Types of Shirt Printing: Picking the Best Method for Your Brand

Selecting the perfect methodology for printing t-shirts is essential when beginning a customized t-shirt enterprise. 

The perfect printing methodology for your enterprise is determined by the material you’re utilizing, the variety of t-shirts you need to print, the designs you take into consideration, the extent of element you anticipate, and the quantity of money and time you’re keen to take a position.

On this weblog, we’re exploring the varieties of t-shirt printing obtainable to personalize your favourite tees, protecting all of the bases that can assist you make an knowledgeable determination. From the material varieties to the design choices obtainable for every methodology—we’ve received all of it.

Prepared? Let’s go for a trip!

7 hottest varieties of shirt printing

To higher perceive every t-shirt printing methodology, let’s study cloth compatibility, design choices, and the eventualities the place every methodology works finest.

1. Display printing

Screen printing, often known as silkscreen printing, is among the oldest and most effective strategies for t-shirt printing. This system produces vivid and sturdy designs at an economical price.

The display screen printing course of includes a stencil, a mesh display screen, and a squeegee or straight blade to switch the design to the t-shirt. First, a stencil of the design is created and positioned on a mesh display screen. Ink is then poured over the stencil and pressed by means of the mesh onto the material utilizing a squeegee or blade. The surplus ink is then wiped off, and the t-shirt is left to dry.

Supplies

Display printing works finest on pure materials resembling cotton, silk, and wool, permitting for optimum ink absorption and adhesion and producing vibrant and sturdy prints.

Whereas it’s attainable to make use of pure and artificial blends, the standard and longevity of the print could differ. Purely artificial materials like polyester, spandex, and lycra are usually not really helpful for display screen printing as a result of their clean, non-porous surfaces, which may hinder ink adhesion and result in much less sturdy outcomes.

Designs

Display printing is famend for producing high-quality, long-lasting prints that preserve vibrancy by means of repeated washes.

This methodology excels with daring and easy designs, making it a most well-liked alternative for logos, textual content, and different graphic parts that require strong areas of coloration. Nonetheless, the stencil and mesh display screen’s limitations make it much less appropriate for intricate or extremely detailed designs.

The method sometimes accommodates a restricted variety of colours, as every coloration requires a separate display screen and move, which may improve the complexity and price. This attribute makes display screen printing excellent for simple, impactful designs with few colours, making certain the ultimate product stays cost-effective and visually putting.

Greatest for

Display printing is especially well-suited for one-color designs and mass manufacturing of the identical design.

Display printing is quick and wallet-friendly for giant portions, making it excellent for bulk orders. It’s wonderful for producing uniforms, promotional gadgets, or occasion merchandise. Nonetheless, it’s not fitted to designs that demand a number of element and a number of colours.

2. Direct-to-garment printing

Although comparatively new, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing is among the hottest t-shirt printing methods in the marketplace.

DTG printing might be likened to printing on paper—it prints immediately on the material. The method begins with making use of a pre-treatment answer to assist the ink adhere to the material. Then, the garment is positioned on a platen and inserted into the printer, the place the design is utilized in just some minutes. Lastly, the ink is cured to make sure the print’s sturdiness.

Supplies

DTG printing offers the perfect outcomes on 100% cotton shirts as a result of cotton’s wonderful ink absorption properties. Whereas cotton blends are additionally appropriate, they could not obtain the identical vibrancy as pure cotton.

DTG printing is mostly not really helpful for artificial materials, because the ink doesn’t adhere nicely, resulting in subpar outcomes.

Designs

DTG printing excels in producing intricate designs with an infinite coloration palette, providing exact and correct outcomes. This methodology is right for detailed art work, pictures, and designs with complicated coloration gradients and nuances.

Printing immediately onto the material with out separate screens permits for high-resolution, detailed prints. Nonetheless, reaching high-quality prints on darker materials might be difficult because of the skinny nature of the ink, so making use of a white underbase is really helpful to keep up the design’s true colours.

Greatest for

DTG printing is especially nicely fitted to smaller companies and people who give attention to custom t-shirts or attire however don’t want massive orders.

This methodology permits for one-off prints, enabling companies to check totally different designs and provide merchandise on demand with out sustaining in depth stock. It’s excellent for manufacturers that prioritize flexibility and customization, making it simple to meet distinctive buyer requests and produce limited-edition gadgets.

Study extra: DTG vs. Screen Printing

3. Direct-to-film printing

Direct-to-film (DTF) printing is among the most versatile t-shirt printing strategies. Not like different methods, DTF printing makes use of a movie to switch the design onto the t-shirt, and it’s appropriate with numerous cloth varieties.

DTF printing includes printing the design on a PET movie utilizing water-based inks and a powder that helps switch the design. Earlier than making use of the print, the material should be dehumidified and pre-flattened. After transferring the design at a mean temperature of 165°C, the movie is chilly peeled, and the material undergoes a second flattening to make sure the design’s sturdiness.

