Screen printing today has become an inexpensive alternative to other printing methods. It has evolved as a very lucrative work at home business opportunity for those looking to earn extra income. The screen printing technique can be mastered very easily and implemented in no time with the right equipment and supplies purchased inexpensively.
Silk screen printing is a simple technique of printing on , paper and other surfaces where the design is transferred on to a frame that has a screen mesh stretched firmly over it. The ink is then pressed through the screen using a squeegee.
History The concept of screen printing was originally invented in China and was first used in mid 1800′s for an industrial printing process. The printing was used for political posters, machinery parts and included fabric printing as well. This printing method was later adopted by other Asian countries like Japan who developed it further.
Advantages The advantages of silk screen printing are several. This technique can be used to print on fabric, plastic, metal, paper, rubber and any other surface that has a smooth texture. One can use different ink formulation as this technique involves direct printing on the surface resulting in bright, long lasting and high quality finished prints. It also requires minimal investment in equipment which makes it an affordable option not only for individuals but also businesses.
Commonly Printed Items One of the most common items used for printing are that are in huge demand as a promotional product. This printing technique can not only be very affordable but also helps you to print lot of sizes in huge quantities using your creativity in prints. Other commonly used items for silk screening involve bumper stickers, wallpapers, mouse pads, etc.
Silk Screening Inks The most commonly used silk screening ink is plastisol often used on garments. However, the other types of inks used are water based inks, discharge inks, glitter or shimmer inks, expanding inks, glossy inks, suede or caviar beads. The water based inks are smoother and seep in to the fabric totally. Discharge inks are more appropriate inks for printing on dark backgrounds as they remove the dye from the cloth rather than dyeing it. Expanding inks are used to create a 3D effect by expanding the prints on the fabric.
Some Misconceptions There are few misconceptions of silk screening being a “cottage industry” business, however, the amount of revenues that one can generate from it using it the right way can bring in huge amounts of revenue. There are many who have taken on this business as a hobby, part time work and even dedicating full time to it and earning a fortune which no longer makes it a pure cottage industry business venture.
So if you are looking out for a new business opportunity that is not only affordable but also fun and unleashes your creativity, then it is time you get home your biggest little printer and get started.
Now provides you with squeegees, plastisol ink, flash dryers, screen printing equipment, printing, silk screen equipment, screen printing supplies, , etc so that you can start your own home business.
Visit www.SandLGraphicDesign.com for all your printing needs, located in San Diego, California in vista. SandL Graphic Design can do you next printing, screen printing, digital printing, or heat press.
One of the oldest, and still most reliable, ways to print to a is the screen printing method. Screen printing is usually the method considered to be of the highest quality by printers and customers. Screen printing requires a great deal of set up and that is why screen printing can sometimes be more expensive than the other methods. With screen printing each color is applied separately and a screen needs to be made for each color as well. The set up time can be longer than the other methods but the results are usually far more durable and attractive than the other methods. Many printers also consider screen printing to be the method that causes the most mess because they are dealing with printing the same image repeatedly but in different phases. After a while the ink starts to get a bit messy. But many printers and customers prefer the screen printing method.
Recently there has been another printing method of choice that is challenging screen printing as the method of choice. Heat transfer is becoming very popular and it is because of how easy it is to execute heat transfer printing that is allowing it to become so popular. For the heat transfer method you print the image on a special type of transfer paper and then transfer the image to the with heat which seems very self explanatory. It is easy to do and it allows the printer some flexibility with customers as smaller quantity orders can be printed effectively with this method. The underlying problem with heat transfer is that it does not work well on dark shirts as the shirt color usually winds up being the lightest color in the image. If you are trying to print a light image to a dark shirt the results may not be what you were hoping for.
Another method of printing that is quite popular is the method referred to as Direct to Garment or DTG printing. For this method the entire image is printed directly to the shirt. This method comes out not being as heavy or thick as screen printing, and it can offer the printer the ability to do small quantity orders, but like heat transfer printing the DTG method usually winds up having the cloth being the lightest part of the image and for many customers this is simply not acceptable.
printing is a complicated art that requires years of experience to properly execute. The method you choose to print the with depends solely on the needs and wants of the customer. In to know which methods apply to which situations you need to be proficient in as many printing methods as possible.
printing San Diego- visit http://www.SandLGraphicDesign.com for your next printing, screen printing, digital printing, heat press. We are located at 503 South Santa Fe, Vista, California 92084 in San Diego County or visit us online at www.SandLGraphicDesign.com or call for more details at 760 758 3239.
