Top 10 Types of Printing for Clothes | Which One Fits Your Design?

This guide will cover the top 10 most popular printing methods and explain each one in detail for clarity and better understanding, so next time you will figure out which one is right for your design. 

1. Screen Printing

Screen printing has been around for a very long time and it is still one of the most dependable ways. A person uses a screen made of fine mesh and pushes thick ink through the little holes right onto the shirt. This method works best when the design is simple and uses only a few solid colors and when you need a large number of shirts that all look the same.Colors come out bright and strong and they stay looking good for years, especially on cotton shirts. When you have to print hundreds or even thousands of shirts, screen printing usually ends up being the cheapest way per shirt. The only real downside is that it does not work well for very detailed pictures or designs that need a lot of different colors.

2. Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing

Direct to garment printing is like using an inkjet printer, which you might have at home, except this printer is made to print on clothes. It sprays some drops of ink directly onto the fabric of the shirt. This way is best when your design has many colors, gentle color changes or looks like an actual photograph. The final print feels soft to the touch because the ink goes down into the fibers of the shirt instead of sitting on top. It does the best job on cotton shirts. The only problem is that it takes longer to print each shirt, so it is not the quickest choice if you have bulk orders that need to be done fast.

3. Direct to Film (DTF) Printing

Direct to film printing has gotten very popular in the last couple of years because it is so easy to use on almost any fabric. First the design gets printed onto a special clear film, and then heat and pressure move that design from the film onto the shirt. You can use DTF on cotton shirts, polyester shirts, combo of cotton and polyester and even on nylon. The colors turn out bright and clear and the print holds up well after many washes. 

People like to use DTF then no matter they need just a few shirts or more and it works great for designs that have lots of colors.

4. Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Heat transfer vinyl starts with thin sheets of colored plastic material. A cutting machine cuts letters, numbers or any shape you need and then a heat press sticks those cut pieces onto the shirt. You see this method on sports jerseys for the player names and numbers or on shirts that have bold logos. The finished design looks very clean or sharp, and it feels a little raised when you touch it. It is a good choice when you only need 4 to 5 shirts but it is not the best if your design has many tiny details.

5. Dye Sublimation Printing

Dye sublimation is the best way to print on polyester clothing. The special ink is heated until it turns into a gas and that gas goes straight into the fabric and becomes part of the shirt itself. Because of that, there is no extra layer sitting on top and the shirt stays perfectly smooth. The print will never crack or peel and the colors stay bright for a very long time. People love using sublimation for shirts that have a design all over them, for sports uniforms and for printing real photos. The only catch is that it works much better on light-colored polyester than on dark colors or on cotton shirts.

6. Plastisol Transfers

Plastisol transfers use the same thick ink that is used in regular screen printing but the ink is printed first onto a special transfer paper. You can store those papers until you are ready and then you use a heat press to move the design onto the shirt whenever you need to. You get the same strong and bright look that you get from normal screen printing but you have more freedom because you can make the transfers ahead of time. Many companies use plastisol transfers when they only want to print a shirt after a customer places an order.

7. Resist Dyeing

Resist dyeing covers things like tie dye, batik and shibori. You cover some specific parts of the shirt with wax, rubber bands, string or folds so the dye can't hit those areas. When you dip the shirt in dye, only the parts that are not covered take the color. Every shirt will look different from the others. This method works best on natural fabrics like cotton & it is perfect if you want something that looks artistic and special.

8. Discharge Printing

Discharge printing is mostly used on dark shirts. A special chemical removes the original dark color of the shirt exactly where the design should be and at the same time, it adds a new lighter color in its place. Because nothing extra is put on top of the fabric, the shirt stays soft and comfortable. It is a great way to get detailed designs on black, navy or other dark shirts and most of the time final look feels a little old-fashioned or vintage in a nice way.

9. Airbrushing

Airbrushing is done by hand with a small spray gun that the artist holds. The artist sprays paint or ink onto the shirt to create smooth shading, custom artwork and all kinds of creative effects. Every shirt turns out unique because it depends on the skill and style of the person doing the spraying. People use airbrushing for streetwear shirts, special gifts and any time they want a design that nobody else in the world has exactly the same.

10. Heat Transfer Paper Printing

Heat transfer paper is a simple way you can even try at home. You print your design onto special paper using a regular inkjet printer and then you use a heat press or even a home iron to stick the design onto the shirt. It is quick and easy to make just a few shirts, for putting colorful pictures on clothes or for making gifts for friends and family. It doesn't costly to get started but the design usually doesn't last through as many washes as some of the other methods like screen printing or sublimation.

Summary 

At the end of this blog, the right printing method for you depends on what your design looks like, what kind of fabric of the shirt, how many colors you are using, how many shirts you need to make and the kind of look and feel you want when it is finished. Screen printing is hard to beat if you want bright colors that last a long time. DTG or dye sublimation will give you the smoothest and most realistic photos or designs with many colors. DTF is wonderful when you are not completely sure what fabric you will use because it works on almost everything. Heat transfer vinyl is fast & clean for names, numbers and simple bold shapes. And if you are looking for something artistic and different every time, resisting dyeing, tie-dye or airbrushing will give you really special results.

No matter which printing method you pick, the design file itself has to be clean and clear if you want the shirts to look professional.Digitizing USA take your picture or drawing and turn it into a perfect vector design quickly and correctly. 

So do you have any rough, pixelated and blurry pictures and want to convert it into perfect designs like sharp and clear? Place an order today and get your favorite designs at very affordable prices.