All about T-shirt Printing

T-shirt screen printing is referred to sometimes as silkscreen printing and in its various forms and names has been around for several decades. You can get some services that offer hand embroidery, and unique additions, in addition to using the hand-printed technique and you can also get companies with larger completely automated machines that do the work. The principle of how it works is the same either way. 

A negative image of the requested artwork or lettering is burned on the mesh that is stretched between the screen or frame. Beneath it is the shirt. They pour ink on the mesh and force it through holes. As the negative image that is opaque does not let the ink go through, just the positive imprint ends up being printed onto the t-shirt.

If someone was to set up their own t-shirt printing business it would take a good investment as you need certain equipment. The press itself comes in various sizes and complexities and that affects the price as well as what you can do with it. Then there is the conveyor heater, a washing station, creating a dark room, an exposure unit. The reason why people create t-shirts using this method still is that it is fast. 

With just a simple 6 color press a business can create 30 to 90 printed shirts an hour. Ink does not cost a lot either. The only thing that is time-consuming about the process is the setting up and cleaning of the screens. That is why a lot of businesses charge a setup fee for each separation of color needed. Then they store a customer's screens in case they order more.

Silkscreen printing has its pros and cons. The good thing is you get a great solid colored print using this option. When you want really sharp and defined text and logos it is perfect. You can mass-produce for a low price too. The shirts themselves have a lot of durability and can be washed a lot before the issue of fading comes up. Printed t-shirts last a lot longer than other options like digitally printed shirts.

Probably the only thing against it is if you are looking for the reproduction of a photo for shirts, this is not the most suitable option unless you are happy with a lower grade image. Remember each color has its own process so for every color in the photo a new and separate screen has to not just be created but also stored.

A concern people have had in the past with tshirt printing is its impact on the environment. The use of solvents that air polluting, volatile organic compounds, the odor and more. But thankfully there are much better options today and the industry has cleaned themselves up. Look for a printing company that uses soy-based and environmentally friendly inks that are odor free and water-soluble. 

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