Light Vs. Dark; In Pricing T-shirts, It Makes A Difference

reen printing t-shirts, a surprisingly important factor inadds considerable time to how long a shirt is on the
determining price is the color of your textile. Choosingpress and incurs an additional charge. Most colors on
a white shirt will result in considerable savings in yourwhite shirts can go on in one layer and rarely have to
printing costs. There are a number of reasons whybe flashed.
this is the case, from initial shirt pricing to factors inA similar factor that affects price on a dark shirt is
the printing process.the requirement for a white underbase. Light hues
T-shirts are usually priced in two categories,and bright ink colors will not print well, if at all, on a
“Whites” and “Darks”. White t shirts aredark shirt regardless of how many layers are put
always the least expensive shirt when compared to adown. To overcome this, a white layer of ink in the
colored t-shirt of the same brand and type. For nosame shape as the colored layer is printed first and
other reason than shirt price alone, whites contributethen flashed to dry it. Then the final color of ink is
to a lower overall printing cost.laid down on top of the white. Not only does this
There are also price advantages in the printinghave the flashing charge as described above, but also
process itself when using white t-shirts instead ofthere is now an additional ink color, namely white,
dark. When printing on dark shirts, many inks need towhich further raises the price.
have more than one layer laid down in order toWhile beautiful and striking work can be done with
completely cover the shirt. In order to keep thescreen printing images on dark shirts (as well as
layers from smearing, the first layer will be partiallywhite), if economy is a major factor for your
dried under a heating element in a process calledproject, you would be better served to create a
“flashing”. Having to flash colors in a print rundesign geared for white shirts.