[Quinton595]

Hey T shirt Forums, first time here, so i apologize if this is the wrong thread to post something like this in.

I've been interested in making my own t shirts for a while now, and im only 15 so i dont quite have hundreds of dollars to spend.

The obvious first method everyone learns about is Heat transfers.

However, there are a LOT of drawbacks to these transfers. The main two for me being:

The pictures can't be larger than a sheet of paper, but a lot of my designs are.

If printing on black or color, you need to use opaque paper, but that requires using an exact o knife to carefully cut out every last bit of extra white paper, because it shows up, and on some of my designs, that would be near impossible (Imagine trying to trace ever single drop of paint on a paint splatter design)


So i turned to the internet to find other solutions.
Screen printing was the next one i found, but the obvious drawback is that you can only print one-color imagines, and unfortunately, my designs are not.

So Heat transfers are too small and too hard for complex designs, but Screenprinting is too simple for multicoloured designs.

Now, what type of technologie do companies use?

Like when you walk into an American Eagle store, what do they use to put their writing and graphics on shirts?

I feel like it's DTG, but when you're lookign at 8000 for a DTG printer, thats obviously out of the question. And i looked at the DIY one, but its too complex for me

So what does someone use when trying to print an image that is:

Multicoloured
Larger than a sheet of paper
Too Complex to trace

Here's an example of one of my designs. It looks nice on Screen.. but it's near-impossible in real life.

I need help, any help would be appreciated.

 

[red514]

nice design!

your options to produce this at a reasonable cost for you will leave you only a couple options.

Using transfers on white as you mentioned is the best solution and you can use multiple sheets of transfer to create one design (this is called 'tiling')


"Screen printing was the next one i found, but the obvious drawback is that you can only print one-color imagines, and unfortunately, my designs are not."
not sure where you heard this but multi color prints are common for screen printing.
screen printing would be ideal for large production but for small quantities and a limited budget this is probably not a good idea for you.
doing a 1 color print would be more reasonable but that completely changes the look of your design.

Sublimation would be very nice but that process is slightly more expensive then basic heat transfers. sublimation is limited to white and non cotton fabrics.

to get started, i'd recommend sticking with heat transfers and white garments. keep it simple and build from there.

 

[CNClark]

I am not sure where you heard you can only print one-color via screen print, but some printers can print over 20...it just depends on their capabilities. WIth the design you posted, the top one is an easy imprint if the printer has a wing platen, and the bottom design is standard stuff....any decent screen printer can print that. Your design is actually a two location imprint.

 

[HTW]

maybe look for some one doing Dye Sub that will sell whole sale.

 

[Quinton595]

nice design!

your options to produce this at a reasonable cost for you will leave you only a couple options.

Using transfers on white as you mentioned is the best solution and you can use multiple sheets of transfer to create one design (this is called 'tiling')


"Screen printing was the next one i found, but the obvious drawback is that you can only print one-color imagines, and unfortunately, my designs are not."
not sure where you heard this but multi color prints are common for screen printing.
screen printing would be ideal for large production but for small quantities and a limited budget this is probably not a good idea for you.
doing a 1 color print would be more reasonable but that completely changes the look of your design.

Sublimation would be very nice but that process is slightly more expensive then basic heat transfers. sublimation is limited to white and non cotton fabrics.

to get started, i'd recommend sticking with heat transfers and white garments. keep it simple and build from there.

Wait..

Screen Printing.

Basically Silkscreening.

Yeah you can do more than one colour, but that takes more than one screen, and very precise placement, correct?

Because im only making one or two of each of my designs.. so making lets say 3 or 4 screens for one shirt is rather expensive and tedious

And ha, dont give me the credit, i didnt make the image, just found it on the webs

And i heard about sublimation, but it cant be used on colours, correct?

 

[red514]

And i heard about sublimation, but it cant be used on colours, correct?

correct, altho there's always exceptions to the rules ;]
the ground color effects the inks because they are transparent. if you don't have white in your design it may not effect the look very much depending on the ground color.

 

[red514]

Wait..

Screen Printing.

Basically Silkscreening.

Yeah you can do more than one colour, but that takes more than one screen, and very precise placement, correct?

Because im only making one or two of each of my designs.. so making lets say 3 or 4 screens for one shirt is rather expensive and tedious

correct.

are you looking to invest in equipment to produce your own stuff? depending on your budget you maybe even more limited.

 

[Quinton595]

I am not sure where you heard you can only print one-color via screen print, but some printers can print over 20...it just depends on their capabilities. WIth the design you posted, the top one is an easy imprint if the printer has a wing platen, and the bottom design is standard stuff....any decent screen printer can print that. Your design is actually a two location imprint.

Sorry for being new here, but is it possible to get an english-layman translation I have no idea what you mean the top one is an easy imprint if the printer has a wing platen, and that my design is actually a two location imprint.

 

[CNClark]

Wait..

Screen Printing.

Basically Silkscreening.

Yeah you can do more than one colour, but that takes more than one screen, and very precise placement, correct?

Because im only making one or two of each of my designs.. so making lets say 3 or 4 screens for one shirt is rather expensive and tedious

Yes, multiple screens, lengthy setup and seperations times....not conducive to 1 or 2 shirt runs.

