Hi friend, In a t shirt print industry become a very big industry in world and lots of new entrepreneur want to enter in this market. We are here to give them a small idea about types of t shirt printing.
1. Screen Printing:
It is the most common with the pros. Another name for this design is silkscreen printing.
For this method to work, you will need a stencil, and a nylon mesh. You set up the stencil, which is held by the nylon mesh. A water proof material will block the negative space that you want to design.
The negative space is the only part permeable for the dye. Ink is then flooded into the screen.
The screen printing method is ideal for bulk t shit print production, because it guarantees ultimate replication of the design. The screen printing methods gives a shirt a unique, cute and impressive look that customer love.
Most companies that use the screen printing methods for mass production of t-shirt designs for your business. If you want a single or unique design for yourself, it may be impossible.
This method is suited for one color per screen. It is not ideal for super complex multi-color designs. But now days 4 color process break this brier and quality out put as good as digital print.
PROS
Guarantees high quality,Very durable,Great for large quantities,Can be print almost any type of garments,Fast results if a single design is used, Its very cost effective on bulk quantity
CONS
Too complicated for small quantities,Not the best for complex designs,High production cost for small quantity.
2. Direct To Garments(DTG)
Like the screen printing method, it is also popular among hobbyists. It easy to do but it will require knowledge and skills if you are not going to get professional help. All you need for it work is the textile printer and ink .
DTG works like a paper printer in the office. The only difference is that, in this case the ink is going to the fabric. You first need to upload the design to the computer, which then creates uniqueness and creativity.
The Direct to garment method is excellent for printing out super-complex design. It gives a soft feel on the hands when you touch the final design. The ink used doesn't create thick extra layers on the shirt, because it is thin.
However it has one problem. You can end up with a low resolution design with dot patterns if you have an inferior textile printer. You can't use this method to create design for dark fabric, because the ink is thin and won't look well.
DTG is least durable and the fabric may fade in a year or less.
PROS
Simple to use (although it requires some skill),Good for complex designs,Soft finish,Easy to switch designs
CONS
Higher initial investment,Takes more time to produce in big quantities,Less durable designs
3. Sublimation or heat press print
If you have small orders of shirt, it is economical to use the heat press printing. It saves you resources and time.
This method incorporates a design printed on a special paper called transfer paper by a digital deskjet printer. Here is how it works.
You take a politer shirt ( Not Cotton), press it on the best heat transfer printed paper or clothes, then apply heat and pressure. A more similar approach like the dye sublimation with slight differences. You do the process until the heat softens the dye on the paper until it gets a beneath the cloth.
After that you take the glossy paper transfer and strip off the dye which leaves you with the intended design on the shirt.
If you are working with super complex designs, then heat and press method is ideal for you. However, it won't work well with dark fabrics because of its translucent dye.
Shirts printed through heat press printing are durable. Now days some pre-treatment solution is available which is spray on the cotton t shirt for heat press print on cotton garment.
PROS
An economical method for small quantities,Fairly simple to use, Good for home production or for beginner, High-quality reproductions
CONS
Doesn’t work well on darker materials, Can’t be used on shirts that are sensitive to high heat, Takes longer time to print.
4. Vinyl Cutting Print
In this method a special soft clothing is cut into shapes or designs, then transferred to a shirt.. Then these special designs are then placed onto the t-shirt using the heat press method.
With this method, you can print one-off designs and even produce them in large numbers. It is the best alternative for printing multiple garment types.
Vinyl cutting plotter gives you the options of using different layers to print different colors of a design. Vinyl cutting is used in designing sportswear, slogan or small graphics.
However, it suffers from one thing: They are letter-types parts that you can't use with it. T-shirt printed through vinyl cutting are durable.
PROS
Works well with small and large quantities,Wide spectrum of available colors and designs,Very durable shirts,No cracking of the design
CONS
Requires special CAD cutter, Suitable for only small designs,Reduces the flexibility of the shirt