Personalization is in fashion! We all like to have our personal items decorated with meaningful images or phrases. And T-shirt printing is one of the classic products in the customization business. When starting out in this business, many questions arise about which technique to use: sublimation, vinyl, transfer paper, direct printing, screen printing? In this post, we offer an initial guide on the different techniques available to customize t-shirts.

We can create a personalized t-shirt as a special gift to a friend or family member, for a bachelor party, a birthday party, with our favorite band, or that movie we love. These are all inspirational themes for printing t-shirts.

Although the great dilemma is posed to the professional who starts in the printing of t-shirts when he has to decide which technique is the most appropriate. Sublimation, transfer paper, textile vinyl, direct digital printing? These are all suitable techniques for personalizing T-shirts and before choosing one, we must ask ourselves several questions:

• What is our budget?
• What equipment do we have?
• What is the composition of the fabric?
• What color is the T-shirt?
• What durability do we expect from the design?
• What type of design is it, etc.?

For each of these techniques, a lot of information can be detailed and requires several exclusive posts to thoroughly analyze the possibilities it offers. However, in this table, you will find the general information that will help you decide which technique you can use and the approximate budget of the initial investment.

Customization Techniques Table

Below you can consult the most important characteristics of each of these techniques:

Transfer paper

It requires a very low investment. If you already have a domestic laser or inkjet printer just buy a transfer plate and the right transfer paper (choosing between transfer paper for laser or inkjet printer and for light or dark backgrounds. T-shirts printed with transfer paper have low durability to washing and lose color progressively. It has a soft touch, although you can feel a sheet adhered to the shirt.

Sublimation

It is a moderate investment. You have to buy an inkjet printer that you will use exclusively for sublimation, and you will equip it with dye and sublimation paper. You also need a transfer plate. It is easy to make and offers maximum graphics quality and durability to washing. It is the perfect technique for reproducing photographic images. It has a very soft touch, as the inks penetrate the fiber of the fabric. The only limitation is that only white or light-colored polyester fabric can be sublimated.

Cutting Vinyl

It requires an average investment. You must acquire a cutting plotter with an optical reader, and a transfer plate, as well as textile vinyl. This technique is suitable for single color designs and vector images. There is vinyl of different finishes and textures. Good resistance to washing and a thin plastic sheet is perceived to the tact.

Printable vinyl

There are different types of vinyl depending on the type of printer you use: inkjet with common inks, sublimation inkjet or solvent/eco-solvent plotter. You must print the vinyl including cut marks and then use the cutter to cut the design. Then apply it to the garment with a transfer iron. It offers good resistance to washing and to the touch a thin sheet is perceived on the fabric.

Direct or DTG printing

It is the ideal solution for printing T-shirts. It prints directly on the shirt and offers maximum quality and durability. It is the ideal solution to print from 1 unit to short runs.

Serigraphy

It requires some learning and is suitable for stamping from 100 units, i.e. medium or large runs. There is an initial cost of screen preparation. A screen must be prepared for each color included in the design. Maximum durability to washing and soft touch. There are packs of initiation very economic, and to print to more colors and with greater productivity, you can extend the investment being able to come to use automatic machines.

You should also know that these techniques are not exclusive and you can combine several: vinyl + sublimation, transfer paper + vinyl, direct printing + screen printing, etc..

If you are just starting out and need more information, you can contact our sales team, who will be able to advise you on the most appropriate technique in each case. If you have been involved in this world for some time, write to us and share with us what techniques do you use? What type of t-shirts are you personalizing?