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How Much Does Cotton T Shirt Printing Cost? Guide to Starting a Screen Printing Business
Which Method is Better for Cotton T Shirt Printing? Vinyl or Screen Printing?
Custom tees continue to be a trend all over the world. Many people can find brands or businesses that will let their customers choose the design or customize their products.
If you would like to build your t-shirt brand, you need to consider major factors. First is the use of software to create the design. The second factor is the cotton t-shirt printing technique that will help in producing excellent quality prints and intricate with colorful designs.
Below is a list of methods that are best for printing on custom t shirts that will perfectly align with your marketing goals.
- Digital Textile Printing or Direct to Garment (DTG) method
It is the latest technology in the printing industry. It uses inkjet printers, which allow you to print intricate designs with various color combinations not only on cotton fabric but also viscose, polyester, linen, and wool.
The good thing about using this method is as follows:
- You won’t need a huge space and start your business in a smaller area.
- It can execute even the most complicated design.
- It doesn’t need bulk orders because you can ask to have 3 to 4 custom shirts printed through it.
- With its setup, it will be easy for you to acclimate to the business model of print-on-demand.
- Maximum combination of colors.
- Water pollution is minimal, and it is eco-friendly.
- You can stay away from large inventories and avoid dead stocks.
- Dye Sublimation
It is a heat printing wherein the designs are made through software and then printed on the shirt using heat transfer. Compared to other printing methods, it uses dye-based ink, turning it into gas with heat. Heat and pressure will transform it from solid to gas state, but once it is applied, it will turn to solid back again. It is a unique printing method because the gas will become part of the polyester fabric, making the design part of the fabric.
The good thing about using this method is as follows:
- You can make premium designs that aren’t layered.
- The fabric is still soft and breathable.
- It is an expensive technology, but it works well with polyblend shirts.
- The print-on-demand can be possible for those who prefer bulk orders.
- Plastisol Transfer
It is a great option for those who don’t want to buy printing machinery yet and would like to experiment with some design before heading on the bulk orders. The virtual designs you will create will be outsourced to those who have plastisol printing machinery. The design will not be printed on the shirt directly but on the plastisol paper instead of using an inkjet printer. The printed paper will be shipped to you, or your clients can apply the designs on the shirts using a heat press.
The good thing about using this method is as follows:
- To save on preliminary costs, you can outsource the design printing.
- Best for start-up businesses and experimental designs.
- Screen Printing
It is the most popular and adopted in all printing techniques. It uses screen printing inks to create durable and vibrant designs. It is best with bulk orders. Print-on-demand is not feasible, and it is difficult with this printing technique.