[hadriabeth]

Hi everyone,
So I am brand new to this business and I am smack in the middle of launching my own t-shirt line (I'll also be printing on tote bags, messenger bags, and hoodies). My designs vary in number of colors but are all between 6-8 colors so screen printed transfers aren't really a cost effective option for me. Because of this, I've been looking into 4 color process transfers and digital transfers. I just received a small order of two of my designs from F&M (Freedom Cotton Soft) and I'm not really happy with it. All the colors have this spotty look and I want solid colors. Also they have this thin clear border around them which really isn't working for me at all.

So now, sadly, I just ruled out F&M. Which pretty much sucks because their prices are so good. Now I'm thinking of going with a digital transfer (like CAD-PRINTZ from Transfer Express). I got samples of them and they feel a tad rubbery but I'm willing to compromise feel for a nice, saturated color (and no clear border). I think they'd work better in achieving the look I want.

I attached a pic of one of my designs (all are a similar style to this) and also what the F&M transfer looks like.

So my question.. is a digital transfer the best option for me to get a solid color look with so many colors in my designs? Or is there a screen printed transfer company that I overlooked that can print 5-8 colors without breaking the bank?

Thanks in advance for any advice on this!
Hadria

 

[calhtech]

Hi everyone,
So I am brand new to this business and I am smack in the middle of launching my own t-shirt line (I'll also be printing on tote bags, messenger bags, and hoodies). My designs vary in number of colors but are all between 6-8 colors so screen printed transfers aren't really a cost effective option for me. Because of this, I've been looking into 4 color process transfers and digital transfers. I just received a small order of two of my designs from F&M (Freedom Cotton Soft) and I'm not really happy with it. All the colors have this spotty look and I want solid colors. Also they have this thin clear border around them which really isn't working for me at all.

So now, sadly, I just ruled out F&M. Which pretty much sucks because their prices are so good. Now I'm thinking of going with a digital transfer (like CAD-PRINTZ from Transfer Express). I got samples of them and they feel a tad rubbery but I'm willing to compromise feel for a nice, saturated color (and no clear border). I think they'd work better in achieving the look I want.

I attached a pic of one of my designs (all are a similar style to this) and also what the F&M transfer looks like.

So my question.. is a digital transfer the best option for me to get a solid color look with so many colors in my designs? Or is there a screen printed transfer company that I overlooked that can print 5-8 colors without breaking the bank?
Thanks in advance for any advice on this!
Hadria

Welcome to the realworld. Unless you have the ability screenprint this yourself or have a DTG, 6-8 colors will ALWAYS break the bank. If you have a product that market research tells will sell at a price commensurate with cost to produce, then the larger expense to produce the product shouldn't be a problem. Just sell it for more. But if you are just starting and speculating you might sell, you are in for a rude awakening. 6-8 colors is not cheap. NOBODY does 6-8 colors screenprinting cheap!

CalhTech>

 

[drdoct]

Exactly Richard. I'll also add this that a LOT of people come in thinking they have this great idea for a LOT of shirts. Something along the lines of this design color wise. So I'll ask how many hundred they want and they laugh and say... 20 is a LOT! Sorry but really with 20 I couldn't charge enough to make it a 3 color design. Maybe to break even, but even though I do enjoy doing it, I don't want to do it to break even.

My advice is to go with the cad printz with stahls. There are many different versions and some have less hand. They won't like your design though and will make you put a border around it. They're pretty picky on what they'll cut since they have probably seen much more than I have, I'm sure it's reasonable. But you could also look for some sort of sign shop and buy your own and have them print and cut with you weeding and applying transfer tape. Honestly, the F&M looks pretty dang good to me. If you stuck to lights... you could do some jpss which has a great hand, but anything opaque is going to be heavier. Even screen printed.

 

[hadriabeth]

Thanks for the replies. You guys confirmed for me what I was suspecting. I wish I wasn't so picky with the F&M transfer I ended up contacting them about the spotty color and was told I could send PMS colors over to them so they'd be solid (wish I knew that before I placed my order!) but I'm still stuck with that clear border around everything..

Luckily, even though I'm just starting out, I have a pre-order type system going (on Kickstarter) so I might just bite the bullet and go with screen printed transfers. Yeah, they're going to cost more but I don't really want to compromise if the other options aren't looking the way I want. I definitely don't want a white border around my designs.

Well, at least now I know for my future designs to keep those colors a bit more limited!