Whether you're beginning your own custom printing business in Printing Press in Dubai or simply want to sell custom t-shirts, you must understand the differences between the various t-shirt printing methods and procedures. Some printing procedures are more suitable for specific fabrics, while others may be better suited for a task based on volume. In addition, the amount of colors in the design you wish to print will influence the printing method you choose. Choosing a printing technique might be challenging with so many factors!
True, digital technology has revolutionized the world of
t-shirt printing alternatives, and many new printing methods have developed,
but traditional printing is still a viable option. Depending on what you or
your client require, printing processes such as plastisol transfers that
combine heat and pressure can also be a good option.
In any case, let's compare the different t-shirt printing
procedures so you can get your ideas into t-shirts and sell them as quickly as
possible.
One of the most well-known T-shirt printing methods include
screen-printing. Since before you and I were born, humans have utilized screen
printing. Screenprinting is now done by both machines and people. Let's look at
what makes screenprinting so popular.
The screen printing inks that are utilized are a big part of
the enchantment of screen printing. The inks used in screen printing are
thicker than those used in other t-shirt printing procedures, allowing them to
last longer and generate true-to-life brilliant colors. It is critical that you
or your screen printer utilize high-quality inks. Low-quality inks may fade
quickly and feel strange.
High-volume orders are best served by screenprinting. With a
gallon of screen-printing ink, you may print anywhere from 200 to 500 t-shirts,
depending on the size of the design, the ink quality, the pressure applied with
the squeegee, the number of strokes, and the mesh count. All of these factors
must be considered when determining how cost-effective screen printing is and
why it is quite so popular with stakeholders in Printing Press in Dubai.
i. Screen printing ink is deeply absorbed, resulting in
vibrant and long-lasting hues.
ii. Once set up, you can quickly create hundreds of t-shirts
with the same design.
iii. When you utilize the correct blend of inks and screens
for the cloth you'll be working on, it'll work with almost any fabric.
i. If you're going to do it yourself, keep in mind that
screen-printing might be messy.
ii. Keep in mind that you'll be working with ink, so expect
spills.
iii. To set up a proper screen-printing work area, you'll
need a lot of space.
iv. It should be dust-free and dark to protect your screens
and ink.
DTG printing is an inkjet technology that allows you to
print full-color, high-resolution photographs straight onto t-shirts. DTG
Printing is best for designs or artwork that is too complicated for other
printing techniques, such as screen printing, which is best for designs with
few colors. DTG printing machines offer a lot of color mixing capability, thus
they can print even the smallest details.
Your best choice for printing a few units (1-5) t-shirts is
DTG because it is as simple as loading a blank shirt into the DTG Printing
machine and printing directly on it, whereas screen printing requires you to go
through a multi-step, back-breaking process to print your t-shirt.
i. Print as many colors as you like with DTG printing.
Colors aren't limited, yay!
ii. In comparison to screen printing, setup times are short.
In less than 30 minutes, you may have a T-shirt produced.
iii. DTG printing machines aren't as large as traditional
printing equipment, which gives your company greater mobility.
iv. Ink cartridges aren't as messy as screen printing inks.
v. Because DTG printing machines inject ink directly into
the fabric, you won't be able to feel the 'print' when you touch it.
i. DTG Printers are best used on 100% cotton t-shirts (or
fabrics with high amounts of cotton on them). The print will be more vibrant if
the t-shirt is made of more cotton.
ii. Colors fade with time.
iii. Artwork placement is limited.
iv. DTG machines are very expensive.
v. Maintenance is necessary for your DTG printing machine.
In a nutshell, Heat Transfer Printing entails laying sheets
of transfer material on top of clothing and heat pressing them to permanently
attach bespoke graphics to the garments.
First, using solvent ink, the desired graphic is digitally
printed on special heat transfer paper. When pressed using a heat press
machine, this type of ink transfers the design from the paper to the t-shirt.
When compared to other technologies, heat transfer printing
works on a variety of materials and fabrics, makes little mess, and requires
less upkeep.
