Discuss the various aspects of direct to garment printing. DTG printers include Brother, T-Jet, Flexi-Jet, DTG Kiosk, Kornit, Mimaki, Tex-Jet and others! Discuss and learn about this up and coming printing technology.
*see attached (well, minus the save the date info).
My customer wants this on black shirts...and she needs 400.
I do mostly embroidery and vinyl, so I'm looking for a process recommendation. My initial thought was DTG, then I thought about doing a photo print from like Transfer Express or something.
Would it be possible to print these myself and press them on? I'm not opposed to investing into a printer to do this. I've been looking at Epson 1400 or 1900 printers. Or even starting with the C88?
Sure it can, but 400 is a large number of shirts for dtg printing on to dark garments and it will not be a cheap job. In this case, it might be better to find a great screen printer with a large press that will be able to get the highlights and skin tones in the photo areas. You could do this with a heat transfer paper, but you will need to print the entire part of the part (the right side where there black is will need to be printed) and the quality of the shirt will not be as good as screen printing or dtg printing in my opinion. Not sure how much detail that Transfer Express or any other plastisol transfer company can provide to you as well. You could always ask for a sample from them.
Well, you could do it with DTG.. as well as having them printed by TE, I know nothing about printing and then transfering so I cant speak on that.
Id say do whats best costwise for you, and what will make the customer return, some middle ground.
Heres somethings to think about:
The only reason why I didnt go into the "get the versacamm to print shirts" was because I got a sample of one from TE and it really didnt float my boat. I didnt like the glossy look nor the bulky feel. So, no matter what you'd prefer, i'd ask the customer.. I'd be pissed if I ordered 400 shirts with that design and they came out glossy.. but thats just me.. I run with the matte look =D
And yes, you could press them on if you really wanted too =D
Thanks for the info. Because of the photos in that, I don't believe that screen printing is an option.
I didn't know the photo prints from TE were done on a versa camm. But no, I don't think the customer wants that photo glossy look, so that was something that I didn't think about.
Thanks for the info. Because of the photos in that, I don't believe that screen printing is an option.
I didn't know the photo prints from TE were done on a versa camm. But no, I don't think the customer wants that photo glossy look, so that was something that I didn't think about.
That's why I'm here asking the experts
DTG won't go cheaper even if you will pass the job for 400pcs .
Heat transfers is also an option "but" quality you should be considering.
Screen Printing is always a good option but the image will have a dithered print. Sample of SP - Simulated Process;
To me it is a no brainer. At 400 shirts screen printing is the only viable option for both production speed and cost.
I know screen printers, near me in California, that specialize in 4 color process that would whip out the job in an hour.
I recommend you find a screen printer in Ohio that specializes in 4 color process and have them print the shirts for you. Here in California, prices from the screen printer for what you want would be under $3.00 per shirt. You supply the blank shirts to the printer, get them printed, pay some shipping costs a few directions.
You get finished shirts for under $6.00 a piece for a photo image shirt, and you didn’t have to kill yourself to make 400 shirts with an inefficient expensive labor intensive production process with the not-so-wonderful equipment you can afford (exactly my situation as well).
Here are a couple of pointers for you to know when you look for a printer. Companies that do 4 color process usually specialize in it, at least in my area. When you go to their shop they should give you a tour and show you some samples.
When you take a tour you should see automatics, not only manual presses because 4 color process needs automatic presses to keep accurate color, consistency and quality on every shirt the same.
Their samples should make you go “wow, this really looks great on a photo image!” If it just looks so so, or almost there, go somewhere else.
Last weekend I saw a tshirt at our local race track which I would have sworn was DTG, but after feeling it and asking, it was a 4color process and I was very impressed with the detail.
If they use the correct color of bright green, I dont know why they wouldnt be able to use the 4 color process? Im no screen printer, but, i'd just contact a couple local screen printers and see what they can do.
If they use the correct color of bright green, I dont know why they wouldnt be able to use the 4 color process? Im no screen printer, but, i'd just contact a couple local screen printers and see what they can do.
They cannot, the green is resulted from an amount of Yellow and amount of Cyan, for quite sometime adding Black to make it dark shade of green.
Color inconsistencies you wil have an issue.
In Simulated process, you'll have to apply that shade of color as required.
Would you DTG print this image or... 
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