T-Shirt Printing Myths: For Screen Printing, DTG, Heat Transfers

Like everything else, the t-shirt printing business is surrounded by printing myths as well. And these myths hassle the business, creating wrong perceptions and preventing possible customers to engage in transactions with custom shirt printing shops and hobbyists. In my experience in the custom shirt printing business, I have debunked several t-shirt printing myths not only to boost my sales but also to help customers understand the printing business better.

What are the shirt printing myths for screen printing, direct to garment and heat transfers? Out of the many myths, the most popular myths are: (1) screen printing is only for large order quantities, (2) direct to garment printing is not applicable for polyester finish garments, and (3) heat transfer printing is only applicable for light colored garments.

T-shirt printing myths are wrong perceptions that surround the business that is most of the time, believed by customers as norms and standards of custom printing. Each printing techniques have their own set of myths, perceptions that need to be corrected. Have you believed some of these myths too? Let’s list down the myths and debunk them one by one!

Screen Printing Technique

Image by threads_screen_print

When we talk about custom shirt printing, this technique perhaps will be the first to pop in your mind. Its efficiency and the quality output it creates make it a technique of choice for those who seek to have their own set of custom shirts.

The oldest and most popular among all custom printing techniques, screen printing or silk screen printing is a process that involves pressing of ink onto the garment using a stenciled synthetic screen and squeegees.

It is a printing process that may either be done through a purely manual method, a purely automated method or even a mix of both. Nonetheless, this printing technique will always require manpower in executing printing or operating machines.

Each color of the design to be printed will require its own screens and applications thus creating a costlier net cost for multi-colored artworks. This is one of the primary reasons why making larger quantity orders will cost you less.

When creating custom prints with screen printing, the required preparation and the cost of materials are the same even though you have your design printed in 20 units or 100 units. Having a minimum order for this kind of set-up really makes sense.

Myths In Screen Printing

Being the most popular custom printing technique, it is safe to assume that it also has the most number of myths among all other methods. Why not? The more popular you get, the more wrong perceptions will rise.

Let’s explore the most popular screen printing myths and debunk them one by one:

Myth: Screen printing is only for large order quantities

I bet that once you hear the word “screen printing”, it automatically echoes the popular myth that this technique only accommodates large order quantities. Guess what? It can also accommodate small runs!

Screen printing can definitely accommodate small runs of custom prints. Bulk orders are only ideal because the project will be cost effective and will be affordable on the customer’s end.

If you cannot find a custom printing shop that can accommodate small projects, try mixing and matching your order with other available products that you can use for promotional needs.

Myth: It is expensive to screen print

Since people assume that this method is for large order quantities only, of course, they will assume too that availing custom screen printed shirts will cost them a fortune. But did you know that screen printing can actually help save you a lot?

Screen printing is actually one of the cost-effective ways to have your custom designs printed. What makes it look expensive for customers is the minimum order requirement the shops require to proceed with your order.

Here’s a pro tip, you can actually mix and match different kinds of materials in your bulk orders such as shirts, jackets, bags or any other materials. What counts is the number of applications the printer will create on different surfaces.

Myth: Screen printing is only applicable for shirts

When you think of the screen printing process, you probably discount all other items as a printing medium except for shirts. But did you know that because of technological advancement, screen printing also became a popular method of custom print for different items?

Shirts are the most popular mediums for screen printing, but the process is not only limited to such material. Years before, screen printing is applicable to most if not all textiles. And now, state of the art machines make it possible to print custom artworks on any product and merchandise available.

Myth: No samples available for screen printing projects

I understand that having a sample of your requested project will help you feel assured and secured that your design will be printed as it is. Personally, I would also prefer a sample too, and having a sample for screen printing is available these days.

Because of the minimum order requirement and the available information that preparation and materials needed for 20 and 100 orders are the same. Printers may not be able to produce a sample but they can show you a sample of a previous project that is similar to yours. Showing that they can yield an amazing final sample.

Myth: Screen printing comes with hidden costs

We all fear hidden and extra costs that will just come up when the transaction is about to end. And because of the complex preparation process of screen printing, we assume that there will be hidden costs or extra charges.