Supplies

A significant benefit of DTF printing is its distinctive versatility. This methodology can be utilized on all kinds of materials, together with cotton, polyester, fleece, nylon, and blended materials, making it probably the most versatile t-shirt printing methods obtainable.

This versatile compatibility permits for a broad vary of functions and opens up alternatives for printing on various kinds of attire. Dehumidifying and pre-flattening the material earlier than printing ensures optimum adhesion and print high quality, whatever the cloth kind.

Designs

DTF printing is right for creating elaborate designs with limitless colours and complex particulars.

Compared to DTG printing, DTF produces thicker prints, which may add a definite texture and really feel to the garment. The correct and vivid design outcomes make DTF printing excellent for complicated art work and designs that require a wealthy coloration palette and high-quality element.

Greatest for

DTF printing is especially well-suited for producing a number of t-shirts with the identical design, making it a wonderful alternative for bulk orders. One movie can be utilized to print on a number of shirts, bettering effectivity and lowering prices.

This methodology is flexible sufficient to work on numerous varieties of cloth, making it excellent for companies that provide a variety of attire merchandise.

Study extra:

• DTF vs. DTG Printing

• DTF vs. Sublimation Printing

• DTF vs. Screen Printing

4. Warmth switch vinyl printing

Warmth switch vinyl (HTV) printing is often used for printing participant numbers, names, and logos on sports activities group shirts or jerseys. This methodology includes chopping designs on coloured warmth switch vinyl with a machine, then transferring them onto the t-shirt utilizing a warmth press.

HTV printing, often known as iron-on printing, makes use of vinyl plastic-based sheets. One facet of the sheet is coloured with detachable tape and lower into shapes, whereas the opposite facet is coated with an adhesive activated by warmth.

Supplies

HTV printing is especially efficient for materials that may face up to excessive temperatures, making it a wonderful alternative for athletic put on and group jerseys.

HTV printing is right for materials like cotton, polyester, and poly-cotton blends, that are sturdy and may endure the warmth required for the switch course of.

Designs

HTV printing means that you can select from a wide range of vibrant colours, leading to high-quality and crowd pleasing prints. 

The rigidity of the vinyl could make the material much less versatile and comfy, so HTV printing is finest fitted to smaller prints, resembling names, numbers, and logos, slightly than massive designs.

Priceless learn: A Step-by-Step T-Shirt Design and Logo Placement Guide

Greatest for

HTV printing is finest for exact, sturdy designs, resembling sports activities group attire. Nonetheless, the method might be time-consuming because of the meticulous vinyl chopping and weeding, which slows down manufacturing.

HTV printing isn’t appropriate for large-scale manufacturing because of the handbook effort concerned. As an alternative, it excels in small-scale tasks the place customization and sturdiness are paramount, resembling particular person group jerseys, customized attire, and promotional gadgets.

5. Sublimation printing

Sublimation printing, often known as dye sublimation or digital sublimation, is an business staple for creating beautiful customized attire. 

First, the design is printed onto warmth switch paper. Warmth is then utilized to the switch paper, inflicting the ink to penetrate the material. This particular liquid dye modifications the material’s coloration and creates a clean, light-weight really feel, leading to vibrant and sturdy prints. After printing, the material is lower in line with garment patterns and sewn collectively to make sure the design aligns appropriately throughout totally different components of the garment.

Supplies

Sublimation printing is designed explicitly for artificial materials, with polyester being essentially the most appropriate materials. This system is incompatible with cotton t-shirts as a result of the dye requires artificial fibers to stick appropriately.

Polyester’s distinctive construction successfully bonds the dye, producing long-lasting prints. Whereas different artificial materials will also be used, polyester ensures the perfect coloration depth and sturdiness outcomes.

Designs

Sublimation printing excels at producing detailed and vivid designs that cowl your complete garment. The printing course of modifications the material’s coloration and creates a clean really feel.

Greatest for

Sublimation printing is right for creating all-over print t-shirts and different attire gadgets, the place the design spans from seam to seam.

This methodology is appropriate for on-demand manufacturing, letting you create unique designs with out buying stock. Nonetheless, printing every design on switch paper and chopping and stitching the material makes sublimation time-consuming and fewer cost-effective for bulk orders. It’s higher fitted to small-scale manufacturing runs, customized items, and area of interest markets the place high-quality, detailed prints are important.

6. Airbrushing

When you get pleasure from inventive experiments, airbrushing might be a wonderful choice. Whereas it requires vital technical mastery, you’ll get unique outcomes, harking back to graffiti.

The method is easy—all you want is an airbrush gun, paint, and a stencil to get began.

