shopping cart, drag and drop feature for images and videos, etc.  under a single platform. There are plenty of affordable and reliable hosting plans, marketing and branding services, etc. There are also pre-designed themes that one can install with the click of a mouse. So, a general user doesn’t even have to bother about designing anything on their own or hire someone for the same.

Conclusion

Saying that technology has had an impact on graphic design would be an understatement. This is because it’s actually revolutionized how ideas and converted into real products in a matter of minutes. It’s also made enterprise-level designer software accessible to general public. This wasn’t the case in the past as the business-owners and self-employed professionals had to actually approach actual graphic design studios which often had exorbitant charges and not to mention took days, if not weeks to finish the assignments.

Thanks to technology, the graphic design industry is booming today. If the current rate of progress is any indication, we are to accomplish even bigger feats in the near future.

Being in the apparel business is a wonderful thing. On an yearly basis, consumers spend almost $1,700 on apparel and its related services. There is a ton of revenue potential for those who decide to invest in the fashion industry.

Printing on apparel can get tricky and expensive, especially when apparel like t-shirts are in high demand and need to be mass produced. Having the right machinery can make or break the business in terms of production and even profits.

Having any type of heat press machine, like a manual heat transfer press or a sublimation press, can be enormously beneficial to a business that is selling apparel. In fact, here are three reasons that every apparel business should have a heat press machine.

Save Some Money

Heat press machines can be extremely cost-effective. The initial purchase of the heat press machine is relatively inexpensive, which means that there is certainly a lot of room for he machine to pay for itself very quickly, and then some. For either small or large orders, heat press machines can save a lot of money in production.

Easy to Use

Some people may be slightly intimidated to purchase their heat press because they have never used one before. To cast your worries away, heat press machines are actually very easy to use, even for someone who has never seen one before. Learning to use any type of heat press machine can be done very quickly.

The Possibilities are Endless

There are so many different things that you can do with a heat press. Whether you are using a manual heat transfer press or a specialty press, there are unlimited possibilities on the types of materials that you can print on. According to Ebay, these machines can “print on different fabrics such as cotton and satin, on hard materials such as ceramics, and on synthetic materials like spandex.” This versatility allows businesses to accept orders of all kinds.

If you have a graphic design business, you should seriously consider investing in a heat press machine. They will save you time and money. You can learn how to use it quickly, and you will be able to print on virtually anything! Why wouldn’t you get a heat press?

For businesses that have invested in a professional-grade heat press machine, there’s the option of purchasing accessories to improve the machine’s performance and expand its utility. To maximize the ROI on your machine investment, consider buying the following parts and accessories

1. Teflon covers: These cover the silicone pad on the lower platen and help extend its life. The Teflon cover also makes it easier to slide an item into place on the lower platen, increasing productivity and reducing fatigue for the machine operator.
2. Silicone pad: It’s helpful to have a spare silicone pad available for the lower platen. These pads do show wear and tear after extended use. If there are tears or indentations on the lower platen, it can make it difficult for the adhesive on a transfer to fully engage with an item’s material. It’s better to have a spare silicone pad available rather than need it and not have it.
3. Accessory platens: Many heat press machine manufacturers offer a variety of accessory platens to replace the stock lower platen that comes with the machine. They can be a smaller size to fit smaller items, such as children’s garments or tagless labels, or a different shape to fit a specific product, like shoes. By having these different platens available, your heat press machine can be used to print on a wider variety of items, expanding your product offering and improving the ROI on your machine purchase.
4. Grease gun kit: The proper monthly maintenance of your heat press machine should include applying lubricant (i.e., grease) to all moving parts. Greasing will increase the life of the press and allow it to move and pivot easier for the operator.
5. Teflon sheets: These can be placed over the silicone pad on the lower platen, if you do not want to use a Teflon cover, to extend the life of the pad. They can also be placed over the transfer when heat sealing to make sure the transfer does not adhere to the upper platen.
6. Cart with wheels: Due to their size and weight, heat press machines can be difficult to move within a work area or take to remote locations for special events. To gain mobile flexibility, try placing your heat press on a heavy-duty cart with wheels and storage shelves. The machine can then be easily moved to different work locations, improving efficiency and reducing the odds of damaging the press when moving it

By purchasing accessories for your heat press machine, you can expand the machine’s functionality, increase efficiency, and improve the ROI on your initial purchase.

Heat Press machines are the modern, no fuss way of printing art work on to fabrics, shoes, aluminum and many other substrates. Of course, when it comes to assuring the highest quality and longevity from your press, it is necessary to periodically do some preventive maintenance. Here are some quick and easy steps to take to assure a long and trouble-free life for your heat press machine.

Cleaning

• To prevent your substrates from becoming soiled, periodically wipe down the entire exterior of the machine with a clean rag. This can be done with water. For stubborn stains, use mineral spirits. Note that you can only use mineral spirits when the heat transfer press is cold.
• Clean the Teflon coated upper platen with a piece of non abrasive cloth using water or mineral spirits but only when the platen is cool. Take care not to rub off the Teflon coating.

Lubrication

• About once a month the joints and pins of the press should be lubricated with a high-temperature, non-melting grease. Your press should have come with a diagram directing you to the points of lubrication.

Silicon Lower Pad

• The silicone pad will eventually show wear and tear. This will affect the outcome of your images and must be replaced once you see dents or wear. To replace, make sure that the machine is cool before removing the lower platen from the base.
• Use a mild solvent (mineral spirits) to clean the surface of the lower platen.
• Replacing this pad will require that both the pad and the lower platen are clean and dry.
• High temperature glue is necessary to adhere the pad to the platen—follow the instructions on the adhesive package.
• Check for air bubbles before allowing the glue to dry.

A clean and well maintained heat press is a happy and well functioning machine that will bring you years of revenue and beautiful results!