If you’ve never purchased custom workwear before it can be a bit tricky to figure out which printing technique is best for you, so hopefully this little guide will help you choose the best option for your needs…
When it comes to custom clothing and personalised workwear, there are 5 different printing techniques that can be used to transfer your logo or message on to your garment.
The technique used to print your particular garment will depend on a few things. Such as the number of colours you want to be printed and the quantity being produced.
Screen printing, for example, is an incredibly popular option, but because of the extra steps and costs involved to create the screens, this particular method is not best suited for short runs or one-offs.
Anyways, let’s get on with the different printing techniques…
Screen Printing
Screen printing has been around forever and is probably the most popular choice when it comes to customising clothing and workwear.
Screen printing (also known as silkscreen printing) uses a mesh screen stretched across a frame, and involves pasting a layer of coloured ink through the screen and on top of the garment, the excess ink is wiped away and the screen is then removed, the ink is then cured (dried) and it’s on to the next one.
Screen printing produces a high-quality finished product which is one of the main reasons it’s such a popular printing method.
Multiple colours can be printed, but each colour requires a separate screen so the setup costs can be significant and are ideally suited for large quantity orders.
For one-off items or smaller quantities, screen printing wouldn’t be cost effective so we would recommend another printing method for you.
CAD Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)
Heat transfer vinyl has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and is a very popular printing option (although technically no printing is involved!). In fact, it’s one of our common methods that we use here at Brinkworth Signs & Graphics.
Basically, your design or logo is cut out of a special heat transfer vinyl, the excess material is removed and the finished design is then permanently transferred on to your garment using a heat press.
Heat transfer vinyl gives you a very high-quality and long-wearing finished product, and can be layered to give you a vibrant multi-coloured design and is best suited for short to medium runs.
Cracking of the design used to be a common issue with garments produced using this printing method, but nowadays there is ultra stretchy material available which is great for use on compression clothing and workout gear.
One drawback of HTV is its lack of breathability, which for the most part isn’t an issue, but if your design takes up a large surface area, you may find yourself getting a little hot and sweaty in the areas directly underneath the print.
There can also be limitations onto which fabric it can be printed, and isn’t suitable for use on fabrics that are sensitive to high temperatures.
Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing
DTG is a relatively new technique in the garment printing industry and involves printing onto your garment directly using a specialised printer.
The quality of DTG products is excellent (but not as good as screen printing) and offers full-colour printing options. So if you want to print a photo onto a t-shirt this would be a great option.
The lifespan of the print will depend on how the garment is cared for. If you find yourself frequently washing your item, over time the ink will begin to fade. If you’re looking for something longer lasting then HTV or embroidery might be a better option for you.
Dye Sublimation
Have you ever come across a t-shirt with a design printed all over it? If yes, it was probably produced using dye-sub printing techniques. Cyclists jerseys are a great example of this printing technique.
Dye sublimation is suited for light coloured 100% polyester fabrics.
If you’re looking for an all-over design with a high-end finish then this technique is a great option. But like screen printing is best suited for longer run items and not one-offs or short runs.
Embroidery
If you’re looking for a high-end professional look to your garment, embroidery would be a great choice. In fact, it’s one of the most used methods for golf shirts and corporate workwear.
The costs are typically higher than the other methods mentioned but embroidery will give you a very professional long-lasting end result.
