There are many types of print on T-shirt that are available for you to choose from. The type of print that you select will depend on a variety of factors, such as the design you want, the fabric of the shirt, and your budget. This article by TeeNavi will help you to understand the different types of prints so that you can make an informed decision when shopping for T-shirts.
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1. Heat transfer vinyl printing
One of the most famous types of print on t-shirt is using heat transfer vinyl printing. Vinyl is a type of plastic with one decorative side and one coated in a high-temperature adhesive. You can cut out text, logos, or even complex images from the Vinyl and then seal the cut-out onto the fabric with heat.
While not technically a “printing” technique, many artists use vinyl in place of ink to create raised, long-lasting designs on T-shirts. To create vinyl designs, large-scale professional operations will most likely use massive commercial cutting machines. At-home artists, on the other hand, love this method because you can make your vinyl cut-outs with a simple electronic cutting machine like a Cricut.
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2. Plastisol/indirect screen printing – Types of print on T-shirt
Plastisol or indirect silkscreening is becoming increasingly popular among shirt printing types. This technique incorporates some of the fundamentals of screen printing and employs the same plastisol inks used in screen printing. The main distinction is that the painter applies the ink to a plastisol transfer sheet rather than directly to the fabric.
The transfer sheet is then temperature-pressed onto the T-shirt, resulting in a long-lasting, raised design on the fabric’s surface. To save money, some designers create a digital design and send it to a third party that can mass-produce it on plastisol sheets. The artist then applies the plastisol sheet to a shirt with heat.
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One disadvantage of this type of printing on t shirt is that . When done incorrectly, the designs will later crack and peel away. Furthermore, this method works well for small orders but not so well for large orders.
3. DTG – Direct-To-Garment printing screen
DTG is an abbreviation for direct-to-garment printing, it is also the best t-shirt printing method, and the most popular among the types of print on t-shirt. This method is sometimes referred to as DTF or direct-to-cloth printing. The process is exactly as it sounds: a special printing applies a thin ink directly onto the fabric of the tee!
This means you’ll be able to create any design that can be printed on paper. You can use a lot of colors, make complicated graphics, or even use photos. Because the ink soaks into the fabric of the shirt, the design feels soft to the touch rather than forming a stiff layer on the fabric’s surface. Another benefit of this method is that it allows you to quickly run off each design after the other without any complicated setup.
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4. Discharge printing
Discharge printing is one of the types of print on T-shirt. It is not commonly used, but it produces a one-of-a-kind T-shirt. Instead of applying color, this process removes it! The printer protects the design portion of the shirt with a stencil before bleaching away the rest of the dye, abandoning only the design in color.
You might enjoy trying this method with a group of people to make fashionable vintage-style tees. The unique appearance of this technique is a significant advantage. However, while this process produces unique, retro-style tees, it is time-consuming and expensive, making it unpopular among professionals.
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5. Stenciling
The most straightforward t-shirt print technique in all types of printing for t shirts is stenciling. You can cut a stencil by hand or use a more sophisticated tool, such as a Cricut, to electronically cut out digital designs. The dye is then applied over the stencil to create a logo or design on the T-shirt!
Professionals frequently used more advanced stenciling techniques in methods such as silk screening. If you simply want to make a few enjoyable shirts for your family, you can do it at home with very simple tools!
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6. Printing with a heat press – One of the quality types of print on t-shirt
Heat pressing is one of those simple techniques for types of print on T-shirts at home that most people can do at home. Some transfer papers are simply heated with iron to transfer the photo to the tee. It’s also a very affordable option on the T-shirt print market — but, like the other methods, it can get expensive when specialized equipment is considered.
Using your ink-jet printer and transfer paper, print your desired design onto the paper. Transfer paper is a type of paper that has been coated in wax and pigments. You can print the image on transfer paper with an inkjet printer and then heat press it onto your shirt. Using a heat press, apply the design to the shirt. The heat from the press activates the adhesive material on one side, which adheres the design to the shirt, while the other side has a removable, glossy tape.
