There are many ways to compare and contrast the various types of t-shirt printing methods available today, ranging from the process used and the technologies involved to the smaller details like the inks and colour reproduction quality. However, most people designing their own custom tees don’t want to know about every little difference; they only care about those that can help them achieve the final product they want.
As such, if you’re looking to engage a custom t-shirt printing service and want to hone in on the key points you should know about, this article delves into the key considerations before placing your order.
1. Fabric compatibility
Your choice of printing technique can be largely narrowed down by determining whether you want your custom tee to use a specific t-shirt material since there’s no printing method that is compatible with every fabric variation out there. The only option that comes close is silk screen printing, which accommodates a greater variety of materials, such as polyester, cotton, and blends, compared to other printing techniques.
For instance, choosing dye sublimation for a thick cotton shirt will only lead to the printing process ruining the overall quality. So, if your project has a strong emphasis on meeting certain fabric requirements like improved breathability, it’s best to base your decision around user comfort and experience rather than which printing method delivers the highest quality print.
2. Production speed
Different printing processes naturally come with differing production speeds. As such, it is important to consider this often-overlooked aspect before finalising your decision, especially for print jobs with a sense of urgency. For example, if there’s a need for thousands of custom shirts in the shortest amount of time possible, opting for the fastest method will take precedence over anything else and require making some sacrifices on print quality, design choices, garment options, and so on. If you don’t have a tight deadline to meet, you have more flexibility in your options. However, there are still other factors that could affect the turnaround time of your order, such as how busy the printing company is and their average delivery timeline.
3. Cost-efficiency
You’ll most likely be working with a budget regardless of whether you’re ordering for a personal project or on behalf of your organisation. To make the most of it, you’ll need to evaluate the overall cost-efficiency of each printed product, which is going to be influenced by the printing method, garment or fabric type, order quantity, and complexity of the design, to name a few.
It is also worth re-evaluating what the printed tees will be used for. If they are meant to be a one-time-use garment for a certain event or given as promotional material, opting for budget-friendly choices is highly recommended. Last but not least, the number of printing locations can greatly affect the cost of your order. For instance, if you have a design that uses five colours and needs to be printed on three locations, that sums up to a total of 15 screens or imprints.
4. Design
If you want photographs or designs featuring many colours like those commonly found in class t-shirt printing, you’re better off choosing a digital printing technique since it is better at reproducing them at a high quality. Not only that, its use of CMYK inks means it can reproduce a wide variety of colours and will accommodate all the hues in your multi-colour designs.
Otherwise, screen printing methods are the better and more cost-effective choice, especially if you’re ordering in bulk. This is because screen printing separates and prints each colour in a design individually, which means the total cost will be lower if you only have a handful of them in your design. And despite being better suited for solid and bold graphics, modern screen printing is more than capable of working with realistic and elaborate designs with a bit of adapting and expertise.
Conclusion
When ordering custom t-shirts, focusing on the biggest factors like the ones listed above is essential to achieving the final product you want. Choosing the right printing method depends on your fabric choice and how quickly you need your personalised apparel done, while staying within budget often requires balancing design complexity and print locations. Prioritising these considerations will help you navigate the options available and ensure your custom t-shirts are both high-quality and cost-effective, whether for a personal project or a large event.