SandL Graphic Design offers top quality printing, custom , Custom Screen printing, printing San diego, business card san diego, visit http://www.sandlgraphicdesign.com for your next custom printing.
There are two types of orders a clothing manufacturer can handle: bulk and small quantity . The organization in the is very different.
Bulk
When the undertakes a bulk , a large quantity from medium to big size clients, the wholesale price is low.The gross margin per unit produced is quite small, but it is offset by the large quantity manufactured. Large quantity usually means: over 5000 pieces. This type of quantity allows for the setting of a production line.It sometimes takes about one full day to organize the production line. This translates into physically moving the sewing machines so that they line up in a way that is convenient for the specific clothes to be produced.It requires expensive skills, the skills of mid to top level production people. After this set up is done, the chain works almost by itself with (less expensive) labour cost involved. Two or three days into the production, the productivity increases because the sewers get used to the new production line. When the productivity increases, the clothing manufacturer makes a profit while providing clothes at a very competitive rate.
Small quantity
The other possible situation for a clothing manufacturer is to take orders from smaller clients. The price per unit is different (higher), as the organization involved is different. When taking a small quantity of clothes, let’s say less than 5000 pieces, the organization of a production line is useless. A team of 20 to 30 sewers will achieve the production of 5000 pieces in around a week or more depending on the clothes ordered. Taking care of a small run of clothes makes the whole game of producing clothes very different for the clothing manufacturer:
- The clothing manufacturer can not waste one day in organizing a production line, it takes more time to do so than the time saved by the increase of productivity.
- During the few days when this small is being produced by the sewers, the company is also preparing the next .
Translating the client file, sourcing, cutting, printing or embroideries all have to take place before sewing.That’s why small orders are dealt with by a special department in the clothing manufacturing company. This department is usually made of very skilled managers and sewers who will engage all the cost necessary to the bulk production of clothes, but these costs are spread over a small quantity, hence the price per unit.
The right quantity for you
If you are looking to get a small run of your own design manufactured, then the best thing to do is to speak with one of the consultants at (www.ellen-clothing-manufacturer.com). Your contact will help you work out what is the best quantity to for your business. The ideal quantity for your business is not necessarily the smallest one. the right quantity might also be smaller than what you have in mind. It all depends on a number of factors: The style of the clothes and the targeted wholesale price. When discussing the size of your small run, other technical issues such as sourcing, printing, dying or stone-washing should be taken in consideration as they can involve a fix fee.
Let’s take a simple example of a client looking for a manufacturer for a small run of . The cost of dying fabric is around 200 usd. This cost is the same whether the is for 50 or 200 , that’s because the cost is related to the time used for dying which is the same for 50 meters of fabric or 200 meters. Other example: When a design manager draws the pattern for a garment, this takes from 1 to 2 hours depending on the style of clothe. The cost involved (the labour time of such a skilled worker) is not related to the number of times the pattern will be used. Therefore, it might make sense to spread such cost over a slightly larger quantity, let’s say 200 clothes instead of 100. I strongly recommend being very direct about the targeted retail price or wholesale price, this is the only way your consultant can help you work out the right quantity for your .
Lilian Lemaire is the Managing Director of Ellen Clothing Manufacturer, a French company with a clothing factory in Vietnam.
Finding tees for can be great fun, and also be easy and convenient thanks to the online shopping phenomenon. The number and variety of tees for by this method is very much an attraction, and enables the buyer to access great ranges and varied designs from the comfort of the home.
Online shopping is a great application of the World Wide Web. Customers can find anything they want without having to leave their house. Since the direct distribution of products cancels out a lot of third parties and costs, buying online can be a lot cheaper than if you would get them through a retail outlet down the street.
While the internet revolution means the possibilities of buying all kinds of clothing online are numerous, it can be very tough to find a reliable with high-quality that are exactly the kind of shirts that you were looking for. A good internet store offers reliable up to date information on its catalogue and should be able to communicate in a direct and friendly way to the potential customer. Also, the clothing company should look after a quick and reliable worldwide delivery system and give the customer flexible payment and return options.
So how does one find a reputable store? Look for a with a brand name and a promised safe and secure payment and despatch system and be careful not to give out sensitive personal information like bank account details, unless you are 100 percent sure of the company’s or site owner’s intentions. Trustworthy sites will try to give you all the information you need and possibly give customers the option to leave feedback.