Supplies

Airbrushing can be utilized on numerous materials, however the kind of paint you select will considerably influence the outcomes. Material paints with dyes and binding brokers are designed for pure fibers resembling cotton.

Acrylic paints, however, can be utilized on each pure and artificial supplies, providing extra choices. Nonetheless, carry out a take a look at run earlier than committing to a full mission, as some materials and colours could not maintain the paint nicely or could react unpredictably to the airbrushing course of.

Designs

Airbrushing permits for unparalleled creativity, enabling artists to experiment with colours, gradients, and results to create actually distinctive designs.

The approach is harking back to graffiti artwork, with its daring strokes and dynamic visuals. Nonetheless, airbrushing has its limitations—it doesn’t help intricate element nicely, and the ensuing designs have a tendency to not final lengthy. The ink can put on off over time, notably with repeated washing.

Regardless of these drawbacks, airbrushing is a simple and cheap methodology that provides full creative freedom, making it excellent for one-of-a-kind items and experimental designs.

Greatest for

Airbrushing is finest fitted to small, customized tasks the place creativity and uniqueness are paramount. The handbook nature of the method makes it unsuitable for giant orders, because it’s time-consuming, labor-intensive, and laborious to duplicate.

Moreover, the low sturdiness of airbrushed designs means they’re not excellent for gadgets that will likely be continuously used and washed. It’s excellent for particular person artists, hobbyists, and small companies that need to provide customized, one-of-a-kind clothes.

7. Plastisol transfers

Plastisol transfers fall beneath the display screen printing class however contain a further step—the design is first utilized to printing paper.

The method begins equally to display screen printing, utilizing a stencil and a mesh display screen. Nonetheless, as an alternative of printing immediately onto the garment, the design is digitally printed on plastisol switch paper. This switch paper is then used to print the design onto a t-shirt utilizing a warmth press.

This further step makes plastisol transfers particularly appropriate for demonstrations, permitting you to organize upfront. You possibly can create the switch paper as soon as after which shortly and simply print the design onto a garment each time wanted. 

Supply: ScreenPrinting.com

Supplies

Plastisol transfers are notably appropriate for more durable materials, like fleece, which may face up to the warmth press with out harm. Whereas it may be used on a wide range of totally different materials, the perfect outcomes are sometimes seen on extra strong supplies that may deal with stress and warmth.

This makes plastisol transfers a flexible choice for clothes meant for heavy use or frequent washing, making certain that the design stays intact.

Designs

Plastisol transfers provide sturdy prints with a high quality akin to conventional display screen printing. This methodology is nice for creating detailed designs, as printing on plastisol switch paper permits for exact management over design parts and colours.

As soon as transferred to the garment, the prints are long-lasting and may endure a number of washes with out vital fading or cracking. This system is right for designs that require daring colours and sharp traces, offering a dependable answer for creating high-quality, resilient prints.

Greatest for

Plastisol transfers are perfect for dwell printing or printing in entrance of an viewers, for instance, at occasions or in customized t-shirt cubicles. The power to organize the switch paper upfront and apply the design shortly on-site makes this methodology extremely sensible for interactive or on-demand printing.

Nonetheless, the extra steps concerned in creating and utilizing the switch paper make plastisol transfers much less appropriate for large-scale operations. The method might be time-consuming and requires a excessive stage of experience, which may decelerate manufacturing.

Aspect-by-side comparability

Now that we perceive the ins and outs of every printing methodology, let’s take a look at how they stack up facet by facet.

Priceless learn: 8 Best Quality T-Shirts for Printing

Convey your concepts to life

Understanding the fundamentals of every printing methodology is essential when beginning a t-shirt enterprise. This includes inspecting cloth compatibility, design high quality, upfront investments, and long-term prices.

Partnering with a print-on-demand supplier like Printful may be a strong transfer, particularly if you happen to purpose to promote customized t-shirts on-line with minimal preliminary funding. This success methodology means that you can begin promoting with nearly zero preliminary capital. Printful handles printing, packing, and delivery, so that you don’t have to fret about manufacturing or logistics.

Time to promote some tees! What’s holding you again?

Learn subsequent: 56 T-Shirt Design Ideas That Are Seriously Next-Level

FAQs

What kind of t-shirt printing lasts the longest?

In relation to print longevity, the 2 business juggernauts are display screen printing and sublimation. The selection actually comes all the way down to the material you need to print on, as display screen printing is supposed for pure materials, whereas sublimation helps artificial materials.

Is DTG or DTF higher?

DTF is best for detailed, colourful designs on artificial supplies like polyester, nylon, and fleece. However, as a result of breathability points, it’s much less appropriate for giant designs.

DTG is right for cotton clothes and pure supplies. It handles bigger designs nicely and is nice for easy graphics, textual content, and logos. Whereas it helps colourful pictures, the readability may not match DTF.