Everyone dreams of opening their own business and being their own boss one day. At Dallas T Shirt Printing Service, we help hundreds of people realize their dreams every year, and many of them make money printing t-shirts .
But how do you print on t-shirts? Is it difficult to learn? Do you need a special t-shirt printing machine? And how much does it cost? The choices are numerous, but don’t panic! Below we present several ways to personalize t-shirts. Each method has its advantages, but you will be better able to determine which option is right for you once you finish reading the article.
Cut Vinyl T-Shirts
If you’ve never heard of a cutting plotter (aka vinyl cutter) before, prepare to fall in love! These simple, affordable machines allow you to cut almost any design from colored heat transfer vinyl, flock vinyl and a variety of other media.
Cutters are used a lot in the world of t-shirt customization. They are at the center of hundreds of companies specializing in clothing customization. The process is easy to learn. You just need to experiment with several vinyls to get really good results.
- Create your design using a vector graphics program such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw
- Insert your vinyl into the cutter and perform a test cut to calibrate the blade.
- Send your creation to the cutter to be cut.
- Remove excess vinyl from the backing sheet using a weeding tool.
- Place the cut design onto your t-shirt using transfer paper.
- Use a heat press to attach the vinyl to the fabric.
- Allow the t-shirt and vinyl to cool before removing the transfer paper.
Advantages of die-cut vinyl printing on t-shirts
- Die cutters are versatile and can be used to create other products
- The results last a very long time
Disadvantages of die-cut vinyl t-shirt printing
- Preparing the t-shirt requires space
- Creations are limited to available vinyl colors
Print and cut and thermal transfer on t-shirts
If you are limited in your t-shirt designs with cut vinyl, you may be interested in purchasing a small printer/cutter. On this device, a print head allows you to print and cut color graphics in a single operation. Many businesses that start with a cutting plotter end up investing in a printer/cutter.
Our BN-20 desktop printer/cutter is perfect for new t-shirt customization businesses. Small and reliable, it offers excellent print quality. Creating print and cut and heat transfer t-shirts is quite similar to creating a cut vinyl t-shirt.
- Create your design, add cutting lines and save the file in .pdf or .eps format.
- Insert your vinyl into the printer/cutter, then carry out a test cut and print.
- Send the creation to the printer/cutter using your RIP software .
- Once the print and cut operations are completed, weed off the excess vinyl.
- As before, transfer the print to your t-shirt and attach it by heat press.
- Again, allow the print to cool before sending it to your customer.
Advantages of print and cut and thermal transfer on t-shirts
- CMYK ink lets you print any color or design you want
- Printers/cutters can bring many other products to life
Disadvantages of print and cut and thermal transfer on t-shirts
- You will need to master graphics software and RIP software to optimize the quality of your result
- Entry level vinyl can be stiff on the t-shirt
Dome heat transfer on t-shirts
Here is a variation of thermal transfer printing. If you want to add a shiny, raised texture, you can purchase a dome transfer kit. You can use it to add a liquid resin, which hardens to create a transparent dome-like effect. In the t-shirt customization market where you need to do everything you can to stand out, this is a great product to add to your arsenal.
- Print, cut and weed your creation.
- Gently apply the dome resin to the edges, without overflowing.
- Allow the resin to harden for approximately 24 hours.
- Transfer the dome design to the t-shirt.
- Turn the t-shirt inside out before heat pressing it.
Benefits of Dome Heat Transfer on T-Shirts
- This technique is unique and interesting
- You can charge more for it
Disadvantages of Dome Heat Transfer on T-Shirts
- Dome Transfer Takes Practice
- Dome resin takes time to cure
Sublimation on t-shirt
The sublimation printing machine is another tool for customizing fabric. It uses heat to convert liquid ink into gas, permanently coloring the fibers and giving you a long-lasting, color-rich print. You can use this method in the same way as heat transfer, by applying a design to a small area of the t-shirt.
Typically, the design is applied to the entire t-shirt before it is cut and sewn. This technique is commonly used on sports clothing, such as football jerseys. These methods typically involve the use of a calender, a device that feeds fabric through heated rollers. How it works ?
- Load a roll of sublimation paper or fabric, depending on your printing machine.
- Make sure your design is mirrored and use RIP software to send it to the printing machine.
- Apply the sublimation paper to the t-shirt before heat pressing it.
- If you are using direct-to-garment printing, the fabric can be fed directly into a calender.
Advantages of sublimation on t-shirts
- Colors are bright and rich
- The results last a very long time
Disadvantages of sublimation on t-shirts
- Works only on synthetic fibers
- Works only on light colored fabrics
Direct printing on t-shirts
DTG printing stands for “ direct-to-garment printing ,” a self-explanatory phrase. This technology uses safe and environmentally friendly pigment ink, and works on a wide range of fabrics. The devices come in different sizes and with varying numbers of “plates,” designs that hold the garment in place during printing. How it works ?
- Place your t-shirt on the board, aligning it correctly.
- Configure your creation in the software and click “Print”.
- Once printing is complete, the ink must be cured using a separate heating unit.
- After a few minutes, the heat will set the ink on the t-shirt, which will be ready to wear.
Advantages of DTG printing
- Suitable for large volume production
- Quality printing with a discreet texture
Disadvantages of DTG printing
- It requires a greater investment in equipment
- T-shirts must be processed before printing.
Adding rhinestones to t-shirts
Who doesn’t love a little bling?! While rhinestones may not be everyone’s cup of tea, many people can’t live without these shiny little stones. Like the dome heat transfer, this method allows you to add a finishing touch to your printed t-shirts. How it works ?
- Create your model
- Using a cutting plotter, cut the model from a sandblasting adhesive stencil.
- Apply the film to a flat surface, such as a tray, and remove the holes.
- Pour the rhinestones onto the film, so that they fill all the holes.
- Apply the transfer paper to the rhinestones and use it to move them onto the t-shirt.
- Use the heat press to attach the rhinestones to the t-shirt.
Benefits of Adding Rhinestones to T-Shirts
- It’s an inexpensive way to use existing equipment
- Rhinestones are very popular on children’s clothing
Disadvantages of adding rhinestones to t-shirts
- It takes practice to create effective models
- It may take time
Screen printing on t-shirt
Are you more traditional and prefer old-fashioned t-shirts? Screen printing has been around for almost a thousand years and is still used today by many t-shirt customization companies. This technique involves using stencils to create a design and a squeegee to apply the ink. It’s very simple, manual and “artisanal”.
These stencils are meticulously hand cut so you want an artisan look from start to finish. But as they say: time is money. You can speed up the work by using a cutting plotter to create your stencils
Advantages of screen printing on t-shirts
- The ink is long lasting and wash resistant
- Basic equipment is inexpensive
Disadvantages of screen printing on t-shirts
- Setting up is long and difficult to personalize short runs
- Multi-color images or high-definition photos cannot be reproduced accurately
