Find the best printing method for your custom t-shirts
There are many ways to put a design on a t-shirt. Which way suits you best depends on a variety of factors: budget, quantity, the number of colors, the fabric type, print location, and much more. In this article, we will talk about two imprint methods used to customize t-shirts.
Direct to Garment & Screen-printing
Direct to Garment (DTG) and Screen-printing are among the most popular options, and certainly the more qualitative methods. Each one is different and has its characteristics. Find out which is most suitable for you:
Direct to garment printing is a process of printing on textiles and garments using specialized inkjet technology. Special inks are used, which are absorbed by the fibers of the substrate. It is one of the newest technologies in the “apparel decoration industry”, first introduced in 2004.
Screen-printing is a process that involves pushing ink through a woven mesh stencil onto fabric, is one of the oldest (circa 900 AD) technologies in the “apparel decoration industry”. The stencil opening creates the space through with the ink will go, to create the design. The ink is then pushed over the mesh, pulled by a fill blade or squeegee. As the blade is pulled, the ink is pushed through the mesh, onto the garment. You should now that each color of ink in a design is applied separately through a custom- prepared printing screen. The cost of this method is in the screen preparation, and screen printing becomes economical only with print runs of at least six per color in the design.
Quality of a print matters!
Pros Cons
Direct to Garment (DTG) – extensive color options
- the highest detail in design
- suitable for small batches
- minimal upfront investment
- easily customized design