Feeling the excitement of starting your clothing line is almost hard to explain. It is equally fun to order t-shirts for a sports team. However, the process of printing custom clothing can sometimes look really complicated. You have a wonderful thought. What if you created a t-shirt for yourself with the design to it? But some of the methods of printing can be confusing or it may be difficult to prepare your design.
The guide will lead you through each step. We will keep it fair and easy. By the end, you will be able to choose the correct printing option, confidently. We have had the pleasure of helping thousands of our customers find clothing manufacturer solutions as a renown clothing manufacturer. Our team is here to help you realize your creativity.
Important Points to Remember
Before you choose which printing technique to go with, it is vital to comprehend what is the most important. First, think about these two critical issues. They will help you pick the best printing method for your custom garments. Here is the process the professionals follow to determine the pathway.
Grasping these concepts will greatly simplify the custom clothes printing process.
- Design Complexity: Is the design you want to put on the simple text in one or two colors? Or is it a high-rent photo with many details? The complexity of your art will help you choose specific methods.
- Order Quantity: Do you need only one exclusive shirt? Or a small batch of 20? Or a bulk order of 500? Some methods are reasonable in terms of price if you order a single item. Others are more affordable when large numbers are ordered.
- Garment & Fabric Type: What are you printing on? A 100% cotton t-shirt? A polyester sports jersey? A cotton-poly blend hoodie? Fabric type matters a lot. Some inks only work on certain materials. The color of the garment matters too. Light or dark makes a difference.
- Durability & Feel: How long do you need the print to last? Should it feel soft and part of the fabric? Or thick and textured? The final feel and toughness vary a lot between methods.
- Budget: What is your total budget? Think about the setup cost. Think about the cost for each item. Some methods have high starting costs. But they are cheap per shirt in big orders.
Major Custom Printing Methods
There are several primary techniques that the custom clothing industry uses. These methods get designs onto fabric. There are many popular types of shirt printing. We will focus on the most commonly used and the most effective ones. Each one has specific advantages. Each one is suitable for certain conditions.
Getting a grasp of these primary methods is the secret of the triumph in custom clothes printing. The following is a brief comparison table. Subsequently, we will dive into each option in more detail.
| Printing Method | Best For (Use Case) | Feel on Fabric | Durability | Cost-Effectiveness (Volume) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Printing | Massive orders (24+), uncomplicated designs, uniforms, merch | Slightly thick, very durable | Very High | Best for high volume |
| Direct-to-Garment (DTG) | Realistic photos, small orders, one-offs, full-color art | Soft, breathable, part of the fabric | Medium | Best for low volume |
| Direct-to-Film (DTF) | Polyesters & blends, vivid colors on black fabrics, sportswear | Smooth, flexible layer on top | High | Good for medium volume |
Screen Printing: The Sturdy and Durable Choice
Screen printing is an old method of choice. It persuades the ink through a squeegee onto the mesh screen that is transferred to the shirt. Each color in your design requires a separate screen.
The main advantages of this method are the bright colors which are produced and the durability of the material. The layer of ink is thick and strong. It is resistant to washing. For large orders, it will cost less per item for this method. The primary downer is the setup cost. Screens take time to make for each color. Hence, it is costly for small orders or designs with many colors. For growing companies, professional screen printing is often the best decision.
Direct-to-Garment (DTG): Executed with a Print-Like Detail
Direct-to-Garment printing is a home-like printer; it operates in an inkjet form. Instead of using paper, it prints directly to fabrics. A special printer uses water-based inks onto the shirt. The inks get absorbed by the fibers.
DTG is the best option if you want a design that is detailed or has photographic images and it has many colors. There are no costs for the setup per color. It is all because of the advantage of only ordering one or a few shirts. The print is very soft and breathable. However, DTG works best on 100% cotton. Its colors may appear less bright on dark shirts. It is not as strong as a screen print.
Direct-to-Film (DTF): The New Way That is Really Adaptable
Direct-to-Film is a more recent method that can be applied to many kinds of fabrics. The first thing that you do is print the design on a special film. After that, you press the film onto the shirt with heat. This is how the ink is transferred.
DTF’s main advantage is its wide compatibility, with almost all kinds of fabrics used. This also includes cotton, polyester, and blends. It also produces brilliant colors on dark cloth. The prints are flexible and strong which is another good aspect. The drawback is the feel. Unlike DTG, the print is a thin layer; it does not breathe as much as the fabric.