There are a variety of heat transfer printing procedures,
which can be confusing, but don't worry, whichever company you commission your
printing needs with in Printing Press in Dubai will explain them all for you.
Dye-Sublimation One of the most common types of heat
transfer printing is printing. Digitally printed designs are heated to transfer
the dye onto t-shirts.
Dye-sublimation printing, unlike other heat transfer
printing methods, uses dye-based ink that transforms into a gas when heated.
Dye-based inks change state from solid to gas and back. Because the gas joins
the polyester, it becomes a part of the fabric rather than a layer on top.
For all-over printing, sublimation is a particularly popular
method. Dye-sublimation printing has an allover print effect that neither
screenprinting nor DTG printing can duplicate. Designers may fully express
themselves and make one-of-a-kind t-shirts by using all-over print t-shirts.
i. The ink becomes a part of the t-shirt fabric, allowing
the print to last a long time.
ii. It is airy and feels nice to the touch.
iii. The prints will not fade, break, peel, or degrade over
time.
Disadvantages of Dye-Sublimation Printing:
I. Undyed folds and creases, such as the area under the
sleeves.
ii. Only polyblend t-shirts are compatible. T-shirts with
more polyester will have more bright colors.
iii. Printing with dye-sublimation is cost prohibitive.
5. Plastisol Transfer Printing.
Plastisol Transfer Printing is similar to screenprinting in
that the artwork is ink-jet printed on plastisol transfer paper before being
heat pressed onto the shirt.
As you may have guessed, this method of custom t-shirt
printing allows us t-shirtpreneurs to outsource a portion of our business if we
so choose. You can send your ideas to companies who will print them on
high-quality plastisol transfer paper and transport them to you. After
receiving them, you can use a heat press to attach the designs to t-shirts.
i. The quality is comparable to screen printing.
ii. You can fit numerous patterns on a single transfer
paper, then cut and print them individually.
iii. There are no spills.
iv. T-shirt designs can be tested using this method. It
makes sensible to switch to screenprinting once a design has begun to sell.
v. Allows for a multitude of positions on the t-shirt,
making it ideal for both full-color and limited-color projects.
i. If transfers aren't created properly, they'll crack and
wash off quickly.
ii. and suppliers may require minimum orders. It may take a
few passes to figure out the proper amount of pressure/temperature for this new
technique, so I recommend ordering several prints to do some testing first. If
not, contact your provider and, if they are good, they should be able to assist
you.
iii. Large-scale runs are both costly and time-consuming.
Another method of heat transferring designs onto t-shirts is
CAD-Cut Printing (Computer-Aided Design). This t-shirt printing method is most
commonly used for printing numbers, names, and logos onto CAD-Cut vinyl and
then heat pressing them onto sports t-shirts or jerseys.
Simply put, this process entails cutting out designs and
letters on colored vinyl using a machine. Each vinyl is then transferred to the
t-shirt using a heat press.
CAD-Cut vinyl is perfect for garment printing in 1-3 colors
in small quantities, such as a football team's order.
The advantages of CAD-Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl Printing
include:
i. A long lifespan and the ability to print tiny quantities.
ii. Vinyl may be applied to any part of the t-shirt with
relative ease.
iii. The vinyl can be used on a variety of materials.
Disadvantages of CAD-Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl Printing:
i. Cutting and weeding the vinyl takes a lengthy time.
ii. Vinyl printing cannot match Pantone colors.
iii. It's only good for simple visuals with basic forms,
such as text-based designs.
In Conclusion:
If you have read this article; the chances are that you like
T-shirts too. They're cool, comfortable and usually not too expensive. These
are probably some of the reasons they're so popular projects amongst companies
in Printing Press in Dubai. Making them takes a lot of skills and understanding
of the various methods that can be used to make the best kind possible.
If you're thinking of printing t-shirts, it is hoped that
this article has provided you with relevant insights on which method is best
with the different kind of t-shirts fabrics and how they can be used
effectively.
May 07, 2022 by Ashir 160 Views