There have been reports of counterfeit products being supplied by some less trustworthy online stores, and these will be signified by extremely low prices and the promise of service and supply that is simply too good to be true.
Buying online is a convenient and interesting method of sprucing up your wardrobe, and the wide ranging availability of online is one way of knowing that new look can be had at an affordable price, and without the need to travel to the high street.
Tees for may be an area of online shopping that is growing, and at a fast rate, and may see more growth in the future as people cotton on to the ability for finding tees for online. The online community is an area of very useful and interesting purchasing power, and will continue to attract the new consumer as the ease of use becomes more prevalent.
have a large selection of from brands such as Mossimo, Mooks, Affliction, Jakes and many more
Almost everywhere you look in Tampa, you will spot people wearing the ever popular embroidered polo shirts, which others also call golf shirts or . They are favourites as day to day casual of men, women and children alike. They are also widely used as uniforms for companies, institutions and schools. Because of their popularity, the same companies often use embroidered polo shirts as promotional items, too. It is not surprising, therefore, that wholesale custom as well as embroidery services for are also widely available in Tampa FL. But how did this phenomenon of embroidered polo shirts develop before they reached Tampa FL?
The term “polo shirt” is traceable to the game called polo which began in the 7th century in Persia. It was later brought to Great Britain by way of India. Interestingly, the word “polo” came from a Tibetan word “pulu” naming the wooden ball that is the focal point of the game.
In the early days, polo players wore long sleeved white button down collared shirts and white trousers, both made of cotton. In 1920, an Irish haberdasher based in Buenos Aires, named Lewis Lacey, added the embroidered figure of a polo player to his shirts. He was also a polo player with the Hurlingham Polo Club.
Similar long sleeved white button down collared shirts and white trousers in cotton, with the addition of white ties, were also worn by tennis players in the early days. They just rolled up their sleeves while playing a match.
This changed in 1926 when Rene Lacoste, a French tennis player who was a seven time Grand Slam champion, designed his own tennis shirt. He used the very breathable material of knitted cotton pique to make a with a soft flat collar, a buttoned placket, short cuffed sleeves and a longer back tail that stayed tucked in his trousers or shorts even during the rigorous movements of a match. The main focus of Lacoste was comfort and practicality. He added the embroidered crocodile on the left breast of his tennis shirts in 1927.
In 1933, Lacoste retired from playing tennis and decided to direct his efforts toward the mass manufacture and marketing of his tennis shirts. They quickly became popular not only as sports wear but even as casual wear throughout the world. Interestingly, Lacoste’s tennis shirts became more widely known as “polo shirts.” Eventually, they were adapted by golfers, as well, creating the new term “golf shirts.”
Perhaps another reason why the term “polo shirt” still prevails over “tennis shirt” or “golf shirt” is because well known American clothes designer Ralph Lauren called one of his clothing lines “Polo” and it is actually dominated by his version of the “polo shirt.” This looks very much like the Lacoste shirt except that it features the figure of a polo player instead of a crocodile.
These days there are myriad versions of the polo shirt, tennis shirt or golf shirt produced by various manufacturers. Basically, they are short sleeved which feature a soft collar with two or three buttons in front. A placket may or may not be included and a zipper sometimes replaces the buttons. For golf shirts, the sleeves are not cuffed. Pockets are sometimes added. Most versions still use knitted cotton pique but there are also shirts made from synthetic blends, merino wool or silk.
From this long history, the now ubiquitous embroidered polo shirts or golf shirts reached Tampa FL and the rest of the world. They will definitely remain as staples in people’s wardrobes in many parts of the globe.
Florida Shirt Company Robert Mims 3103 W Parkland Blvd Tampa, FL 33609-4635 Phone: (813) 837-4478 Fax: (813) 875-4407 Email: floridashirt@gmail.com Website:
What to look for in men’s tees depends entirely on what it is you want; the range and availability of tees is simply vast, and the different varieties bewildering. Colours, styles and shapes and sizes all cover a great range, and knowing what to look for in men’s tees can lead to confusion in the shopper.
Knowing what you want to look for when buying clothes online helps you recognise such a reputable store. Information on the website of internet companies can often be confusing and even misleading. When trying to online men’s tees, be careful not to give out sensitive personal information like bank account details, unless you are absolutely sure of the company’s or site owner’s intentions. Trustworthy sites will try to give you all the information you need and possibly give customers the option to leave feedback.
