| There are primarily three different types of t-shirt | | | | prints, multi colored designs and logos. Clean work |
| printing available today. Each has it's own benefits and | | | | environment. |
| equally it's own restrictions. | | | | Unfortunately, expensive per shirt cost and slow |
| Screen printing | | | | printing means that the t shirt is usually higher in price |
| First, screen printing. It is by far the oldest and still | | | | to purchase. The wash cycles of a digital print t-shirt |
| most widely used method of the three. From the | | | | are vastly inferior to screen-printing many begin to |
| simpler hand printed method to large fully automated | | | | fade after just a couple of washes. The technology |
| presses, the principle remains essentially the same. It | | | | is still young and so the machines themselves have |
| is a simple process. However, it is time consuming to | | | | inherent user problems, including the print heads |
| set up and clean the screens. Most companies charge | | | | constantly getting clogged up with fabric particles and |
| the client a set up fee to make the screens. | | | | ink sediment. Although printing on dark t shirts is |
| However, it is a one time only fee and the screens | | | | possible, many users report problems with the white |
| are usually stored in case the customer ever wishes | | | | ink that is needed to base coat the design first. |
| to reprint the design. | | | | Heat transfer printing |
| Screen printing offers a very clean solid color print. | | | | The third method is heat transfer printing. It is as its |
| Great for many logos and text. Perfect for mass | | | | name suggests. An image is printed upon a transfer |
| production and keeping the printing price low. | | | | paper, which is in turn placed under a heat press and |
| Excellent durability for washing and re washing many | | | | bonded via the heating onto the t shirt garment. This |
| times before fading.However, it is not really suitable | | | | is an inexpensive method and is often favored by |
| for photographic reproduction unless you are willing to | | | | the home user. A variation of this is the iron on |
| have a lower grade of photo image. (Lots of visible | | | | variety of paper that can be purchased at many |
| halftone dots). Also, significantly, each color has to be | | | | office supply stores. |
| printed separately. Screen-printing can also be a | | | | It is only realistic for individual and low expectation |
| messy business to enter into. | | | | usage. If you want to get into the t shirts printing |
| Digital t shirt printing | | | | business, it is an attractive alternative to the other |
| The second method of t-shirt printing is Digital | | | | mentioned techniques. It is marginally less expensive |
| printing. Although a fairly nascent technology, digital | | | | to acquire the equipment. However, a decent heat |
| printing machines are an interesting addition to the | | | | press usually runs to a little less than $1000. It has to |
| t-shirt printing industry. It offers a service that | | | | reach higher temperatures than the method |
| screen-printing cannot, namely Print on demand | | | | recommended by the iron on packages available. The |
| technology. The shirt is stretched over a frame and | | | | printer (typically an Epson brand) may run $2-$3,000) |
| housed below a set of ink jet heads. The garment is | | | | With heat transfer printing: Photographic and complex |
| then printed in much the same way as an ink jet | | | | multi color images are attainable. Clean work |
| printer prints on paper. | | | | environment. |
| These machines typically range from between | | | | Cons of heat transfer printing: Each image needs to |
| $15,000 - $20,000 and so is an attractive purchase | | | | be cut around the contour to eliminate the paper you |
| for many who wish to get into the custom t shirt | | | | don't want to print onto the image. This can be time |
| business at an entry level. It is also favored by some | | | | consuming and so makes larger runs unpractical. |
| of the larger custom t shirt manufacturers like | | | | If you are considering entering the t shirt |
| Café Press. | | | | manufacturing business than any method is workable, |
| With digital printing, you can print single designs | | | | depending on your own personal needs, facilities and |
| economically. Unlike screen printing there is very little | | | | budget. From a consumer stance, screen-printed |
| set up. It is excellent for reproducing photographic | | | | t-shirt printing is the best for quality and wash ability. |