Have a solid passion for the t-shirt business? So, looking to learn how to print t-shirts from the first? Probably — you are here to educate yourself on how to print t-shirts professionally for beginners! If so, you’ll be glad to know that we’re going to share with you a complete guide on how to print designs on t-shirts step by step that’ll make money.
Undoubtedly, the popularity of custom t-shirt printing has soaked up!
Not only it's about creativity, but it's become a necessity for everyone, too! Wearing custom-designed t-shirts has become a fashion and it means your choice. Of course, you can give priority to your choice while choosing the custom t-shirts. Evolution of time, the t-shirt industry has become much more updated!
At present, people rush to customize t-shirts. Do you know why? The main reason can be that everyone wants to express their inner feeling or creativity, and wearing printed custom designs on t-shirts has become a symbol of your choice. In the meantime, printing designs on t-shirts has also become an excellent business opportunity to generate extra income for the t-shirt business!
Usage of custom t-shirts has become different for various purposes like - events, personal use, business opportunities, or business promotion! And where not? Everywhere. The custom design of printing t-shirts continues to grow. Custom design print on t-shirts has become an ever-growing and evergreen trend in the fashion industry! According to our market research, there is no sign of slowing down the trend of custom print on t-shirts.
That’s why if you’ve already made up your mind to start a print on t-shirt as a career, we say you’re on the right track! As a beginner, facing trouble moving forward on how to print t-shirts professionally? This blog will help find a way!
If you want to dive into printing history, you'll need to go back many years. The history of the textile printing industry was inaugurated in China in the 900s. The printing history came out with using silk screens. Actually, the t-shirt was popular in the United States after the war between the Spanish and Americans.
At that time, the US Navy thought about how it would be if the sailors wore crew-neck short-sleeve white cotton undershirts under their uniforms! Yes, Mainly, due to warm climates, the US Navy thought about prints like these t-shirts to get a bit of comfort. Indeed, such types of t-shirts really worked to consume heat. Rapidly, the popularity of those t-shirts spread out to the common people. It was booming!
The US Navy thought about the t-shirt as a necessity! But, over time, the idea of those t-shirts has become much more popular and shifted into a fashion view. It's the root tide of today's t-shirt printing overflow! It's said that servicemen returned home from World War II, and they continued to wear their tees. They looked different from others.
Common people were inspired by these tees. It was the most credible stage to grow up in today's t-shirt universe and still, it's going on. We're sharing a short note according to the years (from the birth of t-shirts to youth) below so you can get a better idea of t-shirt printing history!
| Years | Evolution of T-Shirt Industry |
|---|---|
| 1950s | Different companies started decorating t-shirts with their company names and logos. |
| 1960s | Graphic t-shirts became popular. The screen printing process just came out. |
| 1970s | Major brands started to market t-shirts. The T-shirt trend was just being introduced. |
| 1980s – 1990s | Logo tees really started to shine. |
| 2000s and beyond | Early in the 2000s, political and humorous t-shirts became popular. Then, the T-shirt trend has been constantly changing over time till now. |
Yes, t-shirt printing is a procedure for applying designs, text, or logos on fabric! There are different methods for t-shirt printing. Each technique of printing t-shirts comes with unique pros and cons. In today's world, we tend to use a custom t-shirt design to create an impression of creativity. Indeed, the variation of custom t-shirts makes a wide range of customers.
T-shirt printing is as familiar as screen printing, too! It's an inexpensive and simple method of printing custom designs, logos, or text onto a t-shirt. Hm, if you once learned the basics of t-shirt printing, it can help you to develop high-quality designs. And when you print the designs onto t-shirts that will make you stand up and stand out from the crowd!
T-shirts are popular items that do not require any trend or season. Over time, t-shirts have become very common apparel for all ages. Any type of t-shirt, like - plain, oversized, or close-fitting, whatever the type is, t-shirts always have a familiar but unique taste for all classes of people. You can say t-shirts are such an item in the apparel industry that'll never fade fashion. Here are a few considerations that make t-shirt printing popular today:
Not only you but also everyone loves to express their creativity. Definitely, customized t-shirts offer you a perfect place to show your creativity. You can use your custom-designed t-shirts for different purposes, like personal use, special occasions, or cultural events. Indeed, custom-designed t-shirts can be the most proficient way to prove who you are or how you think. Wearing personalized t-shirts can express your unique personality and your inner creativity!
