Many customers wonder exactly what method to use for custom t-shirts printing, and whether there is one printing method that fits all situations. Unfortunately, there is currently no method that can satisfy this perfectly. Here we have listed a brief outline of each printing method and which method is best for you in each case:
Heat transfer printing:
Heat transfer printing requires a high resolution image and print it onto a special transfer paper, which is then pressed onto the shirt using a heat press. This method is great for colored designs on t-shirts that fade over long periods of time, which is why they are best used for garments with a short intended shelf life.
Advantages:
Ideal for small quantities. Â
High cost
Disadvantage:
Not as long lasting as other methods and tends to crack more often.
It can be difficult to show off some colors on darker clothes.
Best application:
For small orders, good material shirts, used in events and exhibitions.
Sublimation heat transfer printing:
Sublimation heat transfer printing transfers ink to the shirt through a pressing system, as opposed to transfer printing that uses decal paper. It allows for better, more durable colors but is very demanding on printing materials, because it can only print on synthetic clothing.
Pros:
Great for printing a good quality image12 (1)
Colorfast
Low cost
Cons:
Can only print on synthetic shirts (high in polyester)
Can’t print on dark clothes.
Best application:
For large – small orders, cheap, brightly colored shirts, used as uniforms
Video of sublimation heat transfer printing on brightly colored shirts:Â
Cad Cut (Vinyl Transfer):
Vinyl transfer uses a cutting machine to Cut the required shapes from a flat sheet and glue it onto the shirt with a heat press. This method is best used for printing letters or bright contrasting colors.
Pros:
It offers a very high quality product.11
Perfect for characters and distinguishing contrasting colors.
Disadvantages:
Not suitable for mass production of one design.
Thick feel on shirt
Best use:
For shirt printing orders with a personal message.
Direct DTG Printing:
Instead of transferring a design through paper, a DTG printer prints directly onto the garment, resulting in a print of excellent quality and maximum detail, allowing for full color printing. Color into dark as well as white documents.
Advantages:
Ideal for small quantities.
Great for single and multi-color prints.
High quality compared to all other printing methods.
You can print on any color of clothing.
Prints well on cotton t-shirts.
Disadvantages:
May not be economical for bulk orders when compared to screen printing and sublimation printing
High machine maintenance costs.
Best application:
For small-medium orders, with a complex or simple logo on any colored cotton shirt.
Video of printing with DTG printer:Â
Screen printing:
Screen printing applies color with ink directly through a film onto the garment. Screen printing is ideal when printing for a large number of garments but can be expensive for smaller orders requiring more than one color.
Advantages:
Ideal for bulk orders.
Provides excellent quality prints in any t-shirt color.
Prints well on all types of t-shirts.
Cons:
Expensive for smaller orders.
Expensive for simple designs.
Poorer quality than DTG printing.
Best application:
For large orders with a simple logo on any color t-shirt.
Plastisol Transfer:
Similar to screen printing in that ink is used to create an image but this is printed onto a piece of transfer paper rather than directly onto the garment. The transfer paper can be stored and when ready applied to surfaces with a heat press.
Pros:
Can be used with light or dark colored shirts.
It is ideal for environments to run large prints.
It can deal with complex multi-colored designs with ease.
Higher quality than other methods using transfer paper.
Cheaper for small-medium sized than screen printing. 15
Cons:
Cost is calculated per color in the design, so it can be more expensive than DTG.
Lower quality than DTG.
Best application:
For large orders of repeat uniforms, printed workwear or promotional wear with a complex logo.
Currently, we are only focusing on providing shirt blanks for heat transfer printing. We really aim to use a combination of printing methods to meet the needs of all our customers. Hope to introduce to you as soon as possible.