Hello all!... I have been in the screenprinting business since 8-08 and am still in the learning phase of the whole business. My newest idea that I am wanting to do is still in the line of shirts and etc., but I want to place actual photos on them. I have hopes of attending events such as motocross races and such and taking pictures and applying them to tshirts and other items. My problem is trying to figure out exactly how to do this. Like which type of transfer paper, inkjet or dye-sub? These are just a few. Is there anyone out there who is doing something like this and if so could you offer some pointers and share some of the ways that you do it.
Christie. The least expensive and simple method would be to use transfer paper and to print the designs using a good inkjet printer. An Epson 1400 or similar would give excellent results. You might want to check into the legaility of using these photos for resale as there may be some licensing issues. I would check with an intellectual property lawyer for some accurate advice.
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Thanks...I have actually looked at that printer that you mentioned...but trying to decide if purchasing the dye-sub ink to use with it as I seen on a transfer supplier website will be worth it and is what i need. And as for the legality part, the races would be local races and the photos would be of the local riders that participate. I am planning on displaying the merchandise and letting parents or whoever buy the photo of their rider on what they have selected. I would like to be able to do more than tshirts though...things like license plates, mouse pads, keychains, mugs and such.
I do this all the time you will need to get permission for the event and also have to get a release signed unless the person wants the photo on an item for them selfs. I use sublimation because I offer t-shirt, caps, mugs, clocks, can huggies, and a lot more. I look at it if your going to do show make sure to offer enough products to push your sales up. And have order forms with you for the products that you are offering. I have done a lot of shows I've been doing $800 to $1500 per day. And most of the time will get 6 to 10 orders 2 to 4 weeks later. Have fun with what you do.
Boy do I have a ton of questions that I could ask you..lol!! But, I will try to keep them at a minimum. First, as for the sublimation..from what I read this is not possible on dark shirts or cotton either...is that correct? If so, I am assuming that you must keep your color selection to white (or light)? Second, what type of printer do you use and do you fill all your orders at a later point or do you offer on the spot service? Is there a specific paper that you prefer? These are just a few things I am curious about. I am really wanting to have all my ducks in a row before I venture into this. I really appreciate any suggestions or "how to's"....
I do on the spot work unless I can't keep up. I use a epson 4800 printer. I only offer white shirts always keep the color chioces down because it would be hard to take 100 shirts of each color and say 5 colors way to much inventory. I have all inventory and equipment on carts my inventory cart also serves as a service counter and inventory is in the bottom each size shirt has its on location. Each product also has its own location it helps to make things go smooth. Computer cart has extra keyboard and mouse in it, also extra hard drive if for some reason the computer would crash I can open it up and put in a back drive so I can keep going. The printer cart has paper and extra inks in the bottom of the cart. Heat press cart has lint rollers and t-square and extra timer and cover pads for all the different heat press jobs. I always have 4 doz. shirt of each size with starting with 2-4 kids up to 3xlarge I use artainium uv+ inks. I almost always have 6 doz coffee mugs along. Can huggies are big in the summer time I can sometimes go though 100 to 150 at some events depends on the temp. Most events My wife, son, and both my daughters help so we can keep up espeically at state fairs and county fairs.
Gosh...Thank you so much for your info. So do you take pictures as well or do customers provide there own? What you do sounds exactly like what I am wanting to do. I am just trying to figure out a good system for me. Right now I only have an inkjet printer so I am trying to decide on buying a dye-sub one. Have you seen any pictures on here of anyone else that does something similar? I am really excited to start this but I have to say that right now my brain is boggled...lol
When you do State and County Fairs, what do you find sells the most? What kinds of photos are you putting on things? Do you have a scanner to scan photos people carry in their wallets or only from digital cameras?
We have a DTG that we are going to take to different events and add to our on the spot embroidery. We have the embroidery part down pat and have since added window decals and now we want to do photo shirts. We are going to start out doing local little leagues for opening days and tournaments just to get our feet wet and then look at doing carnivals and fairs but don't want to put a lot of money into items that don't sell well.
event photos on tshirts & misc.... 
