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Top 6 Screen Printing Methods for T-Shirts

Elijah Birchell, November 9, 2023

There is a wide range of techniques available that printers can choose from when it comes to t-shirt screen printing (also known as screen printing). This article will focus on six of the best screen printing techniques for custom t-shirts local screen printing.

When screen printing is done in large quantities, it becomes much cheaper and easier, because the more t-shirts produced, the shorter the comparative time required to prepare the screens.

For now, let’s take a look at the different screen printing methods that can be used, so you can find the right method for your needs.

  1. plastisol
    Plastisol is a very resistant type of ink that stands the test of time. It is oil-based, so removing it requires chemicals. Because of that, it is less environmentally friendly than other alternatives.

However, plastisol remains the most popular ink as it can be printed in both light and dark colors. colored t-shirts Anything printed on a light base will stand out and shine much more, but each color will cost extra. So ultimately, the more colors you choose for your t-shirt design, the more expensive the print will be.

You can also print designs with a large number of colors using plastisol. Depending on how many stations your screen printer has and your automatic or manual presses, you can choose between 8, 10 or 12 colors. Designs that have up to three colors are usually the most affordable.

Backing colors are not necessary when printing on white t-shirts, because the print will already be in a light color; This is definitely advantageous. Another advantage of printing on lighter colored t-shirts is that since less ink is used, the t-shirt will have a softer feel. For example, a single color on white will feel softer and use less ink compared to a multi-color print of the Rolling Stones logo.

One downside to using more ink is that prints tend to crack as they age. If you’re worried about your t-shirts cracking over time, then the next method is probably a better option.

  1. Water-based printing
    Unlike plastisol, water-based printing provides a super smooth print, is easy to clean, and requires no chemicals to clean the inks. It’s also a great eco-friendly option, because the inks can easily be washed down the drain and have low toxicity. This type of printing works best on lighter garments, because the colors are not as strong as plastisol inks.

Used on darker fabrics, the water-based print will give it a vintage or faded feel. If you have any questions about which print will look best on your t-shirts, it is best to ask the printers as they have invaluable experience in different printing techniques.

  1. Download screen printing
    If you bleach the dark part of a t-shirt, it will become much more vibrant and soft. This is because there will not be a thick layer of ink on the garment when bleach is used. Instead of regular ink, discharge inks are used that remove dye from the t-shirt. In design, this technique is related to bleaching, except that it does not damage the fibers and will change the color of the garment to the color of your choice.

The way t-shirts react to the discharge printing process may be different. Most printers have preferred textures and even preferred colors to work with when using the download printing method. An advantage of using discharge printing is that after the first wash, the t-shirt becomes very soft and you can barely feel the printing.

Discharge printing is a more difficult process than water-based or plastisol printing. If this method is chosen, it is recommended to use a high quality printer.

  1. CMYK printing
    While the print won’t be as sharp as the real thing, it will certainly come close! CMYK printing (also known as four-color process printing) is another screen printing technique that printers can use.

It may be surprising that such vibrant and accurate prints can be achieved from just four base colors, but you can combine those four colors for incredible detail and color depth. This form of simulated process printing is a very technical task for printers, so it is recommended that an experienced printer perform the task, especially for the color separation process.

The design is first run through software that splits the colors, then the darkness of all the films is adjusted manually. Some tests can also be performed to calibrate the different color layers.

  1. Foil printing
    The foil printing method is used to apply gold or metallic prints to garments. The t-shirt is first covered with an adhesive, then aluminum foil is placed over the adhesive. Once placed, the excess is removed. The foil will remain on the parts of the shirt that had adhesive and will be removed from the rest.

Foil-printed t-shirts usually don’t hold the print long after several washes. An alternative way to achieve a similar metallic effect is by using metallic inks. They won’t be as bright, but they will last much longer. Another benefit is that they are cheaper.

  1. Dye Sublimation Screen Printing
    Dye sublimation is a screen printing technique used by many print-on-demand printers. It involves the design being printed on a large sheet of paper, which is usually large enough to cover the entire t-shirt. The special type of paper used for this is called sublimation paper.

First you print the design on the large sheet of sublimation paper, then turn it over so that the ink comes into contact with the t-shirt. After that, a heat press compresses the ink onto the shirt, causing it to stick. When the sublimation paper is removed, the colorful design appears on the t-shirt.

It is important to note that dye sublimation cannot be used for 100% cotton t-shirts, as the t-shirt must have a high polyester content for the printing technique to work.

It’s still a very good printing method because it’s full color, meaning you can use as many colors as you want and it won’t affect the price. However, compared to other printing methods, dye sublimation is the most expensive way to print t-shirts as it involves many steps and uses a lot of ink. Therefore, price-wise, it is at the opposite end of the range from printing with plastisol ink.

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