However, when you think about marketing your business, custom t-shirts can be a fantastic way to promote your brand and recognize what you're with. Undoubtedly, it's an effective strategy! Many companies print their message, slogans, or logos onto t-shirts to promote their brand. Like this walking marketing can build your brand identity and spread your brand's message to more people.
Customized t-shirts are always at the top of the rage! The t-shirts are used in diverse types of events such as concerts, political campaigns, fundraising, or festivals. Also, the event organizers share amazing words with custom prints on t-shirts to share certain messages with the people.
It may seem that custom-designed t-shirts are expensive, right? Not at all. The production costs of custom-designed t-shirts are affordable with the benefit of digital printing technology and print-on-demand services. That's why you can get engaging custom t-shirts at an affordable budget. Also, you'll get discount offers on T-shirts on certain occasions. Many business owners offer bulk discounts on t-shirts to promote their brands.
In the meantime, in print-on-demand service, you don't need to spend an extra amount for inventory! So, as a t-shirt business, you can make your t-shirts more affordable for your customers. It makes a difference in your potential customer funnel to find you for the next time!
Mainly, t-shirts come up with fashion! Many people wear T-shirts for an impressive appearance. Maybe you're one of them! Yeah, creative designs, slogans, or different types of artwork make your t-shirts trendy and stylish! Everywhere — custom-made t-shirts have an attraction to draw attention. The t-shirts are related to culture, music, pop, or social campaigns.
Trends come and go like time flies. People love to wear trendy and custom t-shirts according to their interests, values, and beliefs. By wearing a nice design t-shirt, you can make a difference in your presence!
Nowadays, most people are well aware of an eco-friendly environment! By remembering customers' awareness, many t-shirt printing companies have managed their customer’s interest by maintaining eco-friendly materials in their production process. With the evolution, eco-friendly t-shirts are at the top of sales.
Undoubtedly, custom t-shirts are impressive gift items for your loved ones! At present, people prefer creative gift items for special occasions. Custom t-shirts are the finest gift items for family reunions, birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries! The custom t-shirts are more meaningful and wonderful gift items with a personal touch! Nowadays, people highly prefer personalized t-shirts as unique gift items for the dearest someone at present!
Picking the right printing method is really significant when you're thinking about printing on t-shirts! Once you choose the right printing method for custom t-shirts, you can gain an impressive look, pure feel, and ultimate durability! There are various types of printing methods and each of them offers excellent benefits and considerations. You’ll need to find the best printing method among all the t-shirt printing methods! Now the question is how to pick the best one, right? Don’t worry!
For your convenience, we're going to dive into the most common methods for printing t-shirts that suit your business! Let’s learn them one by one:
Screen printing has been operating its wave with immense popularity and effectiveness since 1000 AD. With the touch of modern technology, the gesture and creativity of screen printing have become more productive and accurate than ever before. Screen printing is admiringly widespread for its outstanding benefits!
It is one of the most used and traditional printing methods! This printing method is known as silk screen printing. It involves crafting a stencil and using it by applying layers of ink on the t-shirts. If you work with screen printing, you’ll see each color requires a separate screen. That's why you can get bold, vibrant, and ideal prints from screen printing.
So, screen printing is a widely used printing method for creating designs on various materials. It provides a high-quality, long-lasting, and vibrant finish to the printed designs. Screen printing is versatile in use. It can be used on a wide range of materials, such as fabric, paper, or metal. As you know screen printing is so widespread, better we dive into its advantages. limitations, and how it works:
Indeed, screen printing is well-known for its vibrant colors and durability. The method uses thicker inks and for this reason, it can easily be fit for the fabric. Because of using thicker ink, screen printing ensures excellent color opacity. That's why screen printing is the best method for bold and ideal designs!
