Everything around us is digital these days, so why not clothes? Digitally designed attire that contains selfies, or a photo of a beloved person has become a fashion statement. Some people even get a photo of a beloved pet etched upon their t-shirts.
Hence, we may look up to stores such as nzprintshop.co.nz, to get premium quality designer-shirts. The way they design the t-shirt stands out in the crowd. A profound knowledge of various t-shirt printing methods helps the fashion-conscious younger generation make the correct choice. The most popular types of t-shirt printing methods are as follows:
1. Printing on Screen
It is a popular way of designing t-shirts. It is also called silkscreen printing. It is perfect for designing premium quality t-shirts. Many fashion designers utilize this way to produce -t-shirts for masse. However, screen printing cannot express too complex and multi-coloured designs.
Requirements
- a) A netting made of nylon
- b) A Framework
How to do
Many fashion designers make sure that the nylon netting upholds the framework. Then, they prepare the framework, which is generally made of some waterproof substance. Just the negative part allows the dye to soak. Ultimately, the ink floods the screen.
2. Colour Sublimation
Colour sublimation is appropriate to print fabrics that have a creamy structure, for example, Polyester. It imparts a durable design that imparts a vivacious appearance. This t-shirt printing method has several advantages over others. The print doesn’t crack or fade over time. As a result, the print lasts for a long time.
Requirements
- a) A particular type of liquid color.
- b) Light t-shirt
How to do
The colour becomes dry the moment it touches the polyester fabric. It becomes solid within the cloth once it dries up. Many fashion designers put heat on the solidified dye. It turns to gas, under the influence of heat and pressure. Then, the molecules of the fabric expand, causing some gaps to form in the cloth. The gas slips between those gaps. Finally, the molecules contract, after the fabric is not exposed to heat.
3. Vinyl Cutting
Vinyl cutting offers designs that stay for a long period of time on the t-shirts. This way is utilized for designing slogans on sportswear. Fashion designers also use the vinyl cutting mode for printing singular and quirky, off-beat designs. It can also be used for the mass publishing of t-shirt designs. A particular machine known as a vinyl cutting machine allows people to utilize separate layers of the machine to print the same design in a variety of colours.
Requirements
- a) A specially procured soft cloth.
How to do
A soft cloth is stripped into different designs. Later, the designs can be shifted to one shirt. Finally, the heat press method is utilized to keep the different types of designs on the t-shirt intact. The design lasts for a long period and it is suitable for different types of fabrics.
4. Heat Press Printing
It may be considered as an economical method for providing durable designs. Not only does it save time, but also caters to limitless orders. Heat Press printing is unsuitable for dark-hued materials, the reason being the dye is translucent. This way is suitable for complicated designs and you can find more about this topic if you check sites like this.
Requirements
- A particular type of paper, known as transfer paper.
- Vinyl for transferring heat.
- Light-coloured t-shirt.
How to do
Most of the fashion designers place a light-coloured t-shirt on the vinyl which has heat transfer property. This process is repeated till the heat makes the colour on the transfer paper get softer. Finally, it seeps under the cloth. Later, the designers remove the colour from the transfer paper. Ultimately, that design which we want is left on the attire.
5. Direct-to garment (DTG Way)
This process is appropriate for complicated situations. Fashion designers implement this procedure when the design is too complicated for other methods. Direct-to-garment method becomes suitable for t-shirts which are made of 100% cotton, or have a high percentage of cotton blend.
Requirements
- Cotton t-shirts
- Ink Cartridges
- Printing Machines
How to do
This procedure is considered the best where designer t-shirts are concerned. The printing machines used in the technique are lightweight. Hence, portability is ensured when DMG is used for a business. The cartridges for ink do not create a mess. The arrangement time is low. Hence, a fashion designer may get any t-shirt with a design printed using this method within 30 minutes. There is no limit on colours. Hence, most of the fashion designers freely use as many colours as they want. The printing machines directly inject the ink in the fabric. Hence, a rough or grainy feeling of the print will not be evident on the cloth.
This process is unsuitable for bulk design. Fashion designers opt for this process when they have only one-five t-shirts where they print the design. The machines are expensive to maintain. However, they are simple to operate.
6. Plastisol Transfers
A Plastisol Transfer Printing process may be described as a clean, commercial procedure. The fashion designers require this process a few times, to understand the strategy.
This method has become popular for many reasons. They are as follows:
- This technique is not messy
- It is suitable for full-colour designs and less colour designs.
- Fashion designers may fit many designs on one transfer paper. Then, they separately cut and print them.
Requirements
- Ink-jet print
- T-shirt
- Plastisol transfer paper
How to do
At first, the fashion designers ink-jet the design, to print it on plastisol transfer paper. Then, they utilize this paper to heat press the required design on the t-shirt.
Many companies collaborate with the fashion designers in this regard. The busy fashion designers often send their designs to one of these companies. The companies in turn print the designs on premium quality plastisol transfer paper. Then they ship the paper containing the designs to the designers.
Conclusion
Professional fashion designers market their product in different ways. No matter how good the marketing techniques are, the t-shirts will not sell unless the designing is good. Hence, the focus should be on creating an aesthetic design. A knowledge of these techniques will help the fashion designers in creating a good design.
