Apparel Printing Techniques
Apparel printing is the process of creating custom shirts or other apparel using your own design or a pre-existing one. It is an increasingly popular method of garment decoration because of its ability to create a unique product and provide personalized items.
Choosing an apparel printing method can be a daunting task, but it is important to choose a technique that will deliver the best results for your specific needs. The most popular methods include:
Screen Printing
This is the traditional technique for decorating clothing and is commonly used for t-shirts, hoodies and other branded apparel. It involves using a stencil to imprint a design onto the garment through a screen. The stencil is lowered down onto a printing board and ink is added to the top end of the screen. A squeegee is then pulled over the entire screen to pull the ink down onto the garment and into the open areas of the stencil.
It is possible to print multiple colors in rapid succession, which allows for more creative designs on t-shirts. It is also more environmentally friendly than most other types of apparel decoration because it uses no water or chemicals, and only requires one ink to be applied to the screen for each color.
Screen printing is a good choice for large-scale orders, but it can be expensive. Typically, a four-color job takes about 2 hours from the time the artwork is completed on the computer until the first shirt is printed.
Direct-to-Garment Printing
A newer option for apparel printing, DTG (direct-to-garment) printing uses a printer that can spray ink directly onto the fabric. It is a popular choice for t-shirts and other clothing because it offers high-quality prints with a variety of color choices.
DTG can be a great solution for businesses that want to customize their own apparel, and it is also a great way to create custom printed apparel for friends and family. However, DTG is a bit more expensive than other options and it can be difficult to find an affordable screen printer in Salt Lake City that will give you quality prints.
Heat Transfer
This is another type of apparel printing that can be a good fit for certain circumstances. It is ideal for sportswear jerseys, or promotional products that have a small number of color applications.
Heat transfers use special paper that is coated with a wax-like material that will adhere to the fabric. Then, the paper is placed over the garment and is pressed with a heat press. This process is best suited to white and lighter colored garments, but it can work on dark-colored ones as well.
Sublimation
In contrast to screen printing, sublimation uses dyes that are actually embedded in the fabric instead of being transferred to the surface of the fabric. It’s a great technique for creating a long-lasting print, and it can be used on a wide range of fabrics.
It’s a good choice for garments that will be worn outdoors, as it doesn’t fade when exposed to sunlight. It’s also a great way to decorate non-textile objects, such as mugs and plates.