Specialty Printing: Giving It a Unique Touch
There are times when your need is a design that really draws attention. Texturing and unique effects are what specialty printing techniques can do to a design. For example, puff printing is one option that is used frequently. It consists of special ink that expands with heat. The result is a slightly raised three-dimensional texture.
This is great for making bold text or simple logos pop. To be unique, there are techniques like the ones explained in our ultimate guide to puff screen printing that you can apply to a simple design to make it a statement piece.
Practical Examples: Selecting the Right Printing
Now that you have learned about the methods of printing, it is the time to apply them to real-life situations. Choosing the correct custom clothes printing technique heavily relies on the goals of your project. In our opinion, the correct method according to the need is the most crucial step.
Scenario 1: You’re a Startup Clothing Brand
Starting a new brand, flexibility should be your keyword. You don’t want to order hundreds of shirts, but rather test first the designs.
For that, DTG or DTF are perfect choices. You can order small testing batches or even single items. You would know what sells. There are no high setup fees. After you find a bestseller design, you can choose the screen printing. It will decrease your cost per shirt and increase the profit on bulk orders.
Scenario 2: You Need It for a One-Time Event
Let’s think about you need shirts for a family reunion. A company picnic, or a small team event. Your choice depends on your design and group size.
If you want to have many colors in your design such as a group photo, DTG is perfect. It has the ability to deal with that amount of detail without the extra costs. If our design is simple like just a logo and text in one or two colors, screen printing will be cheaper. This is true if you need more than 24 shirts.
Scenario 3: You Are Creating Professional Staff Uniforms
The most vital aspect in making employees’ uniforms is durability. It is because they will be washing and having them used often.
The best option here is the screen printing method. It is the one that pronounces durability. The DTF method is also a good option to place logos on polyester polos or jackets. Besides the printing technique, embroidery is another one that is classic and a great option for a long-lasting and professional logo on uniforms.
Aside the Print: How to Prepare for Perfect Custom Clothes
Choosing the printing method is just half of the work. Our experts in Apparel Printing Techniques for the Modern Clothing Brand are well aware that proper preparation always comes first. Selecting the right files and the correct shirt will spare you the remorse of spending money unnecessarily.
Your Design File: The Most Important Blueprint for Your Success
Your digital design file is the only blueprint for your printer. If your blueprint is flawed, the product will be also. Here are some of the things to check:
- Resolution: Your image quality should be the highest. The standard is 300 DPI (dots per inch). A low-resolution image will look blurry when printed.
- File Type: Designs come in two types: vector and raster. Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) use math to create lines. They are best for screen printing because they can be resized without losing quality. Raster files (PNG, PSD) are made of pixels. They are fine for DTG, but make sure they are large enough.
- Colors: For the DTG and DTF printing technique, a PNG file with a transparent background is fundamental. This will assure that only your design is printed and not a white box surrounding it.
Choosing Your Canvas: Why Shirt Selection Matters
The choice of the shirt or hoodie that you make is as important as the print on it. The type of fabric and the color play a great role in the final result.
- Fabric Composition: As we have learned, 100% cotton is perfect for DTG. Polyester and blends need methods like DTF or sublimation. Always match your shirt’s material to your chosen print method.
- Garment Color: Printing on dark clothes is more complex. It requires a white “underbase” layer to be printed first. This makes the colors on top look bright. This extra step can add to the cost and make the print feel slightly thicker.
Common Queries about Custom Clothes Printing
What is the cheapest way for custom clothes printing?
If you need many t-shirts of 24 or more and want to put simple designs, then the screen printing is the cheapest per item. For a single item or with a very small order DTG printing is cheaper as there are no setup fees involved.
What can I do to help my printed clothes last longer?
Firstly, pick a robust print way such as DTF or screen printing. Secondly, obey the care guides from your printer. This normally means you wash the t-shirt inside out with cold water. Also, you should set the dryer on a low setting.
Is there a printing method that would be perfect for complex and photo images?
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is the best alternative for photos and complex designs as it imitates a special high-quality machine to the fabric. It prints fine and colorful details with perfection.
Could I get only one custom shirt printed?
Definitely! Print methods like DTG and DTF are the ideal choices for the creative production of a single piece. They do not have the expensive initial setup costs that go with screen printing. As such it makes it feasible to do one-off projects.
Which types of clothes can I print my designs on?
A plethora of items awaits you to print on. T-shirts aside, an extensive collection featuring personalized T-shirt and jacket printing is available. These include hoodies, tote bags, hats, and more. The choice of the print method is highly dependent on the fabric. For instance, as a specialized puff print hoodie manufacturer, we match unique techniques to specific clothes for the best outcomes.
