Oversized graphics are everywhere right now, and for good reason: they make any tee pop. I’ll walk you through two simple approaches that let you turn out huge prints with a standard 16 × 20-inch press, although the very same rules apply if your press is smaller.
1. Know Your Maximum Print Area
Every press has a sweet spot, which is usually about one inch smaller than the platen dimensions in both width and height. On a 16 × 20 press, that lands at roughly 15 × 19 inches.
- With a large vinyl cutter such as the Siser Romeo, you can cut a single-piece HTV graphic that fills that 15 × 19 window.
- Ordering a TruePrint Custom DTF transfer? Size it to that sweet spot and it will press in one hit.
2. Go Even Bigger with the Split Method
Need something taller or wider than that sweet spot? Split the design into panels and press them one by one. The example below uses a 16 × 20 press, yet the same workflow works on anything down to a compact 9 × 12.
Step-by-Step
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Rotate the shirt sideways. Let the collar hang just off the top edge so you can use the full platen width.
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Pre-press the shirt for five seconds to flatten seams.
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Lay out your panels. Our demo graphic is three DTF pieces, each 18 inches wide. Position them loosely to check spacing.
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Press panel 1 at 300 °F for 15 s, hot-peel.
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Slide the shirt down so panel 2 sits fully on the platen. If a bit of panel 1 gets re-pressed, it will be fine. Press and peel.
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Repeat for panel 3, lining everything up with a ruler or laser guide.
The result on our 3XL tee is a massive 18 × 24.5-inch print, created with three quick hits on a 16 × 20 press.
3. Pro Tips for Seamless Jumbo Prints
- Align carefully. A T-square or laser will keep panels straight.
- Use consistent pressure. Medium-firm pressure avoids press marks on previous panels.
- Work briskly. Hot-peel transfers handle a second hit, but speedy pressing prevents impressions.
- Plan your split. Horizontal breaks tend to hide better than vertical ones inside most artwork.
4. Gear Used in This Demo
- Heat Press: HPN Signature Pro 16 × 20 Auto-Open Heat Press with SurePressure
- Transfers: TruePrint Custom DTF (three-panel) and Puff HTV (single-piece)
- Cutter: Siser Romeo 24-inch vinyl cutter for HTV option
All of this gear—and plenty more—is available at heatpressnation.com, where you’ll find the largest selection of professional heat presses in the USA.
5. Ready to Try It?
Oversized prints are an instant upgrade to any product line. Give these methods a shot, drop your questions in the comments, and remember to subscribe to the Heat Press Nation YouTube channel for weekly how-tos.