Screen printing can make your logos stand out with its thick ink. Basically, the method has lots of benefits! For this reason, it comes first while talking about printing! In the meantime, screen printing is a cost-effective method, and it's a fantastic option for larger orders! You can reduce setup costs by making it spread out over the quantity of those printed items. Take a quick look at the pros of screen printing:
You'll find some limitations while screen printing has tons of advantages in your mind. Screen printing can't be the best option for designing with a lot of colors. Also, if you try to do so, it'll cost you more while creating multiple screens.
Also, screen printing consumes a good amount of budget on setup costs! It'll not be a good idea to go with screen printing if you have small orders. Now let's have a quick look at the cons of screen printing:
If you think about printing a huge amount of items with the same design, screen printing can be the best option for you! We meant screen printing is perfect for schools, events, or businesses as they look for bulk orders! Also, your design does not require many colors, screen printing should be your first choice!
Finally, this screen printing method works excellently on different fabrics like polyester, blend, or cotton!
This printing method uses modified inkjet technology to spray water-based inks onto clothes. Direct-to-garment (DTG) allows you to intricate full-color designs with the tiniest setup. Its easy setup feature makes this technique different from others! Also, it helps to maintain many more small quantity orders. Indeed, DTG printing is an ideal option for a huge amount of small orders.
Also, DTG creates dainty prints at an affordable budget! That's why DTG printing is an energized method for many businesses and entrepreneurs around the world. This printing method opens spaces for as many orders as you like.
DTG comes with tons of advantages! This printing method can manage bulk orders within a short time. By using this printing method, you can grab vibrant and popping detailed designs. DTG printing method is good for different styles of printing and utmost flexibility! Have a look at the pros of DTG printing:
Honestly, DTG is a good choice for many! But it has a few limitations, too. While choosing the best printing method, you have to keep an eye on both the strong sides of the method and the weak sides of the method, too! Have a glance at the cons of DTG printing:
DTG printing method will be the best option for you if you are thinking about selling cotton and cotton blend products! This method helps you to print a wide variety of designs and colors. If you want to get hassle-free prints with your customer orders (no matter, if it's less or more), DTG can help you more than others.
DTG doesn't require color separation, screen set up, or drying time as you can find in the traditional methods. So, why not DTG is a good choice for you? Still, we have some printing methods to discuss. So, no hurry to pick yours!
It's a good combination of DTG and heat transfer printing. Actually, DTF is a new printing method that prints designs onto a particular film which can be transferred to the fabric later by using heat. The reason for getting the prominence of DTF printing is its freedom! Yup, you’ve heard that right. The DTF printing allows you to print on almost any surface.
Though DTF printing comes later than other printing methods, the method helps you to print on cotton, silk, polyester, or synthetic without any kind of hassle. On the other hand, the DTF printers work on both white and dark fabric without any pushing on expensive A and B paper. Isn’t it great for you? No doubt, the DTF printing method is a smart printing technology!
Though DTF is not aged! But you have no space to ignore this method and its unique features! It has incredible benefits that you'll not find in others. The direct-to-film printer is more effective for commercial use. And it'll be the best printing option for the fashion industry! You can expect top-notch print quality by using DTF as the software operates the drop sizes, color profiling, ink levels, or other significant factors to maintain the best print quality! Take a quick look at the pros of DTF printing:
Generally, it can have some limitations. A very few times, it's seen that the color vibrancy is a bit lower than the submission. We say again it happens very rarely! However, have an eye on the cons of DTF printing:
Absolutely, you can get top-quality printing with DTF and the special ink the method uses. If you want to get more brightness and dainty, this DTF printing can do so for you. It may seem this method costs you more. No, the printing method can help you save on overall costs. So, this quality printing method will bring the utmost flexibility and top-notch printing!
Do you have small orders with complex designs? Undoubtedly, Heat Transfer printing can be a quality choice for you! It's another popular printing method. This printing method helps you print your designs on a special transfer paper by using heat and pressure. The heat helps your design adhere to the fabric and can create a high-quality print. It is also known as the thermal printing method because of printing by heat!
