Did you know that the forecast for the global custom t-shirt market is to surpass $10 billion by the year 2025? Be it a birthday shirt, college fest merch, or a corporate promo tee-everywhere, custom apparel has an edge. If you are thinking of entering the world of custom t-shirt printing, you'd want to know what your options are.
Let us take you through the ten most commonly used t-shirt printing types as you will find them designing custom t-shirts online or even trying them at home.
1. Screen Printing
One of the oldest and most common methods, screen printing entails pushing ink through a stencil or screen onto fabric. It is known for its durability, richness of colours, and a slightly thick feel.
Ideal for very large orders and for big designs, it is the method favoured by companies involved in custom t-shirt printing by the large batches.
2. Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing
A relatively modern solution is to print directly onto the fabric using inkjet technology. It is almost like printing a photo on paper – but onto a T-shirt.
DTG is great for very complicated designs, gradients, or photographs and is generally offered on the sites that provide custom t-shirts online in small numbers.
3. Heat Transfer Printing
Here, your design is printed on a special transfer paper and then pressed onto the t-shirt using heat and pressure.
This is the way to go if you're a beginner; the method is cost-effective for short runs and is employed in many custom t-shirt printing setups in homes or during advertising events.
4. Sublimation Printing
To perfect polyester, sublimation takes ink and turns it into gas; that gas penetrates the t-shirt's fibres and chemically bonds to them. Thus, on to lightweight and durable prints that won't peel or break.
This technique is perfect for full-surface designs, especially all-over prints on custom t-shirts online for athletic or branded wear.
5. Vinyl Cutting
In this method, designs are cut from sheets of coloured vinyl and are heat-pressed onto a t-shirt.
Perfect for bold lettering, numbers, and simplistic graphics, it has been used predominantly in sports jerseys and team custom t-shirt printing for events.
6. Plastisol Transfers
Purely a combination of the detail of screen printing and the convenience of a heat transfer. The designs are screen-printed onto the transfer paper and then heat-pressed onto the garment.
Plastisol transfers are gaining a lot of popularity in the world of custom t-shirts online, where the need for quick printing jobs is coupled with that of a screen-printed look.
7. Discharge Print
This process pulls out existing dye in the fabric instead of adding colour, resulting in a naturally faded effect.
Nice for vintage-style designs, it is a niche favourite in the custom t-shirt printing world, particularly downtown.
8. Pigment Printing
Pigment printing uses inks that are water-based and lie on top of the fabric. It feels very soft to the touch and works well with lighter and pastel shades or more casual styles. Many custom t-shirts online design services offer this option to accommodate everyday wear.
9. Reactive Dye Printing
This technique chemically reacts to bond the dye to the fabric on a molecular level and achieve deep yet vivid colours. It remains a very strong and long-lasting option for cotton tees. When you want your custom t-shirt prints to look premium without straining the budget, this is a good choice.
10. Puff Printing
Puff printing is for the eye-catching! Puff printing – a special ink – gets illuminated upon heating, resulting in a 3D-formed textured feel on your artwork. Quirky, trendy, and a hit with the fashionista ordering custom t-shirts online for statement pieces.
Which Option Is the Best For You?
Selecting which method to use depends on a few specifics: fabric type, order volume, budget, and design idea.
For simple logos and lots of shirts, screen printing is still number one. For extremely detailed artwork and photographic prints, it is DTG. And if you want the cool tactile feel, try puff or vinyl.
Whenever you are shopping for custom tees online, always check what printing methods are used. It makes a huge difference in how the tee feels and looks when it arrives.
Conclusion
Making your own t-shirt is not just about putting a design in; it's also about selecting the right printing method that fits your idea. High-end finishes and budget-friendly options: custom t-shirt printing has something for every pocket.
Whether you're designing for business, events, or just for fun, these methods help you make the right decision. And when that idea is ready for fabric, you will really want the best.
Yoode makes it super easy to create high-quality custom t-shirts online with a range of printing options, styles, and materials. You bring the idea; we bring it to life.
Start now with Yoode and wear what you believe!
