The printing on T Shirts is very popular, and there are many ways in which to do it. The different ways each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the best method is the one which works best for you. Which is best for you? It all depends on what type of t-shirt you want, how long you want it to last, and what your budget is. The type of tee you choose also has an impact, for example there is no point in having an expensive printing job done on a cheap "throw-a-way" t-shirt.
Lush T Shirts and our printing
We have over 400 designs (and counting) for you to choose from. We also offer custom t shirts, which means you can have pretty much anything on a tee, you tell us what to print and we print it. The best thing about ordering a custom t shirt from us is that we use the same high grade tee "base" for your design, i.e. We are using the same t-shirt for your custom design as we would for our own pre-made designs. This includes if you order in bulk, for things such as a hen night or stag party. We have found that people who order for groups and parties like to keep their t shirts as a memento, so if you get your t-shirts from us you can be assured that it will be of good quality and will last.
We do not offer printing of images, we have found that this process does not meet up with our high standards of printing graphics and text. We do print various graphics, and can combine colours to make your t-shirt stand out that little bit more. We have the capability of printing over 1000 different fonts which makes your creation look unique, sometimes the most simple designs are the ones which stand out the most.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is considered one of the best printing methods for t-shirts. The main advantages of screen printing is that it is a quality print, multiple colours can be used and you can do any design, from small to large. The main disadvantages is that although it can be cheap for very large runs, it is not designs for small runs. The way screen printing works is that a screen is created for each design/colour and then the emulsion is applied. Each colour needs its own screen, and there is a setup cost for the screen. So as you can imagine, this is probably not the best method if you want <20 t-shirts printed. As long as screen printing is used properly, it is a very cost effective way of printing which produces great results.
Direct To Garment (DTG) Printing
Direct to garment or DTG is a relatively new process, and as such there are not too many people using it at the moment. It is also expensive equipment, since it is new technology. The process is as simple as it sounds, your garment is printed on directly with water based inks. The process is done by a large format printer, and just like a computer printer prints on paper, this prints onto your t-shirt. This is particularly good if you want to print something which uses lots of colours, or have a short run of t-shirts.
T Shirt Transfers
This is the cheapest form of printing. A pre-made design is put onto a t-shirt via a heat press. The design is printed onto special paper with a printer and then this design is pressed onto your t-shirt. This is what some cheap shops use to print images e.g. a photo onto a shirt. It does have its uses, if you want a cheap product or as a joke. This process could be achieved at home, with the correct paper, printed and home iron.
Vinyl
Some people confuse vinyl prints with a cheap t-shirt transfers. The application process is similar, they are both pressed onto a t shirt with a heat press, but they are very different. Vinyl is an ultra fine high quality film, which is cut using a CAD computer, weeded and then pressed onto a t-shirt. The advantages of using vinyl are that it can be used for large and small designs, large and small print runs and you can combine different colours of vinyl as well as using it alongside another printing method. After the shirt is printed you are left with a very very soft print, which is close to a screen print, which will last a very long time. There are many different vinyl's, and now eco-friendly vinyl's are being produced and used. Vinyl can also do things which screen printing cannot, you can get foil vinyl's, and patterned and textured vinyl's which cannot be produced using screen printing or other methods. You can also get blank vinyl and print directly onto the vinyl, which is then cut with the CAD cutter to give a full colour vinyl print. This is sometimes called a Print and Cut method. Football and sports teams use the vinyl method for numbers on the backs of shirts.
Embroidery
Embroidery is usually reserved for corporate and sportswear, such as shirts or polo shirts. It is not used much in regular t-shirts, and is not the chosen printing method for many. It is more expensive, and should be reserved for more expensive clothing such as a high quality polo or shirt, and it is not very practical for a tee, although this method can look professional and lasts a long time.
T-Shirt Printing by lushtshirts.co.uk. ©2011 Do not reproduce. |