You already know this printing method is an ideal option for small-size orders and custom orders. It’s a versatile and effective process to adorn garments and other materials. It depends on certain transfer tools and materials to output high-quality prints in no time. Take a look at the pros of the heat transfer printing method:
Despite many advantages, heat transfer printing method also has some disadvantages! Heat transfer printing charges more than other printing methods. Another disadvantage we’ve found during our research is that heat transfer printing comes with limited colors and designs. A very few times, heat transfer prints may seem less sharp and lack of accuracy of colors. However, these are not regular issues! Moreover, have a quick look at the cons of heat transfer printing method:
The heat transfer method is perfect for small to medium-sized orders. If you want personalized items with an impressive and elegant look, Heat transfer can be a good choice. This printing method is ideal for printing small items like bags, hats, or promotional products!
Actually, sublimation means the change of a substance from solid to gas. The sublimation process goes on with the high temperature and pressure. In this way, the printing process has got the name dye sublimation. In this printing method, the substance is a certain type of liquid dye that comes up with the fabric to create colorful designs.
While creating the designs, the liquid dye not only changes its color but also changes its texture. Sublimation printing is also known as digital sublimation or dye sublimation! It works great for garment printing. At present, dye sublimation is a popular printing method for t-shirt brands. This printing method is convenient for t-shirt brands to sell their all-over t-shirts!
Hearing the name, it may seem the printing process isn't easy! But, it's a wrong idea. The printing process of dye sublimation is pretty simple! First, print the design onto particular heat transfer paper. After that, apply heat onto the transfer paper to penetrate the t-shirt with the ink! That's it.
If you want to print through dye sublimation printing, you'll need to have a heat transfer printing machine, a particular transfer paper, and ink. If you plan to work with older printers, keep in mind the fabric will not crimp while the printing process continues. It'll be best if you align the paper and the fabric. And if you work with newer printers, you'll have no hassle like these!
Dye Sublimation will not work for cotton t-shirts. So, if you're planning to print designs on cotton with Dye Sublimation, Dye sublimation print isn't the right choice. Keep in mind that the printing method is only made for synthetic fabrics like polyester!
Undoubtedly, dye sublimation is the finest printing way for synthetic fabrics. Already this printing has become popular with its excellent features and outstanding benefits. Have a look at the pros of the dye sublimation printing:
You already know that the printing method is very popular with clothing brands because of its outstanding benefits. But, it has some issues to fix. Yeah, we're talking about the cons of Dye Sublimation printing. Better, take a look at the cons of dye sublimation printing:
Basically, dye sublimation will be good for all types of print t-shirts. When you think about printing the design on the transfer paper and each time make a new t-shirt, the printing process will cost you more. That's why the dye sublimation isn't a good choice for bulk orders. Sure, you can make the method ready for printing sufficient on-demand production!
It's a versatile variation of the heat printing method. Vinyl cutting is also known as vinyl printing. This printing method is suitable for smaller orders and mass printing. Now let's learn how it works.
At the very beginning, by using a laser cutter and computer-aided design (CAD) software, cut the design from a vinyl sheet. After that, using a heat press machine, transfer the design to the t-shirt. Here you'll find chances to pick your favorite colors from different vinyl colors. Finally, the print will be vibrant and high-quality.
Obviously, vinyl printing is a good choice for top-quality printing. The method tends to make the fabric lose flexibility. It makes the output printing the best suited with smaller prints like text, icons, or branding. Let's have a look at the pros of vinyl printing:
This printing method has some minor issues. Better let's take an eye on the cons of vinyl printing:
Yup, if you want to get good durability on printing, this method can be a sound option. Generally, vinyl materials are resistant to tearing, fading, and water damage. This durability feature makes vinyl printing an ideal choice for outdoor applications!
We're pretty sure you already have heard the name of embroidery printing, right? It's a traditional method of manufacturing clothes. You'll be glad to know that this method is still popular and in demand by people's choice! Embroidery making on t-shirts is easy and requires a design, needle and thread, embroidery stitches, styles, and patterns over the fabric!
It’s really well-known for bowing creativity on t-shirts. Embroidery t-shirts are long-lasting, high-quality, and offer excellent durability! Among the textiles, cotton, and a mix of other fabrics can be embroidered on. With good designs and numerous colors, embroidery t-shirts can make you stand out from the crowd.
