Do you want to design your own t-shirt? Whether it’s for your apparel business or you want to custom create your own t-shirt, you must know the process of printing a t-shirt.
A T-shirt is fashionable outerwear that will always be in trend. When you get to customize your own apparel, you get the opportunity to play with the theme and color and incorporate innovative ideas. So, if you are interested to know the entire process of how to make your dream t-shirt design come true, then follow the step-by-step guide on how to print a t-shirt from this article.
How to Print a T-shirt?
A t-shirt is a blank canvas. You can tell a story, articulate your thoughts or promote your brand by designing your imagination on it. So, before you think about printing, pay attention to creating a great design. What do you want your t-shirt to portray?
Who is going to wear it, and what the audience would grasp from it. The more thought you spend on designing a t-shirt, the greater way you can articulate your thoughts through it. You can add an image, illustration, tagline, logo, or a combination of all. So, from design to print, you can begin your process with the first step.
Step 1: Get an impressive design
Only an impressive design can leave an impact on the audience and appeal to them to grab the t-shirt on their own. Hence, it’s important to create a cool design whether to promote your brand or create a fashionable outfit.
The design must be compatible with the t-shirt color. The dark color design will present well on a light color fabric and vice versa. So, choose the colors accordingly. Additionally, where do you want to place the design, the images to use, and typography are important features of creating a cool design. If you aren’t sure about your design quality, you can always get a professional designer to create amazing t-shirt designs at a budget-friendly price.
Step 2: Quantity and budget
How many t-shirts are you planning to print? What is your budget? The quantity and budget would help you decide which printing process to go for. Some printing processes are suitable to print in bulk, whereas some are good for small orders.
If you are planning to print a large number of t-shirts, then you can easily minimize the cost. It will be a smart decision if you are planning to sell t-shirts for your business. Moreover, while choosing the quantity, you must be aware of the different sizes and how many t-shirts you want to print for each size. Some sizes are costlier than others. Keep that in mind.
Step 3: Decide on the printing method
The printing method will not only impact the cost but also impact the final outcome. Hence, you must pay attention to the fabric type, design size, and quality while printing the t-shirt. For instance, screen printing is a popular technique for customized t-shirt printing. You can create an original screen with a screen printer and print it in large quantities.
Then, with vinyl graphics, you can easily transfer the graphical design to the t-shirt. It ensures the durability of the ink. Another format is DTG (Direct-to-garment), where you can use inkjet print. In this process, you can spray ink on the fabric. It’s widely used for customized design for detailed work and uses more colors.
Step 4: Find a printer
As you have made up your mind on which printing method to go for, it’s time to find the printer. You can look for an online “printing shop near me” or choose a shop in your area. No matter which printing solution you choose, always check out the review; if possible, get some sample t-shirts beforehand.
Make sure the printing company delivers orders on time, ensuring quality. If you are in London and looking for a reliable printing service in London, then there are plenty of options for you. Hence, it becomes a challenging job to choose the right one. Whether you want to place an order online or visit a physical printing shop, Print Britannia offers both.
You can place an order online whenever you want and visit them physically to articulate your printing needs and deeds. Their team of experts is not only experienced but also cooperative with their valuable clients. They also have a great number of clients who have been taking printing service continuously for a long time.
Step 5: Decide on the fabric type and t-shirt pattern
T-shirts are comfortable apparel. Hence the fabric must be convenient for the users. So, before you print, spend quality time on deciding which fabric would best print the design and be convenient to the users. Also, pay attention to the weather condition. If you are unsure about the t-shirt design, it’s always safer to choose a short-sleeved crew neck t-shirt. Then, for the fabric, 100% cotton would ensure the ultimate comfort. They are soft, breathable, and easy to wash.
Step 6: Submit the design files and requirements
The next step is to send out the design files along with the requirements to the printer. Here, you must mention the file type, size, color requirements, and so on. Communicate with them directly and ask them whatever questions you have in mind to avoid confusion. The more articulate you can be about your requirements and expectations to the printing team, the better outcome you can achieve.
Then, to submit the design file, it’s better to choose a vector format such as AI, PDF, and EPS. For custom color, make sure the printer is compatible with Pantone or CMYK color codes.
Step 7: Proofing
Before you actually print on a t-shirt, you should always get proof beforehand. It will help you check out the quality and modifications of the design if needed. If you are printing t-shirts in bulk, then you can get a sample proof printing on a t-shirt. Once you get it, take your time to review it.
Pay attention to the design position, numbers, spelling, colors, alignment, and so on. It’s always a good idea to get a review from someone who hasn’t seen your design yet. Then, you can get a natural perspective and find out potential errors.
Step 8: Print your shirts!
Now that you are all set with the design and printer, it’s time to print on the t-shirt. After getting them printed, check out if everything is alright. If you are satisfied with the outcome, appreciate the printing team. Leave a good review about your experience.
Final Thought
Here are the simple but essential steps of how to print a t-shirt. Following these steps, you can now easily decide which printing method to choose depending on the t-shirt quantity. It would be best if you always remembered that the purpose of a printer is to illustrate your design in reality.
There are many printing services available that are providing service online and offline. Though it’s difficult to choose the right one, you can check out the reviews and user experience to make a wise decision. Before placing an order, always communicate with the printing company and articulate your requirements and expectations to get the desired printing outcome on the T-shirt.