When having a custom shirt printing project, your preferred printing shop will and must provide straight up and all in cost for your orders. The quoted price must include all custom screen printing materials needed.

Do not hesitate to ask questions and confirm prices, it is your right as a buyer to know that your transaction will not include any hidden or extra fees. In fact, if you go for larger bulk orders, you can even get big discounts.

Myth: Printed designs fade and crack

Because of the thickness of printed designs using a screen printing technique, you probably doubt that these will eventually crack and fade after months of use. Perhaps it will end up that way if it will be printed with poor quality ink and wrong application.

Over years of advancement, screen printing’s water-based paints have upgraded. With the right application, it withstands cracking and fading over a period of time. Many printing businesses guarantee deep penetration of ink into the material that will help create better prints.

Myth: The whole batch of the order will have the same design size on different materials

Remember my tip to mix and match your project with different materials to meet the minimum order requirement? Yes? And I guess you worry that the design size will be the same on all materials, right?

Do not worry because the designers will adjust each design based on the shape and size of the materials to be printed. Since your batch of the order includes shirts and other items, they will make sure that the printed design will be proportional to its size.

Myth: Screen printing takes too much time to accomplish

It is not unusual to have last minute decisions for organizations and event hosts to decide last minute in having an event shirt. And most won’t seek to have their designs printed via screen printing technique because they assume that the process will take longer.

Well, professional screen printing shops will work with your required timeline. They know if the timeline is still feasible or they may offer alternatives that will help meet the deadline. And with the aid of modern screen printing technology, projects can even be accomplished in a span of 48 hours.

Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing Technique

Can you just imagine how awesome technology can be that it even created opportunities for direct design printing to a garment without the same load of preparation that screen printing requires?

Well, we have direct to garment printing technique now, and it is just awesome. Direct to garment or DTG printing is one of the youngest printing technique in existence. As the name suggests, the printer directly prints the design onto the garment, and it is that easy.

For a better understanding of direct to garment printing, just think of a tabletop inkjet printer printing your favorite getaway photo on a sheet of photo paper. It goes exactly the same way. Your garment is your paper, and you’ve got a bigger printer to handle the printing.

And because the process prints your desired design onto the garment, DTG can accommodate the most complex design and even a photographic artwork without the hassle of preparing too much. It only takes a good designer to prepare your artwork for custom printing.

Direct to garment printing also became popular among custom shirt lovers because it can accommodate single runs at an affordable cost, unlike screen printing process.

Some even use this printing method to create actual print samples before choosing the actual printing technique to use.

Myths In Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing

Even the most modern printing technique has its own set of myths. But since direct to garment (DTG) printing is not as old as other methods, there are quite fewer myths to debunk about this printing technique

Let’s explore the most popular direct to garment printing myths and debunk them one by one:

Myth: Direct to garment printing is not applicable for polyester finish garments

We always assume that custom printing is applicable to cotton based shirts only. No it is not only applicable to cotton and cotton blend garments, but it is best suited on such material. With this in mind, it is safe to say that direct to garment printing can accommodate polyester shirts.

Printing on a polyester garment has been in the circulation for quite some time now. What only needs to be done is that there must be an application of polyester pretreatment first. The end result will actually resemble that of a sublimation print.

Myth: Direct to garment printing is only applicable to white garments

Are you comparing the inkjet printing on plain white paper with the actual direct to garment printing on a white garment? Well, just like the inkjet printer, designs are at its best quality when printed on white paper; and printing on colored and dark shades is possible but challenging.

That goes the same way with direct to garment printing. Everything must be printed in contrast. Designs may be adjusted accordingly so that it can be seen on colored backgrounds. And just to let you know, white ink is in existence.

Myth: White DTG printer ink always clogs

For direct to garment printing business owners, there’s this wrong perception that white ink always causes clogs because the older versions of white ink’ s suspension have issues. But the newer white inks have the solids suspended better than its older version.

Nonetheless, clogging issues must not be associated with ink colors, but to improper machine maintenance. Maintaining a DTG printer is pretty basic but crucial in preventing clogs.

Myth: Direct to garment prints do not wash well compared to screen printed designs

Direct to garment prints actually do wash well as long as it undergoes proper pre-treatment and curing. And this goes the same with screen printing that will require proper curing to attain excellent washability.

