I have a question, maybe screen printing isn't the right method but...
Lets say I have a design that I want to wrap around the tshirt, like from mid front to mid back, is that possible with screen printing?
I've seen a video on screen printing where they stretch the shirt over a plate and this huge circus ride looking thing goes to town, but that doesn't look like it could do what I want.
Also is screen printing the most durable/softest solution? I'd really like the shirt to feel for the most part the same where the ink/print is as where the print isn't. I'm trying to make some high quality shirts.
Usually, for a truly "wrap around" design, the cut fabric gets screen printed first before it is sewn and made into a shirt.
Screen printing in general is the most durable and has the softest feel. If dye sublimation printing is possible (white/light colored, 60% polyester fabric or more), it becomes the most durable with the softest feel.
Lets say I have a design that I want to wrap around the tshirt, like from mid front to mid back, is that possible with screen printing?
Almost any screenprinter can do this for you. If might be good if you use a blank shirt that does not have a side seam, because it can be difficult to print over seams. Also, you may have to pay a slightly higher price to have a shirt printed in that location, because it can take more time/care to print.
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Originally Posted by ZooyorQ
Also is screen printing the most durable/softest solution? I'd really like the shirt to feel for the most part the same where the ink/print is as where the print isn't. I'm trying to make some high quality shirts.
In my opinion, yes, screenprinting is the most durable printing method. If you want a very soft print (one that you can't feel at all), you can try to find a printer who can print with water-based inks.
Do you think it would be possible (of course only in large orders of 1000+) to get American Apparel to not stick the side seam? Or do there shirts not havea a side seam?
Do you think it would be possible (of course only in large orders of 1000+) to get American Apparel to not stick the side seam? Or do there shirts not havea a side seam?
Apparently some of their shirts have side seams, some don't.
Threadless mentioned AA are willing to up their quality control if you pay more per piece; it's possible that along the same lines you could pay more per piece to get shirts consistently without side seams, but that's pure speculation.
As in if I ordered 1000 of the same SKU shirt some might come with side seams, others not? Wow..
How about colors, how many colors can you do in a screen print? Is it typically only a handfull? What if I wanted the full color spectrum.. or atleast more of a color spectrum, would i need to go with another method aside from screen printing?
How about colors, how many colors can you do in a screen print? Is it typically only a handfull? What if I wanted the full color spectrum.. or atleast more of a color spectrum, would i need to go with another method aside from screen printing?
You can have shirts printed in practically any color you can imagine.
One thing to keep in mind is that the more colors you have in each design, the more expensive it will be to print.
As in if I ordered 1000 of the same SKU shirt some might come with side seams, others not? Wow..
According to Threadless and their customers on the Threadless' forums, yes.
I just checked the AA shirts I have to hand and can confirm that some have side seams and some don't (all different sizes and colours, but all the same style number). Most don't.
As far as I know these differences aren't reflected in their SKUs (but I don't know for sure).
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZooyorQ
How about colors, how many colors can you do in a screen print? Is it typically only a handfull?
It depends on where you go to get it printed. Some places will be as low as 4, some 6, some 8, some 10 and some 12. There are larger automatics, but that kind of large scale is not commonplace as far as I know. Using process printing you can basically get any colour you want with 4-8 screens, but that's a matter of finding a skilled printer with the right equipment (not too difficult if you have the money and a design that calls for it).
Do you think it would be possible (of course only in large orders of 1000+) to get American Apparel to not stick the side seam? Or do there shirts not havea a side seam
Probably so. I have someone there that you can contact if you want to look into it further.
There are also other t-shirt brands that don't have a side seam
Quote:
Also is screen printing the most durable/softest solution? I'd really like the shirt to feel for the most part the same where the ink/print is as where the print isn't. I'm trying to make some high quality shirts.
It can be done with screen printing, and also with dye sublimation. I saw some really cool shirts at the tradeshow that were dye sublimated (from Vapor Apparel) that had prints that wrapped around.
I currently contract out my screenprinting, but my current printer says they can't print over side seams or the shoulder seams. I've seen quite a few shirts with nice prints over those seams and want to do the same. Is it really that hard to do or are people just using dye sublimation?
I currently contract out my screenprinting, but my current printer says they can't print over side seams or the shoulder seams. I've seen quite a few shirts with nice prints over those seams and want to do the same. Is it really that hard to do or are people just using dye sublimation?
It is harder to do since the seams can cause the ink to not cover evenly when pressing.
Some printers can do it, but they may be harder to find than your normal screen printer.
.ponyprinting.com/pxp/. These guys do all that stuff you guys are talking about. They will tell you what they need, take a look at their website. Awsome stuff. I talked to them and they were out of Dallas. Try them.
Also, it sounds like dye sublimation is not very durable? Does it crack after many washes or just fade?
In dye-sublimation "dye" is the operative word. The design is permanently dyed into the fabric, so you cant feel it. It will not crack or fade, but as Lewis said - the process is only suitable for polyester and other man-made fabrics.
Some people do try and print with dye-sub on cotton and cotton blends using pre-treatment liquids and polymer coated paper - that's when fading and cracking issue appears.
Wrap Around 
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