Before entering college, I bet you’ve already come across someone on the street who was wearing a t-shirt from the course you wanted so much to enroll in. You were dating her, right? Or maybe you just want to have a personalized t-shirt to call hers. Let’s learn a little about the t shirt printing methods, their advantages and disadvantages. Who knows, maybe this way you can make the choice you need when purchasing your personalized t-shirt!
Types of Customization
Silkscreen
Possibly the most common technique used in specialized stores and companies to print designs on various products (not just t-shirts). To color the prints, the technique uses a matrix screen corresponding to the desired color. This technique is excellent for producing large quantities of t-shirts, especially in 100% cotton fabrics , being the choice of several college or high school classes when producing their pieces!
Advantages:
• Cost-effective, especially in large quantities.
• Very accessible process;
• The t-shirts will have good print durability, allowing for prolonged use.
Disadvantages:
• As it is a method suitable for medium and large scales, small orders for Silk Screen prints end up not being financially worthwhile;
• Difficulty in prints with a wide variety of colors.
Sublimation
This method uses sublimation ink for printing on paper, after which it is transferred to the t-shirt through a press. The appearance of this method is quite different, as if the entire piece had been painted. However, not all material can be sublimated, and it is recommended that you use pieces made of synthetic fabric or polyester, for example.
Advantages:
• Process used in a wide variety of personalized t-shirts, such as football team t-shirts. It is also useful in abadás, for example;
• Great wealth of details;
• Cost does not depend so much on the quantity of products.
Disadvantages:
• Need for specific fabrics to apply the technique;
• Only applied to white-based mesh;
• Difficulty in using dark fabrics;
Embroidery
Remember when your mother embroidered fabric on your jeans for those June parties? It’s a similar principle, although here it is done using much more sophisticated and professional machines. The computer-based personalized embroidery process requires the production of a master program for the art or logo that will be applied to the item, and from this master program the machine applies/embroiders the piece.
It is an interesting method as it allows great freedom in choosing the art and can be done on most fabrics. Several companies use their uniforms with embroidered polo shirts, as in addition to adding value, it provides total fidelity in the reproduction of the brand or logo. This type of customization also allows you to add threads in several different colors, such as silver, gold or metallic thread. It is also possible to add different fabrics to the appliqué embroidery, such as a printed sweatshirt or half-knit, floral, camouflage, etc.
The main types of embroidery are:
• Full application;
• Double application;
• Contoured application;
• Application with internal stitching;
• Full embroidery.
Computerized embroidery adds value and sophistication to the pieces. Some embroidery styles, such as appliqués, are inspired by famous brands such as Hollister, GAP and others. A quality application can increase the degree of elegance and good taste of your piece. You can use more than one type of embroidery in your logo/art, just use your creativity and imagination and your piece will undoubtedly be exclusive. Below are some photos of “married” embroidery using more than one technique.