Printing Tshirts

Chronicle · 3 Apr 2006 at 02:44

Hello
I want to print some tshirts, multiple designs, just one or two each (eg, design 1 i need 3 copies of, design 2, 1 copy of).

What is the cheapest company to do this with?

Most are just one colour. Some might be two colours though.

Thanks

yer_averagejoe · 3 Apr 2006 at 02:54

Print your own! I cut my designs out of a sheet of acetate, stick this to a silk screen, flood the screen with acrylic paint, squeeze the paint through the silk with a squeege and then move onto the next t shirt. Leave to dry, place an old rag on top of the design and iropn over to set the acrylic. The design will last for ages and its fun!

Plus the chicks dig a guy that makes his own t shirts with a slik screen

lozza · 3 Apr 2006 at 11:04

Screen printing isn't economical to do in such small runs - fine if you do it yourself and can get hold of a Screen with a 43T mesh, a squeegee and the right inks.

I'd advise transfer printing, depending on the design complexity depends on the route you go.

Yellow pages for signmakers and t-printers

Phantom · 3 Apr 2006 at 11:21

Harib0 said:
Screen printing isn't economical to do in such small runs - fine if you do it yourself and can get hold of a Screen with a 43T mesh, a squeegee and the right inks.

I'd advise transfer printing, depending on the design complexity depends on the route you go.

Yellow pages for signmakers and t-printers

transfers dont last long do they? they have a habit of peeling/fading and comes off in the wash after a few cycles

Chronicle · 3 Apr 2006 at 12:59

They need to look quite professional, like something you could buy from a shop.

Tesla · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:00

Chronicle said:
They need to look quite professional, like something you could buy from a shop.

Perhaps buy them from a shop then?

If they need to look pro then I guess it's for something quite important. Why skimp?

lozza · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:42

Phantom said:
transfers dont last long do they? they have a habit of peeling/fading and comes off in the wash after a few cycles

Depending on the design (can't say without seeing really) you could get them done with CadCut garment vinyl, which is basically like a sheet/roll of screen print ink that has been cured with an adhesive on it that gets cut out and pressed onto the t-shirt. Most t-shirt to vinyl colour combinations can be used.

There are various types including ones that can be washed at 90c and ironed.
They do not fade in colour, they can peel off if not applied properly, however if you go to someone who know what they are doing then it will out last the life of the t-shirt.

Paper transfers, that go through ink jet or laser printers are for white garments only and do fade in colour as well as crack and peel off. They need to be washed at low temperatures and cannot be ironed

The is also another method called sublimation, which again is for white garments only and the garments have to be special ones, it does work with polyester garments but the finish is not as good as the specific subli garments. You will find the colour can fade slightly but with a quick iron the colour is rejuvinated again. This method is great for full colour prints on white garments and feels good to as the ink is transfered into the fibres of the garment.