Discuss the SpreadShirt service and features. Please note: this is not an "official" SpreadShirt forum, it is a peer to peer community for current and future SpreadShirt members. Visit SpreadShirt
So I just signed up at Spreadshirt.co.uk as I am in London
I went to ADD DESIGN
Now my design, has more than 3 colours, and also a bit of blending/gradient effect
So I saw the only and best way is to do something called - OFFSET PRINTING
Now I've sent my design to these guys at the email provided on their site - no reply yet.
Anyways, what are these "SETUP COSTS" that they say there and roughly how much does it come to and how does Spreadshirt work?
So I have to pay for these set up costs -
Then once that is done, I only pay if I order a tshirt?
Is it the same way as in Cafepress, where you open a shop and don't pay anything, if someone buys from your shop, you can mark it up to get a cut? Like that kind of system
I can give you the answer for the US, but I'm not sure about the UK. I have forwarded your question to our team there, so they can answer.
In the US, offset printing does mean a cost. It depends on the design as to how much. It is done by price/transfer.
You can however do digital transfers for no set-up costs. Depending on your design, this can be quite good.
The best however is a vector design... the print quality is just so much better, even though the designs are limited. And it lasts longer than screen printing due to the material. It is really impressive.
With vectors and digitals, there is no cost to open a shop, then you get commission based on your mark-up. We do have some upgrade options (premium shop options) that cost. And, then something like offset printing would as well.
you can find information about Spreadshirt's offset printing here.
In offset printing a special transfer sheet with a mirror image of the original design is pressed onto the textile. Because we first need to produce 50 of these sheets, this printing technique involves setup costs starting around 40 GBP. The sheets can be used for up to 3 months, so offset should only be used by partners who have lots of sales. But our design team can give you more information about the exact price, I guess that they've replied by now.
As Jana said, digital printing or plott printing would be the best option for you.
It's pretty hard to outlast a print method that outlasts the life of the shirt it is printed on. At best it could last as long as screenprinting.
A good brand of heat transfer vinyl does last that long No cracking, peeling or fading...guaranteed to outlast the life of the garment as long as its applied with a reputable heat press.
Doesn't screen printed ink usually begin to crack after a certain period of time? Just curious.....
Doesn't screen printed ink usually begin to crack after a certain period of time? Just curious.....
Yes, Josh... screen printing is an ink/paint that cracks, and wears off eventually. Flex/Flock is a polymer that adheres to the fabric. The properties of it being a plastic make it outlast the paint... and likely the shirt! :-)
The other day my husband and I decided to test a shirt in our washer on the highest heat setting. (We have a European washer, which heats its own water, thus gets temperatures that are very uncommon in the US.) We didn't follow the care instructions of turning the shirt inside out. It turned out great... no fading, peeling, etc. Actually, I think it looked even more crisp than when it went in. This was actually flock, which I'm guessing from this has to be an extruded material to hold together so well. Anyone know? If not, I'll research some more with our vendors and share.
Hope that helps!
Jana
(former scientist, which is why I get into some of this geeky materials stuff)
Doesn't screen printed ink usually begin to crack after a certain period of time? Just curious.....
If it's crappy, for sure - but not if it's printed and cured properly with good ink.
Both vinyl and screenprinting will outlast the garment if applied properly, neither will outlast the garment if incorrectly applied (some people experience peeling vinyl, and some people experience cracking ink, for example).
Spreadshirt and offset printing 