Direct to garment printers use water-based inks, and with proper curing, the design may begin to deteriorate after more than 50 washes exceeding the industry standards of 50 washings before deterioration.

Myth: Direct to garment printing is not optimal for large production

Printing a complex design on a shirt really takes time, just like printing a high-resolution photo on a photo paper. The myth about its slow printing capacity is actually true but the myth about it being not an optimal option for large productions may be debunked.

Many direct to garment printing shops use multiple machines to run large quantity orders at a faster pace. Although, it is still more efficient for such large bulk of orders to be produced using a screen printing method.

Myth: Direct to garment is too pricey to have a profit

Ink may be quite pricey but it does not mean that you won’t be able to earn from it. In providing direct to garment printing services, you do not only sell per unit as if you have printed something on a piece of paper.

Remember that you have to include everything you spend to come up with a justifiable selling price.

Why don’t we set the pricing standards high? Actually, it is already set high because the price per unit is computed based on the expenses incurred using DTG process and not based on expenses of other printing methods.

Heat Transfer Printing Technique

Many enjoy doing their own heat transfer custom shirts because of the ease in executing a heat press.

And I am pretty sure that you already saw the actual process of heat transfer because, among the many custom printing techniques, this one is the handiest and most feasible to have in a pop-up shop.

Are you still familiar with the equipment and accessories needed for heat transfer printing? The heat transfer printing technique requires the use of a pigment-based ink printer, a special transfer paper, a heat press machine and some accessories such as Teflon sheet and thermal tape.

The process is pretty basic and I am quite sure that you will enjoy how it is being done. Well, it starts with the design to be printed on a special transfer paper. The ink and the paper transfer the design when activated by heat using a heat press machine.

The shirt goes into the bottom plate of the machine with the cutout design to transfer and a Teflon sheet on top. Once the heat press machine reaches its required heat based on different materials, the heated platen will be pulled down using a handle and will press the design onto the shirt.

Myths in Heat Transfer Printing

Although heat transfer printing technique is pretty basic to understand, we will, of course, expect a few myths that make this method quite interesting to learn.

Let’s explore the most popular heat transfer printing myths and debunk them one by one:

Myth: Heat transfer printing is only applicable for light colored garments

Have you already seen a special transfer paper? If not, well let me describe it to you. It is a sheet of transparent paper that has an opaque film as its base. That one is intended for light colored garments only since the paper is actually transparent.

For dark colored garments, there is another type of special transfer paper which is opaque in general. It is like a sticker that will be heated onto the shirt to become a permanent design. And because of the existence of such transfer paper, heat transfer is applicable to any garment color.

Myth: My low-resolution artwork can’t get a good print

Would you like to have your low quality, low-resolution design printed on your shirt? Of course not! We would always want the best design printed in best quality for our custom shirts. Fret not, because designers will help you with your problem.

Basically, your low-resolution artwork won’t look good on a custom shirt. But designers will help you with your problem by making possible adjustments and enhancement to your design.

They probably would help you out because they wouldn’t want displeasing looks on people’s faces form the custom shirts that they have produced.

Myth: Heat transfer printing is not applicable for polyester based materials

With the involvement of high temperature in the design application, heat transfer is often discounted as a method of custom design printing for polyester-based materials. Why not? Polyester is a heat sensitive material and may scorch or melt on high temperatures.

Heat transfer printing on polyester materials is really quite challenging. With the right temperature of around 280 degrees and up to 300 for some and the right transfer paper, polyester will be one medium you can use for your heat transfer business.

Debunking Shirt Printing Myths

Myths are similar to gossips, they come unverified. Some myths may be harmless, but some may be creating confusion and apprehension that may eventually harm the business. T-shirt printing is definitely full of myths which create walls between shops and customers.

Having been in the industry for some time now, I too have even questioned myself if there’s truth behind each myth. If you were in my place, would you challenge these myths and find answers as well?

Do not get fooled by myths, make it a habit to research, ask the question and find the answers. Knowing details before assuming won’t do you any harm. Just make sure to get information to reliable sources and experts in the t-shirt printing industry.