| | | | | industry maintain that the best vibrancy of colour can |
| Different techniques can be used to print your t-shirt | | | | only be produced by screen printing. |
| design onto your T-shirt, and unsurprisingly, they | | | | The durability of screen printed t-shirts following |
| produce different results. In this article, we examine | | | | multiple wears and washes is also considered to be |
| screen printing and digital t-shirt printing, and the pros | | | | the best, but of course, the quality of inks used and |
| and cons of each one, to help you choose the best | | | | the base garment will also be a factor. |
| way to create your dream t-shirt. | | | | The best T-shirt designs for digital printing |
| Screen printing for t-shirts | | | | Advances in printing technology have improved the |
| If you had an industrious art teacher at school, you | | | | finish of digitally printed t-shirts immensely over |
| may have tried a simple version of screen printing in | | | | recent years. If you tried it a few years ago and |
| which a template for each colour of your design | | | | were disappointed by seeing dots in your design, |
| creates the spaces where the ink can be pressed | | | | don't let it discourage you now. Modern digital t-shirt |
| onto the fabric. The same principle applies in | | | | printing machines produce better finishes now, with |
| professional t-shirt screen printing, although there is | | | | better durability than ever before. |
| more automation of the actual printing once the | | | | If you are using a photograph or complex, |
| set-up has been completed. | | | | multi-coloured image in your t-shirt design, digital |
| Digital printing | | | | printing is the way to go as it can reproduce |
| This is sometimes called "direct to garment digital | | | | photorealistic designs. In addition, it's the cheaper |
| printing" or simply DTG. This technique involves the | | | | option if you only need a small number of t-shirts |
| application of textile water-based inks to the t-shirt | | | | produced as the set-up costs are lower. |
| using a specialised digital printer. The design is usually | | | | One important factor to consider with digital printing |
| fixed onto the garment with a heat press. | | | | is the colour of the base garment, as generally that |
| Choosing the best t-shirt printing technique | | | | colour is the most prominent in the design, and as a |
| When considering which technique to choose for a | | | | result, best effects are achieved using white t-shirts |
| t-shirt print run, many people ask which provides the | | | | when printing a multi-coloured design. Only the very |
| best quality finish. In fact, the best technique | | | | best DTG t-shirt printers may be able to get |
| depends on the t-shirt design you want to print, as | | | | excellent results with black or dark coloured t-shirts. |
| some are better suited to each technique. It also | | | | Printing white ink can still be problematic, so avoiding |
| depends on the colours you are printing and the | | | | using DTG t-shirt printing for designs that contain |
| colour of the base garment too. | | | | substantial white areas, especially on dark base |
| The best T-shirt designs for screen printing | | | | garments, is a wise choice. |
| Bold designs with thick lines and few colours are best | | | | Summary |
| suited to screen printing, producing very high quality | | | | With the advances in digital T-shirt printing over |
| results. If you are using a digital image with fine | | | | recent years, it's no longer simply a case of "screen |
| colour blending or black and white shading in your | | | | printing produces the best results" - instead, start |
| t-shirt design, screen printing will simply not be able to | | | | with the needs of your design and examine whether |
| reproduce the image well. | | | | screen printing or DTG digital T-shirt printing can best |
| Of course, other factors will influence the price of | | | | reproduce it. |
| your t-shirt run, such as the number being produced, | | | | In short, if your design is simple and has few colours, |
| especially as screen printing does involve more | | | | generally screen printing is the method to opt for, |
| setting up before printing can begin. The number of | | | | but may be more expensive for a small print run. If |
| colours in the design also affects the price as a | | | | your T-shirt design involves many colours and |
| different screen is required for each colour. | | | | photorealistic images, then digital printing should be |
| If your T-shirt design is relatively simple, screen | | | | your first choice. Of course, the best t-shirt printing |
| printing may well be the best option as it produces a | | | | companies will be happy to give you advice on what |
| very high quality finish. Many in the t-shirt printing | | | | is best for your needs. |