Industry Insights

Cheap tshirt printing: The different types of printing -

Written by Staff Writer | Sep 16, 2013 4:46:02 PM

From gift ideas to band t-shirts, cheap t-shirt printing is a versatile yet cost-effective method that companies and individuals use to promote their businesses, events, functions and a whole lot more.

There are a lot of cheap t-shirt printing methods, but here are three of the most common ones:

Screen printing

Screen printing is probably the most popular method used by small t-shirt printing businesses and individuals alike. Because it requires the least number of tools, it’s also the easiest. This technique involves using a stencil atop a mesh that’s stretched over a frame.  The screen is then pressed onto the material underneath, forcing the ink to be transferred to its surface.

Heat transfer

Another method is the heat transfer. It involves using a heat press. It’s a more complicated process. However, the design is much clearer and crisper than with the simple screen printing method. The design is first placed on the surface of the shirt, and then a heat press is used to transfer the ink to the cloth.

DTG or direct-to-garment

This is the newest method that is being used by a lot of t-shirt printing manufacturers. DTG not only offers the clearest prints, it also allows for the most variety of designs. The design is laser printed on the material, creating a clearer image than those produced by screen printing and heat transfer.

For cheap t-shirt printing, it’s important to consider the volume of the t-shirts as well as your budget so you know which method will fit you best. To know the current cost of t-shirt printing, post your job and get free quotes from registered businesses.