Just What Does T-Shirt Printing Entail?

To produce printed articles of apparel for advertising, retail and fashion, there are three fundamental methods of screen printing that are utilised. 'Spot Color' printing is the method most often used for a large variety of graphics. It is also the best suited method for such a task as t-shirt printing. The most suitable method used for the printing of graphics that are not photographic in nature is Spot colour printing.

A graphic designer usually chooses the ink colours used to reproduce the graphic images, and they are all Pantone specified. In order to isolate the hues of the ink in the image, Pantone coated or noncoated references are selected. Used in publishing, printing and design whereby each colour is identified by a unique pantone name and number, the Pantone matching system is an international colour reference. When colour identity and uniformity is an issue, for example in branded promotional garments or a large selection of products, this method of spot color printing works very well.

Another method of screen printing used is called '4 Colour Process'. This is the best way to print photographs and illustrations which contain broad colour ranges, tones, and graduations. 4 colour process is also the same method of printing by which all images in books and magazines are printed. The inks are transparent and blend with one another on a white backdrop to recreate each of the colours and shades that the original possessed. This is rather more difficult process to achieve on a fabric than it is on paper. However, the actual method used is mostly the same.

This particular sort of printing will, obviously, only be effective on white cloth. It won't work on coloured garments. The cost for the print set up is going to be a lot higher than that of simple spot colour designs and is only good for the bigger print runs of 100+. When the garment screen printers make full coloured images and put them on coloured fabrics this is called 'Simulated process'. To attain the appearance and expression of the authentic copy, the artwork is divided into different colors and shades using a technique akin to color printing. For transferring heavy metal imagery and fantasy imagery from CD covers to black T-shirts for band merchandise, this popular method is used for t-shirt printing everywhere.

Due to the higher set up prices which includes the separating of the colour as well as an increased amount of colours used to print the pictures, this works out to be the most expensive way of printing. So there you have it, the run-down on how t-shirt printers make professional printed t-shirts.