6 Best Types of Personalized Tee Shirt Printing Processes & Methods

 

T-shirts are the most common outfits people wear on a daily basis. Whether you’re going to work or a night out with friends, there’s no better feeling than having the right tee-shirt on. In fact, there’s hardly any nation that hasn’t embraced the comfort that these affordable garments provide.

Anyone can wear them regardless of age, gender, background, or size. That’s why t-shirts are in such high demand globally. People can’t seem to get enough of these affordable garments.

Now the kicker; you must have thought about making your own personalized t-shirt that brings out your true personality. It may have been an idea for your group, or maybe you just want to make something personal and unique to you. Whatever the case, printing on t-shirts is now much easier than you think.

Thanks to technological advancements, you can now print your t-shirts using several different t-shirt printing methods. Each printing process has its perks and downsides. But ultimately, you must select one process to have your shirt printed your way.

Here are some t-shirt printing processes and methods to choose from:

1.      Screen Printing

Screen printing is probably the most popular printing process for making personalized t-shirts. In fact, many t-shirt printing businesses use this method because it is simple and more cost-effective.

The screen-printing principle relies on putting a stencil that manipulates the ink to form personalized designs. The screen printer runs the ink into a mesh screen. A blade or squeegee prepares the mesh for the transfer of the ink to the substrate.

By keeping the screen’s position steady, screen printers can produce tee-shirts in bulk using the same print designs.

Another reason why most people prefer to use this strategy is its ability to produce high-quality and durable printed designs. And the fact that you can get your t-shirt printed on a comparatively lower budget seals the deal.

The only catch with screen printing is that each color requires a different screen. One shade can easily fill up a single screen.

2.      Dye Sublimation

Dye sublimation is the preferred print option for light fabrics, but the result is a professionally done t-shirt by expert printers.

Unfortunately, you must have knowledge and expertise in dye sublimation for the best results using this method. Dye sublimation works perfectly on polyester-like cream fabrics.

To print a t-shirt, you will need a special type of liquid dye. The liquid dye will dry up after it is printed on the polyester fabric. It will then solidify on the fabric before you can apply pressure and heat on it for sublimation to occur.

When the solid fabric is exposed to pressure and heat, it will turn to gas, making the fabric molecules to expand. This will allow the gas to sip between the gaps in the cloth before the fabric molecules contract again when you remove the heat.

Shirts printed through dye sublimation are durable and look amazing.

3.      Direct To Garment (DTG)

If you’ve ever heard of inkjet printing before, then you have some idea of what Direct to Garment printing is. DTG printers use advanced technology to establish your chosen print design using a platen and aqueous ink.

However, you must hold the platen steady during the printing process or secure it firmly. This will allow it to hold the t-shirt in position throughout the printing process. The printer head sprays ink on the t-shirt and is precise to the programmed instructions.

Because DTG uses both software and hardware to engrave designs, it can print high-resolution images, leaving you with a highly personalized tee shirt.

This makes it one of the best options for manufacturing fandom tee-shirts based on digitally drawn designs and fan arts.

On the downside, the aqueous ink isn’t good for non-natural fibers. Plus, it may not be the best option for mass-production and isn’t as fast as screen printing.

4.      Heat Press Printing

The heat press printing method is another great option if you have small t-shirt orders to print. Using this process will save you both resources and time.

The heat press printing process incorporates a design that’s printed on a special piece of paper called transfer paper.

Basically, you press the t-shirt on the best heat transfer vinyl. Afterward, apply the pressure and heat procedure as in the dye sublimation process but with a slight difference. In heat press printing, you heat the shirt until it softens the dye on the paper. The purpose of the heat is to melt the dye as it sticks onto the shirt.

Finally, remove the glossy paper transfer and strip off any extra dye on the shirt. This will leave you with your intended print design. The head and press method is the ideal option if you’re printing more complex designs. However, its translucent dye doesn’t allow it to work very well with dark fabrics.

5.      Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Cut Printing

Here’s another complex method of transferring print designs onto the t-shirt fabric using heat. Often, the CAD cut printing method is used when numbers, names, and logos are being printed.

The CAD-cut system creates the print designs on colored vinyl. These designs will then be transferred onto the tee-shirt using a heat press.

The CAD-cut printing method is perfect for instances when you’re printing similar designs of few colors.

6.      Plastisol Transfer

Unlike other printing processes, plastisol transfer requires a screen to transfer the print designs onto the shirt. The printing process is pretty fast, and its results are very smooth to the touch.

For this process, your main ingredient will be the plastisol paper. It is what will be used as the transfer medium for this process.

First, inkjet print the print design on the plastisol paper. Then use the plastisol paper to transfer the artwork onto your shirt with a heat press. One of the perks of using this process is that the same plastisol paper can hold multiple print designs. This allows you to make multiple t-shirts using a single paper.

Conclusion

Before you choose the best printing method for your t-shirt, you need to understand what type of print you want first and your shirt’s fabric. Remember, some printing methods are more effective on specific fabrics than others.

You must also consider the number of print orders you want to be done as well as the complexity of the design.

Ultimately, it is always best to seek professional assistance to get the best advice on which printing process to use.