Nice job on posting this information. I agree with a lot of it, but I also think we should talk about how does a decorator choose which decorating method to use. Here is my thought process as to what decorating technique that I would recommend to use:
1. What type of substrate iand color is the graphic going on?
Some decorating applications work better on different type of fabrics. If it is polyester, the sublimation is the best decorating method. For cotton shirts, I like
dtg, plastisol transfers or screen printing. For hard substrates (i.e. mugs, license plates, tiles,...), sublimation is the preferred method if you want it to last. For nylon, most people use vinyl.
Also, the color of the fabric will affect which decorating method to use. Sublimation is a light transfer process only - so the lightest color in the graphic has to be darker that the color of the fabric or your colors will not reproduce accurately. For dark / black shirts, the common way is to use plastisol transfers or screen printing. Hopefully in the near future, the process of printing white ink in a
dtg printer will become easier and more consistent.
2. What type of graphic is the artwork / design and how many colors are there?
Certain types of graphics can be printed using only certain methods. A digital photograph needs to be done using a digital transfer (i.e. inkjet, laser or sublimation transfer) or
dtg printing. Anything with fine details is probably not going to be done with vinyl, but rather one of the other methods.
Some methods can handle a high number of colors better than other methods. With any digital transfer or
dtg method, the number of colors is really not an issue and does nto raise the cost per a print. With screen printing and plastisol transfers, the number of colors can have an effect on the price per a print. Most people will only use vinyl when there are one or two colors.
3. What quantity is the order?
This is the key to making the most money as possible. There are different break evens for each company when you should switch from one method to another. Large quantities are typically done with screen printing if the graphic be printed that way. Otherwise, a plastisol transfer (which takes around 10 seconds to press) is used. Short runs can be done with any of the digital transfers,
dtg printing or even vinyl.
The big question is what is a large run and what is a small run. This is going to depend on what equipment / resources you have in your shop and what are your alternatives to outsourcing. The biggest mistake I see is people that use a method that they have inhouse even when they know they can do the job more profitable by outsourcing because they are not busy. If you can make good money without doing the labor, then you should be focusing your time on making sales calls or marketing attemps. The stories I have heard of people doing a dark garment on a
dtg printer for 500 shirts of a vector graphic that took a week to do is crazy when you could do the same job in less than a day with a plastisol transfer or even outsource the entire job to a screen printer that takes you very little time. The only catch is the decorator needs to know about all the decorating methods (the pros / cons - which Kelly stated above) and they kind a contract partner to work with.
Hope that Kelly's information above and this post help people make better (i.e. more profitable) choices. Have a GREAT WEEKEND!
Mark