Lucent

I'm very new to making tees and i'm just planning to make some to add to my wardrobe, i'd just like to know what method is best for getting artistic designs on to a tee,? No photos just pure artistic designs with varying colors. would have posted a link so you guys can have an idea what i'm talking about but...... against the rules. it would help too if you guys could give me a description of how its done. thanks!!

 

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ole Jobe

The simplest and most inexpensive way is with inkjet transfers. There are objections to these, especially the carrier material that comes off on the shirt. Some newer brands greatly minimize this. With some it comes off with the first wash, leaving a very soft, durable print.
I only use the inkjet transfers for light shirts as I have never been satisfied with the results on dark shirts. Buying the necessary equipment to screen print just a few shirts would be a very expensive hobby.

 

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Lucent

i guess i'd have to go find a screen printer then i think that should be less expensive. what exactly have you found wrong with inkjet printing on dark tees? What kind of printer can be used for inkjet printing? the regular printer or something special?

 

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miktoxic

most consider an inkjet printer to be a regular printer. it's what most people use for their computer systems at home. do you already have a computer system with a graphics program? how about a heat press? these are a couple of things you'll need before doing anything considering transfers. but in the long run, if you plan on doing alot of shirts, it might be the way to go. you create it on the computer, take a sheet of transfer paper and print out your design onto it. then heat press it on your shirt. transfer paper for lights is not bad quality, but doesn't last or look as good as screenprinting. transfer paper for darks when applied feels like plastic and looks way too shiny.

you're never going to find a screenprinter to do one-offs. the set-up fee for most one color prints is $30 alone, plus ink, shirt and labor. you're probably looking at $50-60 for A shirt. it only makes sense to do quantity runs when talking screenprinting. you could do it cheaper finding someone that offers dtg printing.

 

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horn4life

I currently borker all my screen printing but am looking at getting into production PROBABLY with a heat press. Mainly as I think I am going to target uniform sales and it seems that using heat press numbers is probably the way to go. Especially for shorter run teams.

I am still interested in DTG but it seems like some of the potential problems and downtime related to clogging and cleaning are beginning to scare me away from that option. I am thinking that I need a 16 x 20 press if I wanted to go all the way and offer names and numbers on Jerseys. (which is probably the most profitable)

Anyhow I will check out this thread and see what the other comments are.

I considered an InLine screen printing numbering press, but I think I have to get some pretty large orders to make that cost effective... Thoughts?

 

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miktoxic

if producing uniforms also consider doing vinyl and getting a cutter. although i'm not sure but i don't think a dtg printer and it's ink will adhere to the poly mesh jerseys. if you have the money to invest in a dtg printer you'd have enough to purchase a top of the line cutter or even maybe a print and cut option like the roland versacamm. doing short runs with silkscreen is a pain and not very cost effective, if at all. plus the space to put that size of equipment etc.

 

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pgconversion

Vinyl Cutters is great for small orders. But you have to separate and cut out each color independently, It also doesn't work well for designs with complex patterns or designs that show a lot of background of the shirt inside the design.

Screen printing is great for volume orders, can be very affordable in volume.Lol.....

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