 

[CNClark]

Sorry for being new here, but is it possible to get an english-layman translation I have no idea what you mean the top one is an easy imprint if the printer has a wing platen, and that my design is actually a two location imprint.

The design you posted is actually two seperate imprints...at least for most shops. The wing platen allows for printing on a sleeve like your example..it also allows the art to stretch from sleeve across the chest....basically there is a platen made just for that kind of printing. You then have a gap between where the design on the top ends and the one on the bottom begins. SO the printer would then switch out the wing platens for standard platens and print the lower image second.

 

[Quinton595]

Ahh ok.. So a Platen is the plate that the Tshirt rests on, well thanks, you actually answered a question i didnt even ask, but was meaning to, lol so it IS possible to print on weird positions like across the sleeve to chest? Thanks

 

[CNClark]

YEs..google action engineering...you can find every kind of platen made. But be ready for some sticker shock.

 

[Quinton595]

K so here's some of my Photos, let me see if i get this right, i want to see what types of printing is not possible for each one.

Could Possibly use an Opaque Transfer, would just have to trace along the perimeter of the picture, and since this one is simple, its possible to trace. And if i used opaque paper, the white space would naturally be made.

Silkscreen - Not possible, would take more than one screen

DTG - perfect, but too expensive

Sublimation.. dont quite understand that technology yet.

I think opaque transfer would work.. but it would jsut require careful cutting. However, screening and the rest wouldnt work.

Transfer paper is out of the question, because the image is larger than a sheet, and i doubt i could get tiling very accurate.

Screening needs more than one screen

Would sublim work here?

 

[red514]

K so here's some of my Photos, let me see if i get this right, i want to see what types of printing is not possible for each one.

Silkscreen - Not possible, would take more than one screen

you could do that with 1 screen, the design would be grayscale converted to halftones. you would print only white ink on to a black shirt. you'd loose all the black ink in the design but it would still look good.

the second design, same approach.

the third one.. transfers for dark would be cost effective but screen printing would be ideal in my opinion. for small quantities i'd go DTG.

 

[Quinton595]

YEs..google action engineering...you can find every kind of platen made. But be ready for some sticker shock.

Sticker shock indeed.

Although i noticed that they give you the blueprints for the boards..

Couldn't i just make my own out of some wood and a jigsaw?

Then you insert it into the shirt for.. Heat transfers, and silkscreening is what it's used for, correct?

 

[Quinton595]

To Red:

Hmm, i never considered that option..

Its a shame though, because each shirt is.. situational. One of them needs a DTg, one might need a heat transfer, one might need silkscreening..

There really isnt a 'one type fits all' method eh?

thats.. dissappointing.

 

[MotoskinGraphix]

Screen printing will handle every design you have posted. Transfer paper size is basically limited by your printer. Jet Pro Soft Stretch transfer paper is available up to 17 inches wide and in 100 foot rolls.

 

[Corel Whisperer]

For the designs you have shown your best option would be a print and cut system that uses rolls of material and gives you a range of different material to use. However one of these units would be spending more than $1000 times your age. Yes there are lower cost units but one of the things you need to consider is the size of what you are doing. Also if you can get it to print the size you need can you get a heat press large enough to apply the designs.
There are companies out there that will make the digital transfers for you in limited qualities. This might be a good place for you to start. Keep in mind most of these types of transfers are priced by the square inch, the larger the design the more it will cost. You have to make sure you can work this cost into the price you are selling the final product for.
You could go the inexpensive way with inkjet transfers and a 11 x 17 printer match with a cutter and optical eye to trim them out for under $3000. Then if you while creating your design you consider where you could make tile points this will help you design larger than the paper.
To explain a little about sublimation, it is a dye process you are using a dye to color the garment with your design, so you can only use white or light colors. Also sublimation can only be used on man-made fabrics…no cotton…the sublimation will blow through the fibers and leave a ghost image behind.
Hope this helps a little.
CW

 

[red514]

Q, i think your best option is to out source! ;]

another option for you is the same way i got started many years ago, paint shirts by hand. the quality of fabric paints and application methods have come along way and if you only want to do one offs, this can be a great option.

 

[Quinton595]

It does help, thanks.

Yeah, i mean, most, if not all of the shirts i can get my hands on are 100% cotton.. so that wouldnt work.

One problem i've encountered with heat transfers.. is that ive only ever found one kind.

They're from Avery, and they're rather expensive (its over a dollar per sheet for whites, and like 4 or 5 dollars a sheet for opaque paper.

I tried staples, and wallmart, and places, (i havent tried actually art stores yet though) and its the only company i can find.

I haven't even heard of large-format heat transfer papers. Although if i did manage to find one, i can get it printed at staples on their large-format inkjet poster printers.

Screenprinting.. to motoskin's answer..

Really? Even for the red flower? It would just take multiple screens for each color, and precise placement, correct?

ALSO, and this may be important..

Silkscreens can be used to print on.. basically any fabric that the inks work on.. So i could make bags, Hats maybe, etc, right?

I have a feelign that the only things i can use are heat transfers and silkscreens, because i could make the exposure box, and get nylon or something mesh to make them.

Cost wise, when you buy the emulsion and ink.. How much does it use? lets say i get a Quart of Emulsion, its about 30 bucks. How many screens would that last me?

Also, if i do use lrge format heat transfers.. like one that covers almost an entire shirt.. An Iron would just be... no. I would need a press, correct?