Heat transfer sheet assembly with improved peeling

A heat transfer sheet assembly comprising:

• a heat transfer facestock layer for receiving indicia thereon, the facestock layer includes a first edge with an opposite second edge, and a third edge with an opposite fourth edge such that the edges intersect to form a generally rectangular sheet assembly wherein the third and fourth edges define a feed direction such that the heat transfer sheet assembly is configured to be fed into a conventional printer from the first edge or the second edge.
• a carrier layer is attached to the heat transfer facestock layer without an adhesive layer between the carrier layer and the heat transfer facestock layer;
• and
• at least one peel line positioned along the carrier layer to allow at least one portion of the carrier layer to be removed from the heat transfer facestock layer after receiving indicia thereon.

A method of applying a heat transfer sheet assembly to an article, comprising:

• generating an indicia;
• providing a heat transfer sheet assembly having a heat transfer facestock layer and a carrier layer at the printer;
• printing by the printer the indicia onto an indicia-receiving surface of the heat transfer facestock layer;
• separating carrier portions along at least one peel line of the carrier layer to remove the carrier layer from the heat transfer facestock layer;
• placing the heat transfer facestock layer on an article with the indicia-receiving surface facing outwardly therefrom;
• and
• applying a heat to the heat transfer facestock layer placed on the article to intermesh the heat transfer facestock layer and indicia to the article.