Sublimation Printing
Sublimation printing is the most advanced method of printing for materials which contains polyester (quick dry material).
Pros:
- Never fade, crack or peel
- Long lasting
- Bright colors and can achieve various shades of color
Cons:
- Unable to print metallic shades
- Only suitable for materials which contain polyester (min of 40%)
- More costly as compared to traditional forms of printing
Silk Screen Printing
This is the most primitive form of printing for t-shirts, it uses a screen where you flash your design on it. There are various setup fees for the board.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Good quality of print
Cons:
- Must be in bulk quantity
- Color limitation
Heat Transfer Vinyl Press
Commonly used for low quantity printing or for team jerseys. You will need this printing type of personalized names and numbers due to it being able to cut out personalized names easily.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Able to print out vivid colors
- Able to print even 1 piece
Cons:
- May start peeling after 50 washes (1 year of wear and tear)
Direct to Garment (DTG)
Direct spraying of ink onto shirt. It will be fairly costly if you are printing on dark colored shirts as you will require one coat of white ink, then the design details will also be printed twice to ensure the colors are vivid. As there are so many layers on the shirt, you may feel that the print is thick. You may want to consider using heat transfer instead as it will have the same effect.
Pros:
- Very vivid colors
- Low quantity printing
Cons:
- Costly
- Not as long lasting as projected
- Only printed on cotton material
Embroidery
Many vendors are using brands that are made in China. The quality of embroidery comes out quite messy and with many holes in between as the machine is unable to output good quality embroidery design. Go for brands from Japan like Barudan or Tajima if you are able to notice the brand of the machine.
Pros:
- Will be VERY long lasting
- Provide a smart look, a plus point for corporate event shirts
Cons:
- Costly
- Limitations of color for threads