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7. Inkjet printer/printing embroidery heat transfer
Screen printing embroidery heat can be done in a variety of ways. It can be used in the same way as the previous heat press method. You also can print your design onto vinyl, then seal it onto the shirt with a heat press. In any case, using an ink-jet printer to print a design onto a transfer is a simple process. There is no need for expensive printing or a plethora of specialized supplies. It does, however, take some time to set up each transfer and then heat press it to the shirt.
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8. Airbrushing
One of types of printing on T-shirt is Airbrushing. It may not be the best T-shirt design option for a large commercial operation, but it is extremely popular among artists and small-business owners. This T-shirt design method allows for incredibly complex and artistic designs. By airbrushing over stencils one color layer at a time, you can also use this technique as a unique replacement for screen printing.
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9. Screen printing – One of the quality types of print on t-shirt
Printing technology is one of the highest-quality methods of T-shirt print available, and it also allows for a great deal of creativity and artistry. It is also one of the world’s oldest printing methods! To screen print, make a negative of the desired design on a screen. The screen is then rolled with a special ink called plastisol ink and pressed onto the T-shirt. This forces the ink thru the design’s negative-space stencil, resulting in an image on the shirt!
Using special chemicals to create picture stencils on screens, you can create quite complex screen prints. You can also screen print in a very basic format using a Cricut to create a stencil.
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10. Dye sublimation
How to print on t-shirts by sublimation printing. Sublimation printing is the most professional method of printing on polyester. It does not, however, work on fabrics made of all-natural fibers, such as cotton. This cool but expensive method employs heat to convert dye into a gas that bonds with the fabric.
Sublimation printing produces soft, long-lasting designs on synthetic materials such as polyester. Because of the unique way the dye adheres to the fabric, the cloth remains breathable rather than forming a thick coating. Sublimation designs will not crack or peel as a result of this.
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11. Compare current T-shirt printing methods
There are many types of print on t-shirt that are available for you to choose from. The most common printing methods are screen printing, digital printing, and heat transfer printing. Screen printing is a traditional printing method that involves the use of a mesh screen to transfer ink onto the fabric. This type of printing is best for larger quantities, as it is a more expensive process.
Digital printing is a newer form of printing that uses digital technology to create images that are then printed onto the fabric. This type of printing is more expensive than screen printing, but it produces high-quality results and is suitable for smaller quantities. Heat transfer printing is a process in which an image is printed onto a piece of paper that is then transferred to the fabric using heat and pressure. This type of printing is less expensive than screen or digital printing, but the results are not as high quality. Below is a comparison table of current printing styles:
Quality | Design Options | Cost | Time | Number of Prints | |
Plastisol/indirect screen printing | High | Medium | Medium | Varies | Varies |
Vinyl | High | Low | Low | Varies | Low |
DTG | High | High | High | Low | High |
Heat Press Printing | Medium | High | Low | Low | Medium |
Sublimation | High | High | High | Medium | Varies |
Screen Printing | High | Medium | High | High | High |
Airbrushing | High | Very High | Low | Very High | Very Low |
Heat Transfer Printing | Medium | High | Low | Low | Medium |
Discharge Printing | High | Medium | High | High | Low |
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12. How much does it cost to get started with printing?
If you want to print faster, you will need more expensive equipment. Therefore, before you start, you need to balance the cost with the speed of production. Of all the types of print on t-shirt above, the DIY t-shirt printing method is the least expensive. As for discharge printing, DTG printing is the most expensive. Your initial cost depends on the method you choose, the printing equipment and the cost per shirt consideration.
13. Criteria for choosing types of print on T-shirts
To choose the appropriate T-shirt printing styles, you need to choose based on what criteria. Refer to the experience of choosing a T-shirt printing style right below!
13.1 Speed of production
Different types of t shirt printing methods will have different printing times and quality. If you need millions of shirts printed quickly, you don’t want to go with a slow method. Usually, it is very clear whether one option is suitable for a single or assembly line, so make sure to look into it.