Online shopping is a great application of the World Wide Web. Customers can find anything they want without having to leave their house. Since the direct distribution of products cancels out a lot of third parties and costs, buying men’s tees on the internet can be a lot cheaper than if you would get them through a retail outlet down the street.
While the internet revolution means the possibilities of buying all kinds of clothing online are numerous, it can be very tough to find a reliable with high-quality men’s tees that are exactly the kind of shirts that you were looking for. A good internet store offers reliable up to date information on its catalogue and should be able to communicate in a direct and friendly way to the potential customer. Also, the clothing company should look after a quick and reliable worldwide delivery system and give the customer flexible payment and return options.
Also, keep in mind that some items might be counterfeit when shopping for online men’s . Among all the numerous online shops that offer quality products, some vendors have intentions that are less honourable. You should always make sure the men’s you are in an excellent, brand new state. This is much more difficult to control on auctioning sites.
Auction sites like eBay and Amazon are interesting in this respect, as every buyer is requested to leave feedback on his purchase and potential buyers can get a good view of past experiences. However, this doesn’t mean those sites are always safe and one should always be on the lookout for pitfalls.
Knowing what to look for in men’s tees is absolutely a case of deciding what you want; do you want red or blue, green or yellow, or do you want patterns, designs, pictures or slogans? All of these are available across the men’s tees range, and will add a different aspect to your wardrobe in many ways!
have a large selection of from brands such as Mossimo, Mooks, Affliction, Jakes and many more
seem to be the favourite casual wear of everyone from day to day in Tampa FL. They are sometimes called or tees. In fact, are being used not only for casual wear but also as uniforms in companies, institutions and schools. Embroidered shirts with the company, organizational or school logo are often used as uniforms. Furthermore, they are favourite promotional items, just like polo shirts and golf shirts. Because of this, custom wholesale with either embroidery or printing are widely available for purchase. But did you know that have evolved all the way from wartime Europe to present day Tampa FL?
Many sources say that the was first seen early in the 1900s as light cotton undergarments worn by soldiers in Europe during World War I. By the 1920s, the English dictionary already contained the word “.” In the United States, American soldiers took the cue and found the undershirts of European soldiers to be much cooler and comfortable than their wool uniforms which tended to be scratchy. By the time Word War II came to be, the was already being used as underwear in the uniforms of the US Army and US Navy.
The crossed over as a slogan bearer in 1948. At that time, New York governor Thomas E. Dewey used the with the slogan “Dew it with Dewey” for his election campaign. In a short time, by the middle of the 1950s, the was worn not as an undershirt but on its own onscreen by Hollywood superstars John Wayne, Marlon Brando and James Dean. In fact, in 1955 James Dean made the an iconic teenage fashion item when he used it in his film Rebel Without a Cause.
In the 60s, the rock and roll and hippie era found young people practically living in . By then, various specialty inks have been developed especially for . Plastisol is stretchable and, therefore, not liable to crack on . It has also been found to be more durable than its earlier counterparts. Today there are also shimmer inks, metallic inks, puffy inks and novelty inks that change color when the temperature changes.
printing processes also evolved. From silkscreen printing, digital printing is now the preferred method. With digital Direct to Garment (DTG) printing, it is possible to print even the most complex design and color combination on . It is also possible to print only one or hundreds, even thousands, with the same design. Aside from printing, there is the iron on heat transfer method. This also uses digital technology. Any design can be specially printed out with special inks on special paper and then ironed on to a . Of course, today are also adorned with airbrushing, appliqué and embroidery.
The basic form of the still remains. As the name implies, this means a t-shaped shirt with a collarless round neck, short sleeves and no buttons or pockets. Aside from this, though, other variations on the design of have evolved. There are collarless v-neck , scoop neck and boat neck . There are also collared with short plackets in front, which may or may not have buttons. All these variations on are popular in Tampa FL.
After going up a long way in history, we can probably safely say that are here to stay as part of the clothing choices of people throughout the world. Whenever we come across custom embroidered as uniforms or casual wear, we should remember that it has evolved from war time Europe to peaceful Tampa FL. Let us hope that we will continue to wear them in times of peace and goodwill.
Florida Shirt Company Robert Mims 3103 W Parkland Blvd Tampa, FL 33609-4635 Phone: (813) 837-4478 Fax: (813) 875-4407 Email: floridashirt@gmail.com Website:
If you have good music, people will listen and your music. But they need to find your music. I’ve done all your homework below and give you the 28 Essential Music Sites To Promote Your Music which will increase your income.
