There are a number of different t-shirt printing methods out there: screen printing, heat transfer, Direct-to-Garment or DTG, etc. But which one is best suited for your needs?
Given all the host of technologies available today (digital and otherwise), it can become more than a little confusing when trying to decide the method/technique that will be ideal for your needs and future goals.
Well, here is a simple breakdown of the most common techniques and what they entail. We hope this information helps you zero on the best t-shirt printing method for your needs.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the oldest, most versatile, and also the most cost-efficient method of printing garments like t-shirts and more. The beauty of the method lies in its ink. Dense and thick, the ink sets nicely on the fabric and gives off a fresh, true-to-life vibe to the colors and the design. The quality of the screenprinting ink also ensures that the print lasts longer than the garment itself!
As mentioned, screen printing is also the most cost-efficient method of printing t-shirts. There is no need to invest on expensive machineries and your production costs will involve nothing more than the ink and the emulsion (plus the labor, of course). The only downside, if you can call it that, is that it will take you some time to master the art of screen printing. But given the advantages mentioned before, it will be worth the time and effort you put into it.
And one final thing, the screenprinting technique is suitable for most types of fabrics as long as you know how to choose the right mix of inks and screens.
Heat Transfer Method
After screen printing, heat transfer is the most popular method of handling a number of different t-shirt printing jobs.
In heat transfer, you basically print the graphics digitally (using a solvent ink) on a special heat transfer sheet (paper, plastisol, vinyl, etc.) and then heat press the sheets to print the designs on to the t-shirts.
Now, there are different heat transfer techniques meant for different types of jobs. Most common of them is the Dye-Sublimation Printing. In this method, the graphics is digitally printed on a special heat transfer paper and then a dye-based ink is used to heat press the design over the t-shirts. This technology is best suited to those working high-volume orders with polyester-based materials. Industry-grade dye-sublimation printing machines can print multiple t-shirts at once and there is little to be done by hands.
Also, dye-sublimation is the only printing technique that can create ‘all-over print’ t-shirts. On the flip side, however, TAKE NOTE that this method does not come cheap. Machines, especially the commercial ones meant for high-volume jobs are expensive and take up a lot of space. Also, this method is right only for those working solely with polyester-based materials.
CAD-Cut Vinyl Printing is another heat transfer technique used for printing/pasting vinyl logos, numbers, names, etc. on typically sports jerseys, t-shirts, etc.. In this method, a special machine cut out the logos, letters, and small designs on pieces of colored vinyl that are then heat pressed to transfer them on to the jerseys or t-shirts.
Take Note that the machine used to cut the vinyl can only handle 1-3 colors and also takes a good bit of time to cut and weed the vinyl. This means that investing in such a machine makes sense only when you consistently fill up orders for sports jerseys, hoodies, t-shirts, etc.
DTG Printing
Direct-to-Garment or DTG Printing uses fully digital inkjet technology to print full-color, high-res prints directly onto a t-shirt. The DTG Printing method is ideal for printing complex artworks with a high number of colors (screenprinting can only handle a few colors with specific hues). Also, like dye-sublimation, the process is fully automated meaning that you don’t need any prior expertise to start on the job.
However, keep in mind that DTG printing will only work best on 100% cotton or on fabrics with high cotton amounts on them. Also, the colors tend to wash away faster compared to other printing methods. Finally, the DTG machine is a hugely expensive one and high maintenance to boot, meaning you’re looking at a steep initial investment if you choose this method for your t-shirt printing business.