Screen Printing
Screen printing is often used as the term for decorating apparel. There are many methods of decorating apparel, each having it’s own benefits to fit a particular situation.
Screen printing is very versatile and allows for the printing of virtually any color combination onto any color of garment. Screen printing is most economical when printing large quantities of the same design.
There are many paths to the destination.
CAD Cut Vinyl
A computer controlled cutting blade cuts sheets of colored vinyl to create designs. Some vinyl is formulated to be used as sticker decals, some vinyl is formulated to be printed onto apparel with a heat transfer press. Vinyl sheets are cut into letters or shapes to make designs and are best used for lettering , logos, and simpler designs. CAD Cut Vinyl is most economical for smaller quantities.
Ink Jet Transfer
Ink Jet Transfers are used to print full color, photo quality images onto apparel. The design is printed onto a material that is then heat transferred onto the apparel. There are ink jet transfer materials formulated for printing onto white apparel, and another for colored apparel. Ink Jet Transfers are best used for smaller quantities.
Sublimation
A type of ink jet printed transfers, sublimation inks are printed onto a transfer sheet, and can be heat transfered onto white synthetic fabrics in a way that the ink is embedded in the clothing in a way that does not change the feeling of the clothing, and does not fade or wash out. Full color photo quality prints can be sublimation printed.