The sites below are broken down into categories to help target your music exposure needs.
Artists Bare Essentials
1. GoDaddy.com – Every band or artist needs their own website URL. There is so much you can do with it (I will cover it in a future post) to compliment your marketing efforts that it is well worth the $8.99 a year. GoDaddy is the best company for URLs with great customer service and cheat prices. I have used this company numerous times. 2. BandZoogle.com – This is a website that have band/artist templates for your music. You do not have to know how to build websites. They have it all for you. You can even sell your own music on the site among other services. 3. Bravenet.com – This company offers many free services and premium services that can help you build your marketing efforts. Most importantly, they have many interactive tools you can add to your own site or add to your social networks. It has a FREE email list tool to start collecting your fans emails. This tool is invaluable and I will post about the importance of email lists in the future. I have used this company numerous times. 4. FanBridge.com – This is an artist-specific company that helps build your fan base with email list tools. There is a free service and premium service. Use the coupon code MARKSTONE for a free upgrade.
Getting Your Music On iTunes & Other Sites
1. Tunecore.com – This is the premiere site to get your music on iTunes, Amazon and other valuable sites. Tunecore has just merged services with Amazon and will now print your CDs and open up merch stores for your music. This service will start on July 1st. But for now, get your music on iTunes. Over 70% of people use iTunes for their digital downloads than other sites. I personally know unsigned bands that make over $5,000 a month off iTunes alone. There is an annual fee for each album you download. But you get to keep 100% of your royalties while other sites take a percentage. You can also get 30% OFF your fee’s by using the code beheard30.
Social Networks
1. MySpace.com – This has been the mecca for all bands and artists. MySpace even has its own label called MySpace Records. They sign artists in all genres and they usually sign bands that create a big buzz on their site. Registration is free. 2. Purevolume.com – This site has better streaming features than MySpace (MS streams have ads and randomly don’t work). This site is free to register and includes all genres but mostly caters to rock bands. They actively scout good music on their site to feature on their front page. This site gets over 10,000 visitors a day. There are social networking features available as well. 3. Twitter.com – This is the latest social networking phenomenon. Fans can see what the band and each individual member are doing throughout the day. Direct fan-to-band interaction takes place which is HUGE in building a core fan base. This is free to register and is a must in any musicians marketing plan. I will post about Twitter and your music marketing plan soon. 4. iLike.com – This site helps announce any new songs, new shows, new blogs or new pictures that you post up. Anyone who has iTunes (which is about 70% of the music population) get automatic updates on their iTunes player if they have your music in their iTunes. iLike has a attaches to your iTunes. Once you register for iLike, tell your fans about the sidebar so they can stay up-to-date on your bands every move. 5. Lastfm.com – This is another site that intergrates with your iTunes player. When you open a free account and download the , everything you play gets registered by Last.fm. They use all that data from everyone’s iTune players to give you top played lists and stats on your songs. This is a good tool to see what songs are most popular on your albums. You might think you know what song is your most popular but Last.fm will tell you what your fans listen to the most. 6. Facebook.com – This is largest social network site in the world (2nd in the U.S. behind MySpace). It is starting to improve its music applications so this is definitely a site that you need to register for.
Artist Press Kits
1. SonicBids.com – This site offers EPKs (electronic press kits) for artists but also helps “book and license your music,” according to their site. I have never used their services but I know it is very reputable in the music industry. 2. PowerPressKits.com – Again, I have never used this company but they offer free press kit building. They even have different templates for you to use.
Websites For Your Music Reviews
1. AbsolutePunk.net – This website caters to anything in the rock genre and will cover hip-hop/rap. The crowd here can be tough on artists but getting any exposure on this site helps. The staff is rather huge so it is easy to get one or more of them to respond to your emails. If you have the stomach, get your music reviewed on this site. Music industry people are on this site multiple times a day. 2. Pitchfork.com – This site is the mecca for indie/singer/songwriter music. The owner was even listed as one of the Top 200 most influential people by Time Magazine. Again, this crowd can be tough. 3. PunkNews.com – This site caters to the true punk crowd and, again, can be a tough crowd. If you’re a punk band and what street cred, get posted/reviewed on this site. 4. Stereogum.com – This site caters to the singer/songwriter/indie band crowd. 5. BrooklynVegan.com – This site caters to the NYC music fan. Covers more than music and even has a Sirius satellite radio show. 6. – A smaller blog that has a lot of music industry attention. This blog covers music mostly in the rock genre from hardcore, emo, indie, punk and “scene” music. 7. GlobalGrind.com – This caters to the hip-hop culture and is more of a social network for hip-hop artists and fans. There are unsigned hip-hop features.
