The Ultimate Guide to Common T-Shirt Printing Types

Are you planning to have custom t-shirts made for your business or event? You need to know about the different types of t-shirt printing that are available.

In this guide, we'll cover a few of the most common t-shirt printing techniques, from the most basic to embroidery and even combination techniques.

So whether you're looking for a simple solution or something more complex, this guide will help you find the right t-shirt printing technology for your needs.

Two of the most popular types of printing on T-shirts are screen printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, in which ink is sprayed directly onto the garment. In this section, we'll look at them more closely and discuss their pros and cons.

Direct-to-garment or DTG printing uses an inkjet printer to print artwork (as the name suggests) directly onto garments. DTG printing delivers full-color, high-quality prints, perfect for intricate designs or photographic images.

Keep in mind that inkjet printers are expensive, but otherwise, they don't have any setup costs, so they can be more cost-effective for smaller orders. If you only need a few t-shirts, the DTG printing method is the best option for you.

This process requires a pretreatment step because the ink is printed directly on the fabric of the t-shirt, pretreatment allows the ink to set well and not bleed into the material. Additionally, T-shirts require heat to activate the process before printing.

Screen printing is a stencil-based printing technique in which ink is applied to the T-shirt through a mesh screen.

It is the most popular method of printing and has been around for decades - initially by hand and now by printing presses.

It uses thicker special screen printing inks than other printing methods, resulting in very vibrant, longer-lasting prints. As opposed to DTG printing, screen printing is better for designs with fewer colors.

Screen printing is great for larger orders of up to 500 t-shirts because it's relatively quick and easy to set up. However, for smaller orders it can be more expensive due to the setup costs involved.

Of the many different t-shirt printing methods, heat transfer printing is one of the most popular. It uses a heat press to transfer an image or design onto a T-shirt.

Sublimation transfer printing is different from the previous two methods because it doesn't require any special inks or dyes - all you need is a heat press and transfer paper.

Sublimation transfer printing is a great option for custom t-shirts because it is so versatile. You can print almost any design or image onto a t-shirt, including all-over designs that cover the entire t-shirt.

All of the methods listed below are essentially subtypes of heat press printing technology, so to choose the method that is best for your t-shirt printing business, let's take a look at them one by one.

Dye-sublimation printing, also known as all-over printing (AOP), is probably one of the most popular types of T-shirt printing. Printed graphics are digitally printed onto special heat transfer paper, which is then transferred to the T-shirt using heat.

The dye-sublimation heat press uses dye inks that turn to gas when heated, which is a completely different process than the other heat transfer technologies mentioned later in this article.

The applied pressure and heat turn the dye ink into a gas and back to a solid state. It is very suitable for synthetic fibers such as polyester fabrics. As the dyes penetrate the fiber core, they become one with the material, resulting in vivid and long-lasting t-shirt prints.

Dye-sublimation printing cannot be used on cotton materials as they are porous and cause so-called bleeding, which results in a dull and blurred appearance.

Synthetics dominate here – the higher the percentage of polyester, the better the end result. This method works best with white polyester t-shirts, as darker base colors don't work as well because the dye blends completely with the fibers of the material.

The screen printing process and DTG printing cannot be used for full print so you can be more creative with dye sublimation method in your t shirt business.

Direct Film Printing (DTF) is one of the best t-shirt printing techniques and involves printing the design onto a special PET film (polyethylene terephthalate) which is then transferred using adhesive powder and heat onto the T-shirt.

Contrary to DTG printing, DTF requires no pre-processing of the garment as the design is pre-printed onto the film.

This heat transfer method can be used on any type of fabric. Make polyester t-shirts or cotton t-shirts - results are just as good.

In DTG, however, the designs and inks are incorporated into the fabric. Through the DTF method, fixing powders give plasticity and gloss to designs. Since these colors don't interfere with the base color of the t-shirt, the final effect is more vibrant.

In the list of heat press printing, we need to mention thermoplastic sol transfer printing. This is a type of indirect screen printing - the method is somewhat similar, but instead of printing directly on the t-shirt, you put the graphic on heat transfer paper first.

Plastisol heat embossing can be applied to a wide variety of fabrics, not just cotton or polyester - neoprene and some nylons are also suitable.

Plastisol transfer printing is a widespread alternative to screen printing and other printing methods as it is less expensive for smaller product quantities.

The first step in this heat transfer method is to place the plastisol transfer paper under the screen of the printing press. Sand-like particles are then distributed over the paper to keep the design from blurring.

Heatset inks are printed directly onto heatset paper, then aligned with the t-shirt on a heat press, used to transfer the graphic from the paper to the t-shirt.

Thanks to the use of parchment in the process, special effects such as glossy or textured finishes can also be achieved.

In addition to DTG and heat press printing, there are other types of t-shirt printing you can use to apply your t-shirt designs to garments. With these methods, you can create a slightly different product for your t-shirt business.

Embroidery is a great way to add a touch of sophistication to your tee. Embroidered logos look more intricate than vinyl printing methods.

When you want to create a t-shirt design using embroidery, you need to follow strict design requirements because the design is made with a sewing machine, not a printer. Color variation and print area are limited. However, embroidery lasts longer than any other printing method.

In today's fast-paced world, where visual appeal plays an important role in attracting customers, the art of typography has become an integral part of business. Touch Dark's dark-style T-shirts use printing methods such as direct injection printing, screen printing, heat transfer printing, and reflective printing to meet a wide range of needs. If you want to know more or want to buy dark-style T-shirts, please contact us.

As a professional custom dark t-shirt manufacturer, Touch Dark provides fully customized and personalized textile solutions from initial design concept to finished garment. Custom Garment Manufacturing (OEM), FPP (Full Package Production), CMT Production, Sample Making, Labeling, Fabric Production, Dye Sublimation, Screen Printing, Packaging and Delivery are all part of our services. We only use the highest quality fabrics and accessories to produce our clothes, ensuring that each garment offers exceptional comfort and durability.