Embroidery is a design paradise printing. Embroidered t-shirts will be high quality and long-lasting. Let's have a quick look at the pros of embroidery:
The size and complexity of your design can be more expensive than other printing experiences. If the qualities of the thread go lost, the design will be lost! Better, take a look at the cons of embroidery:
Embroidery items are durable enough!
So, it'll be great if you use embroidery on t-shirts, hats, or business t-shirts! Also, embroidery on uniforms is a regular scenario. According to research, embroidery can release neurotransmitters that bring happiness and joy and reduce anxiety! Embroidery is such a design on t-shirts that sets you apart from the crowd.
Depending on different types of fabric, different types of printing methods work differently. Every fabric does not react the same to different printing methods. So, it's crying need to understand the relationship between the fabrics and printing methods to get the best quality output. Regarding the concern, we're going to cover different types of t-shirt printing by fabric:
Undoubtedly, cotton is one of the most popular fabrics for t-shirts. The fabric offers comfort, softness, and breathability. So, cotton is a priority when choosing the best fabric for printing. Now let's have a look at some printing methods and how they work on cotton:
Polyester is a synthetic fabric! Mostly, it's used in athlete wear because of its moisture-wicking qualities. Moreover, polyester fabric requires specific methods to achieve top-quality results:
It's a good combination of the best quality cotton and polyester. The blended fabrics come out with the quality of softness and durability! So, printing on the fabrics requires some specific methods by keeping a good ratio of the blends. Let's take a look at which printing methods work well for blended fabrics:
Actually, tri-blend fabrics combine cotton, rayon, and polyester fabrics. The tri-blend t-shirts will give you a soft and slightly stenchy feel! This amazing tri-blend demands specific printing techniques for outstanding results. Let's talk about the printing methods:
This fabric is mainly used in stenchy clothing such as activewear. Also, these fabrics require some specialized printing techniques because of getting stretchiness:
Anyway, you've already understood that the type of fabric you use in your t-shirts can highly influence the choice of printing technique. We've found that cotton DTG works well with cotton while Sublimation produces great prints for polyester! Picking the perfect combination of printing methods and fabrics will ensure the durability, liveliness, and convenience of your commercial and personal t-shirt designs!
Creating an exceptional design reaches you halfway.
If your design is done, you'll need to learn how to convert your design from your computer screen to the physical world, right? Yeah, it's time to make your design ready for print. It seems daunting, but we're going to help you with the best tips to prepare your design ready for printing. Look — if you can set up your documents properly, then it can reduce your brain sweat later. Let’s dive into some essential steps to make your design print-ready!
Remember, size and resolution are not the same things. Suppose you may have a file of 1000 x 1500 px. But, the resolution of the file is only 72 dpi. So, it can print out large. Also, after printing, it can be unexpected! On the other hand, if you have the same file with 300 dpi, the print will be smaller as well as you'll find good-quality prints.
That's why you'll need to think about the right balance between the file size and resolution for print. If you're thinking about printing your design, keep your design at 300 dpi.
Sure, it's mandatory! T-shirt Images work like a first impression for your customers! You may think everything is alright when you have the perfect resolution of your file. No, it's wrong. After setting up the resolution, focus on your image quality. If possible, you can get professional t-shirt design services to make your t-shirt images stand out.
When you scale up your image, you can use graphic design software (like Adobe Illustrator) to keep your image in the proper form for printing. Don't forget to check the file size for each image. Keep in mind that PNGs are better in quality than. JPG. Also. Adobe Illustrator AI files are better in quality than PNG. If you select a JPG image for print, you may lose the overall quality of the image. A larger.
Adobe Illustrator AI files than JPGs and PNGs will be perfect for print. Sure, your image will not lose quality after printing. Another thing you should keep in mind is that the Adobe Illustrator AI file can consume more memory in your computer! You can try to use an Adobe Illustrator AI file instead of PNG. And, if not, PNG will do better work instead of an AI. But, AI is the priority!
It's significant to save your document as an accurate file type. Yes, if you're preparing the file yourself for print, we recommend saving the file as a PDF. Definitely, a PDF file is more manageable than any other. The PDF file will be opened in the same type on any screen. Except for PDF, other files like .doc files will not always open in the same form.
