Custom apparel is a great way to generate brand awareness. Your logo printed on a t-shirt or hat might even evoke curiosity among passersby. Hence, you must ensure that your design attracts people’s attention. However, it must be unique enough to avoid following corporate branding guidelines. A company that provides printing services in Minneapolis can help you with this. Spark Embroidery & Printing is well-equipped to accommodate all your apparel printing requirements.
Screen printing requires a stencil with the design, loading the t-shirt onto a manual press, and applying ink through the screen. While screen printing is a popular technique, it has numerous disadvantages. It can be time-consuming and involves multiple steps, which may not be suitable for small projects. Sublimation printing is another option, which transfers special ink from paper to the garment. This method uses special ink that is not easily removed from fabric.
In addition to screen printing, apparel printing can be carried out using Direct to Garment technology. This technique replicates a fabric with 40 laundering cycles. This method is not suitable for regular customers, but it works well on garments made of natural fabrics. The best thing about this printing technique is that the image reproduced is as soft as possible without fading. Besides, it also makes it possible to use one-color designs or puff prints on apparel.
Screen printing is a time-consuming and expensive process, and the cost of a single letter-sized transfer is often expensive. Short runs, however, are usually less than 50 shirts and can range from one shirt to 48. Screen printing costs are usually higher than the customer’s willingness to pay, so a high-quality solution is needed for short runs. It is worth mentioning that screen printing can take as long as two weeks, depending on the complexity of the design.
Water-based screen printing is an excellent way to achieve a soft, non-prickly print. It is especially helpful for garments made of 100% cotton, as it prints over seams. It is also good for garments with thicker fibers, such as t-shirts. For the same reasons, water-based screen printing does not work on polyester or moisture-wicking materials. In addition, it leaves no ink residue.
Among the many techniques available for apparel printing, screen printing is the most widely used. It is a traditional method of decoration. The ink is only dropped onto the design with a screen. This eliminates rectangle effect and discoloration. Screen printing is complex, though, and requires careful graphic separation and a heat-press. If you are looking for a one-color design, screen printing is the way to go. However, screen printing will still take a long time, and it’s best to choose a printer with a large volume of experience.
Another option for apparel printing is DTG. This technique makes use of a modified inkjet technology to apply specialized textile inks to fabric fibers. With this method, the resolution of the direct-to-garment printers has increased greatly over the past decade. It is now capable of producing high-quality prints that rival screen printing. Unlike screen printing, DTG printing does not leave a print impression on the surface of the garment. It is printed into the fabric itself. For more details visit https://www.minneapolisprintingservices.com/.