Different Types of Printing on T-Shirts

It’s important to choose what printing method will be used on your personalized t-shirts. Each technique has a distinct look and degree of intricacy. All types have their pros and cons, like being the most affordable or the longest-lasting. It may be hard to pick which one is best suited for your project, so here are the five of the most common types of printing on t-shirts to help you choose.

• ·Sublimation
  Soft and lasting graphics are produced via sublimation printing on synthetic textiles. Instead of leaving a heavy coating on the fabric, the dye adheres to the fabric without making the garment thicker and less breathable. As a result, sublimation designs won’t peel or form hair-like fractures on the print.
  
  

• Direct-to-Garment
  Direct-to-garment printing uses a special printer to apply the ink and form the design directly onto the fabric. This means you can use any design that could be printed on paper with ease. Many different types of colors, intricate patterns, and even images are used with this method. This option also gives you the ability to print multiple designs in one go.
  
  

• Heat transfer vinyl
  Another common printing technique is using heat transfer vinyl (HTV). HTV has a heat-activated glue that sticks to the garment when pressed. Since this method is fast and easy, it makes it easier for small-scale projects to produce as many as needed in a short period.
  
  

• Airbrushing
  Although this is not an ideal method for bigger businesses due to being pricey, it allows designers to be more intricate and detail-oriented in their designs. Similar to screen printing, you can use this technique to paint over stencils using one color per layer at a time. This method can be the most expensive, but it definitely gives a different look that only an airbrush can achieve.
  
  

• Screen Printing
  With screen printing, your design’s negative is put on a screen. It is then placed on the shirt before the ink gets pressed. Screen printing produces extremely durable and colorful designs, while also being economical for large quantities of shirts. To add, any fabric, including cotton, silk, and polyester, can be screen printed.

All the different types of t-shirt printing can be used depending on your needs and specifications. For your custom t-shirt printing needs, Missouri Cotton Exchange in Columbia, MO will be happy to help. Reach out to them today for more information.