Different Methods Of T-Shirt Printing And Their Pros And Cons

By Alexis Cox


T-shirt printing is more than just a plain paint and brush method. Nowadays, you can choose from various methods available depending on your needs. If you want to start a t-shirt printing business, you need to know the pros and cons of each technique.

T-Shirt Screen Printing Technique:

Otherwise known as silk screening, screen printing is one of the most popular and oftentimes used techniques of t-shirt printing. For this method, you need to pass your design onto a fine fabric or screen, which is used as a stencil. Each color needs a separate stencil.

This method serves high quality of print. Screen printing is cost-efficient only if you are creating a large number of t-shirts. However, small businesses would find this method pricey if they are only printing a small number of t-shirts. This practice is also not advisable for photo images.

T-Shirt Heat Transfer:

Heat transfer is the most feasible practice in t-shirt printing for small businesses. This practice demands that the image is printed on a transfer paper before setting it under a heat press. This will heat-transfer the design onto the t-shirt.

Although faster, the quality of the photo on the t-shirt is more probably less than screen printing. There are times when the photo will crack. This is also mostly used for white garments as the heat oftentimes affects color. However, this method is less expensive than other printing techniques.

D-T-G Print On T-Shirt Technique:

The Direct-to-Garment procedure is another oftentimes used process that involves lesser actions. This procedure uses a modified inkjet printer than directly publishes the design on the t-shirt without the use of a stencil. Unlike screen printing, the number of colors that you can apply on your design is more flexible.

T-shirt printing isn't just a mechanical means of transferring a design to an apparel. It is an art. Whatever practice you prefer, make certain that it is suited with the type of your t-shirt fabric, your design and your budget before having your shirts printed.