[mv10]

Im looking into opening a small shop, but im facing a major dilemma.

Most of the work my father's business does is high quantity screen printing. I have all the equipment necessary to create my own images and designs as a result.

I have about 200 designs, most of them 1 color, that I'm thinking about putting on some t-shirts, the problem is the lack of aluminum screens and inexperience with transfer paper - so I looked into Vinyl Transfers.

I recently made a quick sample of a t-shirt I made for myself. I decided to quickly try and piece something together to feel out the material.

I did a white shirt with the I <3 Football. It was just something quick I made on the fly. The letters were black, and the heart was big and red. The problem is that the Vinyl feels "cheap". I know its said to be the best material in terms of durability, but the size of the heart was pretty big and it just felt literally ironed on.

The last thing I want to do is open up a shop with items people feel is "Cheap".

I want to be able to create high quality 1 colored images, but don't know if its wise to spend hundred of hours in creating stock to only have it not be the best option...

I have put forth about 300-500 hours in the last months to years to learn and study the kinds of materials, but yet i'm still inexperienced.

What would you do in my shoes?

If you were opening up, say an online shop, where you can quickly do iron ons to save on inventory. Would you recommend a high quality vinyl paper, would you take the item and do an aluminum screen and heat transfer paper for every individual design, or anything else recommended?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[wormil]

In your case I would get my own screens and a place in your dad's shop to store them. Then burn off images as you sell them and print the shirts in the shop's off hours; assuming your dad is willing. 200 screens are a lot to juggle though, maybe start with 25 designs, burn what sells and replace the ones that don't sell with another design. Then you can gradually expand the number of designs you offer as sales pick up.

I have experimented a bit with ink jet transfers and have had pretty good results with the stuff designed for light shirts and have actually sold some but they aren't high end. The vinyl stuff for darks I just haven't had good success with and I've decided not to sell it. I do have samples of printed vinyl off a Versacamm and I would be willing to sell that.

Now there is a place for cut vinyl on shirts but I think it depends on what you are selling.

 

[mv10]

So Screen Printing is the way to go then in your opinion, Awesome.

I am thinking about starting small, feeling stuff out for a while, but I have done research on trends and such so if everything is good - expansion could happen.

If that were to every happen.. What is the lifespan on a typical transpaper paper? Are they suppost to be stored in a certain way? Any recommendation as to what kind of paper would be the best to start off with?


I know I'm not even close to being big enough to purchase one of these, but Just out of curiosity, would it be safe to assume that companies like SnorgTees, tShirt Hell and such use DTG or do you think they still use silk screening?

I know i'm asking a lot of questios, but I'm a newbie reading up all these threads trying to soak up as much info as I can. Great site! Thanks Again