There are many different types of printing methods available to use when printing your own t-shirts and other garments. In this article, I will discuss the differences between the two most common printing methods, the direct-to-garment method and the screen printing method.
If you have ever wanted to print T-shirts or other garments at home, then knowing which printing method will give you the best results can be very important to you! So lets get started!
Direct to Garment (DTG)
The biggest advantage of DTG is that it’s a truly digital printing process. You can print on any color garment, and you can print as many colors as you like, in any design.
DTG is also a very cost effective method of printing your own shirts. The downside is that it takes longer to print than screen printing or embroidery, and it doesn’t have quite as high quality of a finish. However, if you’re looking for something quick and cheap then DTG might be for you. If not, keep reading!
Screen printing
The screen printing process starts with a silkscreen print made by an artist and applied to a mesh, usually made of silk or synthetic fiber. A stencil is placed over that screen to protect parts of it from getting paint.
The stencil can then be removed, revealing parts of a mesh design for use in printing on fabric. An inkjet printer transfers ink to those areas, resulting in one or more layers of color on fabric and allowing for unlimited color combinations.
Heat Transfer Printing
This method of printing is recommended for dark, solid colored shirts. Heat Transfer printers use a special glue and an iron to apply your design to your shirt; it’s called heat transfer because there is a lot of heat from both sources that are used in combination.
This type of printing is often found on sports jerseys and band merchandise. Make sure to order your shirt one size larger than normal so that you have some room for error when applying! It’s also very important to make sure you don’t get any glue where you don’t want it—make sure there’s plenty of open space between what will be printed on your shirt and where you don’t want print to appear!
Embroidery
While it’s a bit more expensive, embroidery is a good option for anything with a large logo or graphics. The way embroidery works is that your logo (or other graphic) gets transferred to a needle.
Then that needle goes up and down hundreds of times per minute to etch your logo into your shirt. And while it’s pricier than screen printing, embroidery lasts longer, so it’s actually more cost effective over time.
Sublimation printing
In one of our previous articles, we discussed sublimation printing in detail and explained how to set it up at home. For those of you who missed that post, or need a refresher on what exactly sublimation is, here’s a quick run through: Sublimation printing involves taking an image and transferring it onto a transfer paper using a special solvent.
This paper can then be applied to any number of surfaces – including t-shirts. However, because ink isn’t being used in these processes (the colors are actually created by dyes), certain colors will require certain solvents to ensure proper color formation.
Vinyl cutting
Vinyl cut decals are becoming increasingly popular due to their low cost, ease of use and ability to customize nearly any shape or size. However, vinyl cutting isn’t for everyone.
It requires a good bit of skill to operate machinery accurately. Additionally, it’s not recommended for large orders or complex designs. If you find that your design can be cut from vinyl but doesn’t look quite as sharp as you had hoped, consider investing in heat transfer printing; its sharper image quality makes up for any shortfalls in cutting skill.
Digital transfers
Fast and inexpensive. Limited range of color options, no softening, no gradients and small blocky text. Some feel they look cheap because they don’t stand out or have a lot of texture (because there are only two or three colors). They can also crack or peel if not properly cared for.
Conclusion
Many people like to design their own t-shirts. If you want your designs to be printed, it is important that you use a proper printing method. Some of these methods include screen printing, embroidery, direct to garment printing and heat transfers.
Screen printing is one of most popular ways for t-shirt designers because of its durability. It uses UV or water based inks that are tightly bonded to create a long lasting design on shirts. This type of printing gives high detail and vibrant colors in all directions.
Embroidery is another popular method because it makes designs look more unique and gives them a vintage feel with its imperfections from thread color variations and stitching lines visible on shirts.
FAQS
Which type of printing is best?
A lot of people ask me which method is best for printing on t-shirts. There are several methods, each with their own pros and cons. Here’s a brief rundown of each: – Direct to Garment (DTG): DTG printers use inkjet technology to print directly onto fabric, so there’s no need for screens or dry time.
The downside here is that DTG prints are sometimes more expensive than screen printing, especially if you order small batches. – Screen printing: This is probably the most common type of printing for tees. Basically you make a stencil of your design and then ink up an offset or rotary press with special inks and pass it over your shirt–easy peasy!
What is better screen printing or heat-press?
Don’t sell yourself short when it comes to t-shirt printing. While any method will likely get you on your way, there are better ways and worse ways of doing things.
The best way to approach any project is to know as much about your options as possible—and that’s exactly what I want to give you in today’s post. Read on for everything you need to know about different t-shirt printing methods!
What is the best form of t-shirt printing?
There are many different forms of t-shirt printing, each producing a slightly different result. Each process has a unique set of advantages and disadvantages.
Choosing one method over another is not always easy because some methods may suit your needs better than others depending on your budget, your deadlines, and your product. Today we’re going to look at each of these methods in detail and then make some recommendations about which will work best for you. Let’s get started…
What technique can be used in making printed shirts?
There are many different t-shirt printing techniques available for making shirts. The most commonly used shirt printing technique is screen printing and direct to garment (DTG) printing. Each technique has its own benefits which make it a good or bad choice in specific situations.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of both methods that you should know before deciding on a method to use: Screen Printing Pros: Cheap – Compared to DTG printers, screen printed images tend to cost less since they can be done by hand. This is due to their limited color capabilities since only one color is applied at a time.
Good quality print – Screens can produce high detail with no dot effect like you see in cheaper inkjet prints as well as having more vibrant colors than DTG prints.
What are the different types of t-shirt printing?
There are four different methods of printing t-shirts, but only two will give you quality results. Understanding what these types of printing are and how they can affect your final product is critical to getting a good look for your logo or design on a t-shirt.
Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing – This is one of two recommended methods, as it gives excellent color quality, which makes it perfect for photographs and designs with detail. DTG printing doesn’t come cheap though and prices range from $100 to $500 per shirt.
The minimum number of shirts that can be printed at one time is usually 10, but most companies will have a lower price if you’re ordering 100 shirts or more.
Last Updated on October 12, 2022