13.2 Cost
Printing costs can vary greatly. For those on a tight budget, there are more economical options. Additionally, if you want to begin using some of the methods at home, users should consider the cost of additional equipment and supplies. Once you’ve determined your costs, use our profitability calculator to calculate your revenue.
13.3 Compatibility with various fabrics
Not all methods are appropriate for all fabrics. If you have a thick cotton shirt, dye sublimation is the last thing you want to do because it will ruin it. Each method has a preferred fabric type, which should be checked ahead of time. In the types of print on t-shirt, you need to learn to re-print which ink, and which method of printing on which t-shirt fabric is appropriate so that you can create the best quality printed t-shirt.
13.4 Durability
13.5 Complexity
13.6 Technology
14. FAQs
Below is the answer to your questions for the information about types of print on T-shirts:
14.1 What types of print on t-shirt lasts the longest?
The prints that would endure the longest are thought to be screen prints and sublimated prints. There are numerous types of screen printing because it has been used for a very long period. The most common method of type of shirt printing is screen printing, particularly for slogans and cartoons.
14.2 What are the four types of print?
Surface, flexographic (flexo), gravure, and screen printing are the most popular print methods. It is crucial to understand that every process has the potential to produce goods that are appealing, stylish, and marketable.
14.3 What are 3 different printing options?
There are three primary categories of professional printing processes:
- Offset litho printing.
- Screen printing.
- Digital printing.
14.4 What is the best printing method for cotton shirts?
The heat transfer technique with an inkjet printer or cutting out and using a design is the best printing method for t shirts. If you have a regular inkjet or laser printer, you can quickly generate any design and then seal the transfer paper to your shirt with an iron or a small heat press.
14.5 How much should I charge for my personalized T-shirts?
T-shirt entrepreneurs typically charge between $5 and $9 per color-printed T-shirt. However, there are several factors to consider before deciding on a price. For example, the higher the price, the more complex the design.
14.6 What types of print on t-shirt do you prefer? DTG or screen?
These are the two most popular types of printing techniques in today’s types of printing on t-shirts. Screen printing is the traditional type of printing garment, with roots dating back to ancient times. However, there is a reason why it has withstood the test of time, even with the invention of new methods such as DTG printing. Because screen printing print is thicker than DTG ink, screen-printed designs appear brighter than DTG-printed designs.
Nonetheless, DTG is one of most t shirt printing techniques superior in terms of speed and space, not to mention that it does not produce the mess that screen printing does, with ink spilling all over the place.
14.7 What type of printing is done on t-shirts?
There are many methods of printing on t-shirts, some of the most popular T-shirt printing methods in different types of prints on t shirts: Vinyl, Plastisol/indirect screen printing, DTG, discharge printing, stenciling, printing with a heat press, screen printing,…
Each different types of print on t shirts will have its own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the needs and preferences of each person, you should choose the printing technique that best suits you. Screen printing and sublimation are the most durable types of T-shirt printing, but several different types of t-shirt printing methods will also last a long time! On the other hand, you may notice that DTG designs begin to fade over time. Heat transfer designs have a tendency to crack or peel over time.
14.8 Which printing method is best for polyester tee?
Professional-level printing on polyester T-shirts is done with sublimation, but you can also print on polyester with screen printing or other methods. The thing to remember about polyester is that it is heat sensitive. If you watch the temperature and timings, you can use a heat press on it, but it presents far more obstacles than working with the more durable cotton. This can be seen as the best t shirt printing method for small business.
Above are all the quality types of print on T-shirts, widely used in recent years. Hopefully with the information that TeeNavi shares, readers can find out for themselves the most suitable method and style of T-shirt printing. See more interesting information about T-shirts through related articles of TeeNavi!
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Mi Myth is the Commerce Editor for TeeNavi, specializing in curating recommendations for apparel, accessories, and home living. As the dedicated editor, Mi Myth diligently explores and tests a wide range of products, ensuring that her gift guides feature the latest and most promising items in the realms of clothing, accessories, and home essentials. When not immersed in the world of fashion and lifestyle, Mi Myth enjoys quality time with her two rescue dogs.
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