Also, you can do another thing — to keep your file type more manageable! You can save your files to 'save a package' in InDesign, which can keep your files both the .idd file and .pdf file. If you follow this process, your printer will get more flexibility to work directly with the pdf. Also, with InDesign, you can edit your final document till it is ready for print.
Yeah! Start working with your printer to specify which type of file it would prefer most for t-shirt printing!
Yes. Every screen can display your color differently, even if you set your file to RGB. It is not related to your printer. Make sure that your print will be in the same color. Use a CMYK color scheme instead of RGB when you set up a document for printing. Indeed, CMYK symbolizes four colors - Cyan, Magenta, Yello, and Key (it means Black).
The colors are the most stable colors for printing. They come with the most common ink Cartridges that provide the true color for printing. However, if your designs require the appropriate colors, sure, go with Pantone® colors to make sure you get what you’re printing for!
You can not do anything like zoom in or out after your project is printed! Before you go to the final step, make sure you have done the right things with your file type. Suppose you're creating a design for a large poster. It will not be a good thing for the design if you can not read the design from far away!
So, think twice about your design till it's print-ready. The ultimate purpose of printing your design is to keep the design in true shape with the printed file. Keep in mind that you can read the design from far away while you're printing something big.
You can test your design with a test print. It's called a proof. The proof you get will give you an idea of how the final product is coming. It doesn’t need to be of the same quality as the ultimate product. It'll give you a sense of how the design will look on paper. Indeed, printing a proof copy can help you catch any mistakes you've made in text or something else.
Finally, if you catch any errors in the proof, you should send the error to the printer to fix it! Getting a proof print is a helpful way to get your print how you desire.
— Vinyl printing and DTG printing methods can be a good choice for small businesses as they offer sound flexibility with their order size and low-cost setup. Vinyl printing can be good for simple graphics. On the other hand, DTG will be a good fit for its multiple colors and detailed designs. These two printing methods can be effective for small businesses to hunt quality prints that will stand out from the crowd.
— In fact, it depends on the complexity of the order, the number of colors you use in the designs, and the printer's workload. Normally, the printing production time ranges from 2 to 5 days to deliver the final product. It's a rough estimate, but most of the time it’s true!
— Undoubtedly, it’s screen printing! For a large number of orders, screen printing is the best option due to longer set-up times. Compared to other printing methods, screen printing is ideal for large-scale orders!
— It depends on your needs! Most importantly, the quantity you need to print, your budget, and the desired quality you expect. Different printing methods come with different benefits and unique features. From screen printing to dye sublimation printing, one of them will be a better choice according to your demands and budget!
— If you're thinking about large prints, the Adobe Illustrator AI format can be a good choice! If you go with the Adobe Illustrator AI format, you’ll find good-quality designs. Obviously, the print will be outstanding. So, the Adobe Illustrator AI file will be best for larger prints.
— Well, it's a bit tough to filter out the top 3 t-shirt printing methods among many! But, for the apparel business, the below 3 printing methods are at the top position according to printing effectiveness and people's choice:
Finally, we're at the end of today's discussion!
How was the above article for you? Helpful? Presumably, you've learned lots of things about printing t-shirts. If yes, we're highly happy to know it! In the meantime, you will appreciate our team efforts as we've spent 72 hours on mega research to stand out this blog as a complete guide on how to print t-shirts professionally for beginners! We’ve run a long race on the internet during our research and discovered tons of t-shirt design ideas (we'll talk about it another day)! Probably, you can feel our efforts to help you with authentic and well-researched information!
You already know t-shirt is a big industry like the ocean! Standing up and keeping you set apart among many is not so easy for anyone! Becoming one among millions requires lots of hard work, a quick but vast research mindset, and learning new things in your domain daily!
We highly appreciate the time and fuel you've given to the above guide to uncover untold stories about printing t-shirts for beginners! If the above guide helps you to move ahead, it’ll keep us smiling to continue with more efforts in the next!
However, still, if you’ve anything to know or are confused about t-shirt print methods, contact us right now! Our team is waiting for your ping! Hurry up.
No more words, today! Soon, we’ll come up with another delicious topic to gear up your t-shirt business! Till then, keep implementing your strategy to care as much as possible for your brainchild!
Good luck with your venture! 🙂
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