Top 5 T-Shirt Printing Methods You Might Like To Learn About

Customized T-shirts are now a trend. Many brands specialize in them. Instead of focusing on market trends, businesses are now concentrating on customers’ requests.

There are two factors to consider when bringing your T-shirt printing business online. You need to select the best custom T-shirt design software. Then, you also have to choose a T-shirt printing method that produces high-quality prints when dealing with complex designs.

Below, we will discuss the possible T-shirt printing methods for you and your business.

IMAGE: PEXELS

1. Screen Printing

For large-scale designs, screen printing is the most popular method for printing T-shirts. First, you used the screen to apply ink to the fabric. Then, the ink will be pushed through a fine mesh screen onto the T-shirt to produce the final design.

Screen printing is inexpensive if you only use a few colours in a design. But what makes it costly is if you use more colours, especially for complex designs. Also, it takes time to learn the process, so it’s worth hiring a professional screen printer to do the job for you. If you are not sure where to get custom t shirts made, do some research and check out some reviews to pick the right manufacturer for your needs.

2. Direct To Garments (DTG)

DTG is also used by hobbyists, like screen printing, but it requires knowledge and skills. If you don’t get professional help, it’s simple to learn. The textile printer and ink are all you need. DTG works like a paper printer, but the ink goes to the fabric in this case. Thus, you need to upload the design to the computer to create unique concepts.

The DTG method of printing is excellent for printing complex designs. If you touch the final design, it feels soft. Also, because the ink is thin, it does not create thick layers on the shirt. But, there’s a catch. A low-resolution design with dot patterns can result from using a poor textile printer. Plus, the ink may be too thin to create designs on dark fabrics.

3. Inkjet/Laser Iron-On Transfer

Heat stamping is famous for designs with many colors and intricate details. Also, it prints digital photos beautifully.

You use heat transfer paper in this method, wherein the pattern is produced using a printer. It is the method where the design is transferred to the T-shirt. This is the way for you to get a stunning custom-designed graphic T-shirt.

On your computer, you will choose your T-shirt design and come up with the customizations. Then, print the image using an inkjet or laser printer on special heat transfer paper.

Finally, put the transfer paper design side down on the T-shirt and iron it. Again, pressure and heat will help transfer the design to your T-shirt.

4. Dye Sublimation

This method works best on light shirts or materials. The expense of producing a dye-sub is high. But the consumer will get a well-done shirt in the end.

To get the best results, you’ll need a thorough understanding of dye sublimation. It is ideal for printing on polyester fabrics like cream fabric. But, if you bring cotton cloth into the picture, expect bad results.

For this method, you will need a specific liquid dye made specially for this type of project. When the dye comes in contact with the polyester cloth, it dries out. When it dries and solidifies on the fabric, you apply heat and pressure to cause sublimation.

When heat and pressure are all applied to a solid cloth, it transforms into gas. The fabric’s molecules will then expand, allowing the gas to pass through the gaps in the material. And if you remove the heat, the molecules contract once more.

Dye sublimation is ideal for short-term printing designs on polyester clothing. Sublimated shirts are both durable and attractive.

5. Heat Press Printing

Heat printing is the most cost-effective choice if you are only working with a few shirts. It is guaranteed to help you save on money and time. This method uses a pattern printed on transfer paper.

Start by pressing a shirt on the heat transfer vinyl. Then, put pressure and heat just like with dye-sublimation, but with minor modifications. You repeat the process until the heat melts the dye on the paper. Make sure it gets to the point where it can be seen beneath the fabric.

Then, you remove the dye from the glossy paper, leaving you with a custom-design T-shirt. If you’re dealing with intricate drawings, the heat and press method is ideal. But, because of the translucent dye, it will not work with dark materials.

Bottom Line

These T-shirt printing methods will let you see your custom designs come alive. Some of them have been around for some time. Meanwhile, others came about because of the evolution of technology.

Choosing among these methods will help you realize your tee business. This is whether you are the designer or the seller of the finished products. Plus, there are now many t-shirt printing solutions available to you that can ensure that any custom design will come out with excellent quality.