Sell Your Merchandise Online
1. BigCartel.com – This is a very popular e-commerce site that will sell your music merchandise (, etc.) on their site and handle all the payments for you. You simply collect the orders and ship them out. This gives you full control of the shipping process. You can create a store or use one of their templates. 2. DistrictLines.com – This site not only makes custom stores for some artists but they print your merchandise as well. They cater to bands in the rock genre but also have pop-culture icons as clients.
Companies That Make Your Merch (CDs, , etc.)
1. Discmakers.com – This company is one of the kings in the CD duplication business. Their rates are very competitive and they also do a lot more than just CDs. You can get your , stickers, buttons and a host of other things printed. 2. DistrictLines.com – They will not only make custom merch stores for you but they will also handle your printing needs.
Other Merchandise Companies
1. LoudBytes.com – This site allows you to purchase download cards, stickers or buttons with a code on each. This code can be redeemed on their site for your music. You can sell these items at shows without ordering physical CDs. You sell the cards to your fans and they will download your music off LoudBytes. They even have hangtags for your . If you have physical CDs and want to sell a couple of B-sides, this is the most economical way to sell a song or two. 2. Dropcards.com – This is also a download card website that embeds a code into each card.
Music Discovery Blogs
1. Kings Of A&R.com – This site is heavily scouted by music industry people. This site covers all genres of music and if you feel like your music is good enough to be featured on the site, email Dean, the owner of the site. 2. TheDailyChorus.com – Another music discovery site that is scouted by the music industry. This site mainly covers music in the rock genre. The staff of this site is a lot bigger than KOAR so it’s easier to get the staffs attention.
I will explore many of these sites in greater detail to show you how you can improve your music marketing plan to obtain new fans which will increase your revenue.
Did I miss any valuable sites? Leave a comment and let me know or email me at: markstone424@gmail.com!
I’m a music industry veteran that loves the quickly changing music landscape and writing about it. I am always blogging about the latest music marketing trends (secrets) to help musicians achieve their goals. Please visit my free blog at: http://musicmarketingsecrets.blogspot.com
Take heart, this article isn’t going to try to sell you anything. Its goal is just to help you become better informed about your choices when it comes to digital printing. One thing everyone agrees on is that digital printing is ideal for short-run garment decoration (although I do know of companies that use it to print jobs that run in the hundreds) and has opened up new markets and new profit opportunities for a lot of companies.
First of all, let’s define the technologies available today that are considered digital. In no particular they are: Sublimation, direct to garment or ink-jet to garment, ink-jet transfers, CLC (color laser copier transfers), and print/cut. All of them have their advantages and their limitations. With sublimation, everyone knows that it won’t work on dark garments and that it is primarily designed for use on polyester or polyester-blend garments. Application on cotton is possible with some pre-treating. There has been progress made in the development of sublimation systems that permit more flexibility, but the technology has a reputation as being difficult to perfect. It remains an excellent method for customizing hard goods such as mugs, mouse pads, coasters and more.
There has also been a lot of excitement over direct to garment printing and many people have invested in this ink-jet based system that prints directly on textiles. Some limitations of direct to garment technology include its cost, not all print successfully or easily on dark garments (so do your homework), the need for pre-treating on dark garments and sometimes on light colors to make them brighter, the lack of opacity and brightness, the length of time needed to complete a garment—especially dark garments, and the skill level needed to run the equipment. Some direct to garment printers are designed to print on tile, wood, golf balls and mouse pads, but not all of them. Direct to garment printers achieve best results on cotton but can be used on silks, blends and some other fabrics but can’t really be used on polyester without a pretreatment. However, all that being said, it is still one of the most popular digital printing methods on the market today.
Ink jet and CLC transfers are known as the most inexpensive, entry-level, anyone-can-do-it technology in the digital garment decoration arena. There are dozens of different papers available that can take artwork from your computer desktop to a in minutes. Again, you are limited by the substrates to which the papers will apply, and it is still difficult to find a paper that does a fantastic job of printing on darks. There is also the issue of ghosting, unless one uses precise hand-cutting to trim the excess paper or uses paper in combination with a cutter that does it automatically.
