Screen printing needs a separate screen per colour, which makes it efficient for low-colour designs at volume; because the ink settles into the fabric it stands up to washing. Where a design carries gradients or photography, however, the screen count and cost rise quickly.
Digital methods (DTG and DTF) come into their own on short runs and full-colour work. DTG soaks ink into the fabric, so the texture survives and the result breathes, though dark garments need a white underbase. DTF transfers through a film, which lets it hold on polyester and blended fabrics too.
Fabric composition directly affects how long a print lasts. On pure cotton the colours are brighter and more durable, while high-polyester fabrics carry a risk of dye migration, where the garment colour bleeds into the print; a suitable barrier layer reduces this.
The fabric limits the method from the outset. DTG ink bonds to cotton fibre, so it performs best on one hundred percent cotton; on polyester-heavy fabrics the same ink will not hold and colours come out washed. Sportswear is therefore usually produced with transfer or sublimation instead.
How long a print survives also depends on care instructions. Washing the garment inside out at a low temperature extends the print noticeably, and an iron should never touch the printed face directly. Taking a single sample before the production run shows whether fabric and method match before the whole order is printed.
Technical options
- Products
- T-shirts, sweatshirts, workwear, caps, bags, aprons
- Methods
- Screen print, DTG, DTF, transfer, embroidery
- Fabrics
- Cotton, combed cotton, polyester, blends
- Placements
- Chest, back, sleeve, inner label
Related services
Frequently asked
Can you print small quantities of t-shirts?
Yes — digital methods involve no screen preparation, so low quantities are viable. With screen printing the screen cost is fixed, so unit price rises as quantity falls.
How many washes does a print survive?
It depends on method, fabric and wash temperature. Washing inside out at a low temperature extends the life of the print whichever method is used.
Can you print on dark fabric?
Yes; digital methods lay a white underbase beneath the artwork. That layer keeps the colours accurate but stiffens the handfeel slightly.
Which items can be printed?
Beyond t-shirts and sweatshirts, caps, tote bags, aprons, towels and polo shirts can all be printed. The method varies by item; curved surfaces such as caps allow fewer techniques.
Can I bring my own garments to be printed?
The fabric composition of anything supplied is checked first, because it determines the method. Some techniques will not bond to items with a low cotton content; in that case a suitable alternative is proposed or a single test piece is produced.
When will a textile print order be ready?
The method decides. Digital transfer needs little preparation, while screen printing requires a screen per colour and that step completes before any printing starts. The second factor is sourcing the garments: finding the wanted style, colour and size split all at once is not always possible, especially on bulk orders. If you supply the garments yourself, that step disappears entirely.
Where are the garments sourced for textile work?
There are two routes, and the choice usually follows where you are. When we source the garments, printing and product arrive as one parcel, but the weight in transit rises directly with the number of items — the printing itself adds almost nothing. When you supply them, nothing has to travel, and the style, colour and size split are chosen directly by you.
How is a textile proof produced?
What a sample really settles is the position and size of the print. Artwork that looks centred in a file can sit too near the collar or below the chest once the garment is worn, and that only shows on a body. The second point is the size range: the same print reads large on a small garment and small on a big one, so the dimensions are adjusted per size group.
What file is required for textile printing?
For work going to screen printing, each colour needs to sit on its own layer, because a separate screen is made per colour. The point to watch in the design is fine detail: hairline strokes and soft gradients disappear into the weave of the fabric, so simple shapes with strong contrast hold up better.