If you want to market your brand effectively, apparel printing is an essential component. The apparel should be stylish, attractive, and spark conversation. Choose a printing company that offers a variety of styles and design options, or one that encourages your input and creativity. Some printing companies don’t offer all of the design options that you may be looking for, such as vinyl cutting, hand spraying, and airbrushing. This is a red flag that may signal a need to look for another printer.
Screen-printing entails creating a stencil of the design that will appear on the shirt. Once the stencil is complete, the shirt is loaded onto a manual press and the ink is pushed through the screen onto the fabric. This method requires numerous pre-treatment steps and is generally the most expensive option. Sublimation printing uses special ink that transferring the design from paper to a garment. This type of printing is also highly customized but requires a printer with special sublimation ink.
Direct-to-Garment printing is another option. Direct-to-garment printing uses a specially formulated ink for garments. The fabric absorbs the ink and becomes part of the garment, making the print more durable and more detailed. Another advantage to this method is that it can produce unlimited colors in a single design. The process allows for much greater creativity and saves a great deal of time. A good quality garment can last for several years.
There are two main types of screen-printing. The first is direct-to-garment printing. This method uses a screen to drop the ink onto the design. The disadvantage of DTG is that the screen doesn’t reach a certain part of the garment, and there is a risk of rectangle effect and discoloration. The latter process is very complex and requires graphic separation and a screen printing press. It is best to consult with a graphic designer before choosing a print method.
When it comes to screen-printing, it’s important to choose the right company. There are advantages to both methods. For example, an apparel printing company can offer you all the printing supplies that you need under one roof. The disadvantage of screen-printing is that it’s expensive, especially for small orders. However, if you’re considering screen printing as an option, it’s important to consider that a good quality solution is available at the right price.
The ink used in screen-printing depends on how dense or light the design is. Heavy-weight inks tend to have a plastic-like feel. A thin-film sprayed on a garment can be too harsh on the skin, and it can lead to sweat patches. Lightweight fabrics, such as cotton and polyester, need more ink to make them comfortable, but a DTG print is more durable. It has a slight duller look than screen-printing. But if your design pops off of the shirt, you’ll know you’ve chosen the right method.