Hey guys, I love this place for answers and hope to continue to get more for my knowledge base.
I'm thinking about starting an attempt at the t-shirt industry any day now and get some printed to test her out. Now I going to get my shirts separate from the screen printer. Im guessing that is a good idea and probably cheaper, I don't like getting middled. Now that would take care of the shirts (I also haven't chosen a blank tshirt brand either so if any one knows of a great quality t shirt that isn't going to shrink after getting washed just throw some names out there that would be great).
Now for graphics wise, how do you simply bring in them to the screen printer? Burn on to a blank CD? That seems like the way, if not tell me other wise please haha.
Ok now time for getting the graphics on it. I have no idea on how much money it would take to have the screenprinter print a graphic on to a t-shirt. My graphics would be an average 18inX18in, One more thing is I also would want a graphic on the sleeve - how much extra would the sleeve printing be? - I would probably be taking in 150-200 t-shirts at a time. Is there also a setup fee for each graphic that I wish to have printed? And if I was a repeat customer and wanted that same t-shirt duplicated exactly would I have to have a setup fee each time?
By the way all the graphics will be in one color mostly black. But if I decided to use a black shirt, the choose would be white ink.
How much is an average screenprint per shirt like listed above ( If I bring in the shirts and the screenprinter just has to put the main graphic on, and also do the sleeve with my graphic).
Thats about it for NOW - Thanks to everyone who take the time to read this and help me out.
Your best bet is to contact some companies and get some quotes as prices do vary quite a bit. Also, your design will affect the price as well. The type of blank shirt will also affect the process and may affect the price. For example, my shop would not be able to quote you a price until we have all the following:
What brand /style blank shirt?
What type of ink for the print (plastisol, discharge, fashion water-based)
How many print locations on this design? (front, back, sleeve, chest, etc)
How many colors in each design? (may need to see artwork to verify)
Is underbase needed? (depends on design and shirt fiber / color)
And, most important, how many pieces per run?
Without all that information, it's impossible to put a real number to it.
As for getting the shirts yourself, some shops do charge a markup on the shirts, but for good reason. They receive the package from the manufacturer, count everything in and check quality, send any rejects back for replacement, then only print on the good ones. If you drop off shirts to be printed, they still have to count and sort, so they're probably going to charge you a little more for the printing. They won't check the quality of the shirts, they'll just print every shirt you drop off. Also, if the shop messes up some shirts that they bought, you won't be charged for the rejects at all. If you drop of blank shirts and there are rejects, they aren't going to refund your cost for the blank shirt, only for the rejected printing.
In my shop we actually don't charge a markup for the blanks, only the shipping and handling that you'd pay anyway, so it'd be silly to buy them on your own.
Now I going to get my shirts separate from the screen printer. Im guessing that is a good idea and probably cheaper, I don't like getting middled.
I wouldn't assume. For one thing plenty of shops will fudge the numbers so you end up paying the same either way. For another they can most likely get better prices than you can, so even with their markup the cost may be the same. And perhaps most importantly, no-one likes working with a tightwad; by nickel and diming you run the risk of ending up with the level of service you deserve.
That said, some printers won't care if you bring in your own blanks, so you can try and sound them out. Also, this assumes you end up printing on something standard like AA or Gildan - if you need to source something unusual that's a different matter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by comingup
Now for graphics wise, how do you simply bring in them to the screen printer? Burn on to a blank CD? That seems like the way, if not tell me other wise please haha.
Yep, that should suit them fine. Some can accept them on zip disks, or via e-mail, or ftp, by courier or regular mail, etc. etc. - but in person on a CD should be dandy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by comingup
I have no idea on how much money it would take
That has a lot of variables, including where you are; get a few quotes from local printers and you'll know what your actual costs are (which may not be the same as someone else's estimates).
How quick could an average place process your order and have it ready? For 200 shirts?
I can't answer for everyone, of course, but an order that size should easily be turned out in less than 2 weeks once the artwork is approved. I say less than, because a shop may have an open time slot and be able to turn it out in a few days.
Questions on T-shirts 