By taking that type of thinking to the next level, a list of digital garment decorating methods to consider would not be complete without print/cut technology. While virtually unknown as a technology to the average personalization specialist, this technology has had years of proven performance in the garment manufacturing sector—you’ve probably encountered print/cut applications on brand name performance wear, shoes, nylon bags and more without even realizing it. Print/cut technology is probably the best-rounded of all the digital technologies available today. It gives you all the advantages of the previously mentioned digital methods, with virtually none of the disadvantages.
One of the biggest reasons for the excitement over print/cut technology is its versatility—not only can you print on a wide variety of garments with print/cut, you can also use it to print everything from helmet stickers and window clings to vehicle wraps and banners. Print/cut technology incorporates technology originally designed for use in the sign industry, a wide-format, eco-solvent printer that instantly prints and then automatically contour cuts full-color, photorealistic logos, designs and names in any quantity “on demand.” These images are printed on specially developed digital media that can be heat applied to any fabric, of any color.
With a print/cut system, there is virtually no limit to the jobs you will be able to do. In the textile world – literally anything that can be fit under a heat press can be decorated, from caps and nylon bags to performance wear and swimsuits. It even works on leather. There is no need to pre-treat the garment, there are no limitations as to the type of textile that can be printed and there are even specialty media available, such as puff and metallic that allow you to create full-color fashion effects that are not possible with any other digital printing method. The recent development and availability of new digital media is what is propelling this previously unknown garment decoration method into the spotlight. Better yet, the technology has been tested for many years in the sign industry as being durable and easy to operate. It’s just a matter of using the correct digital media for the job on hand. Its greatest limitation would be the cost of the equipment, but with more and more business owners ready to invest in something that can be used as an alternative to screen printing and embroidery, print/cut is becoming a popular choice, especially thanks to the introduction of more media designed specifically for use with the print/cut system.
It’s probably only a matter of time before you invest in some type of digital garment decoration technology, if you haven’t already. Whether you’re a screen printer, embroiderer or plan to specialize solely in digital printing, there’s a method available that meets your needs. And if you still unsure about making a large investment, go on-line and join in an industry user -forum chat. Benefit from the experience of current users of the technology you are most interested in and weigh all the facts. I’m not promising you still won’t feel confused, but at least you won’t feel alone!
Martin Borley is Vice President of Target Transfers Ltd
Printing using Direct To Garment (DTG) printing, the process of printing to cotton based fabrics (i.e. ) using a large format inkjet printer, is far superior to screen printing, the process of pressing inks into fabric through a stencil. It is more environmentally friendly, less time consuming and more cost effective for smaller runs.
DTG printing is more environmentally than screen printing. DTG uses water-based inks to printing directly onto clothing, this means that there are no excess inks used in the actual printing and the only waste that does occur is from the occasional print head cleaning – it should also be noted that head cleaning does not involve any external materials only ink. Of course, major head cleaning can be avoided by regular maintenance of the printer, and thus one head clean a day – a matter of millilitres – is usually sufficient. Then as long as waste ink is disposed of correctly, printing using the DTG method should have almost no environmental impact. Screen printing however has excess inks from parts of the stencil not printed to the and when screens are cleaned these excess inks are then washed down the drain.
The process of screen printing involves creating a stencil and then pressing inks through said stencil onto fabric. The stencil can be created by hand or photo emulsion, and for each colour of a design a new screen is needed. DTG uses only software and a computer to send a design directly to a printer and this can take a matter of seconds with all colours being printed at once. (On darker fabrics there is a white layer printed first and then the remaining colours). DTG is far less time consuming with regard to setup, and this is particularly useful when printing small runs of .
Smaller (less than 50) runs of are far more cost effective with DTG printing than screen printing. Minimal setup with DTG printing means that runs as low as 1 can be produced for a matter of $5 – $10 in materials (including ) and for a print on white can take as little as 2minutes to produce. Screen printers may claim that on larger runs they can produce a much more economical print however with multiple colours, and then drying time this seems unlikely.
Printing using Direct To Garment printing is far superior to screen printing. Whilst both methods produce an excellent quality, DTG is far more environmentally friendly, is less time consuming, and more cost effective for smaller runs. Whilst screen printing is a tried and tested method of printing onto it seems that DTG printing is the way of the future.
Mark Barnes is the founder and owner of Put It On A .
