Heat Press Supplies | Tools, Platens & Accessories

A complete t-shirt printing business setup typically requires a heat press machine (flat platen for shirts, cap press for hats), a platen kit for multiple garment sizes, transfer paper or HTV, a computer and design software, and optionally a DTG printer or embroidery machine. Accessories like the XT Heat Press Caddie can boost productivity significantly for high-volume operations.

The paper type depends on your decoration method. For sublimation printing on polyester, use sublimation transfer paper. For inkjet heat transfers on cotton, use inkjet transfer paper. For laser printers, use laser-compatible transfer paper. Always match the paper type to your printer and fabric — using the wrong combination can result in poor adhesion or washed-out colors.

The most common materials for heat press t-shirt printing are heat transfer vinyl (HTV) for cut designs, sublimation ink transfers for polyester garments, and inkjet or laser transfer paper for photo-quality prints. Fabric choice also matters — 100% polyester is ideal for sublimation, while cotton and cotton-poly blends are preferred for HTV and screen-print transfers.

No — cap heat presses are specifically designed with curved platens to conform to the rounded front panel of caps and hats. For flat garments like t-shirts, you need a standard flat platen heat press. Dr. DTG offers both cap-specific presses and platen kits to handle multiple garment types efficiently within one operation.

A quick-change platen kit allows you to swap between different platen sizes — such as full shirt, sleeve, pant leg, or tote bag — without dismantling your press setup. Dr. DTG's Heat Press Platen Kit can save 5–10 minutes per platen change compared to traditional swaps, making it essential for high-mix shops decorating multiple garment types daily.

The XT Heat Press Caddie is a threadable pedestal stand with heavy-duty casters that converts any standard heat press into a threadable press. Garments can be loaded from the front, back, or sides without removing them from the platen between cycles. This design delivers a claimed 40% productivity increase and allows the entire press setup to be moved around the shop or to off-site events.