
Printing your own t-shirts at home is a fun and rewarding hobby that can even turn into a small business. There are several methods for printing on t-shirts at home, each with its own pros and cons. These methods include heat transfer paper printing, heat transfer vinyl printing, direct-to-garment printing, screen printing, and sublimation printing. The best method for you will depend on factors such as your budget, the complexity of your designs, and how many t-shirts you want to produce.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Printing Methods | Heat Transfer Paper Printing, Heat Transfer Vinyl Printing, Direct-to-Garment Printing, Screen Printing, Dye Sublimation Printing, Inkodye Printing, White Toner Transfer Printing, Embroidery, Vinyl Heat Transfer, Sublimation |
Required Equipment | Clothing Iron or Heat Press Machine, Vinyl Cutting Machine, Wide-Format Printer, Image Editing Software, Pillowcase, Cardboard, Foam Core, Frame, Bowl, Brush or Roller, Paper Towel, Acetate Sheet, Glass, Lucite or Plexiglass |
Steps | Choose a Design, Prepare the Design, Print the Design, Cut Out the Design, Prepare the Workspace, Iron On the Design, Peel Off the Paper, Expose the Print to Sunlight, Wash the Shirt |
Tips | Do a Small Test Print, Keep the Workspace Clean and Well-Lit, Use Original Designs, Iron or Heat Press the Shirts Before Applying the Design, Research Trends, Processes and Design Tips, Consider Investing in Proper Tools and Machines |
What You'll Learn
Heat Transfer Paper Printing
What You Need for Heat Transfer Paper Printing:
- Iron-on transfer paper
- Clothing iron or a heat-press machine
- T-shirt (preferably 100% cotton)
- High-resolution image file
- Image editing program
- Flat surface that can withstand heat
Steps for Heat Transfer Paper Printing:
Step 1: Prepare the T-Shirt Design
Use professional software, such as Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, to create your design. Remember to use a high-quality image or save it as a vector file to avoid a pixelated print. If you only have a physical copy of your artwork, turn it into a digital file by scanning it or taking a photo.
Step 2: Print the Design
Make sure you have the right transfer paper for your printer and the colour of your t-shirt. For light-coloured shirts, you will need light transfer paper, which creates a mirror image, so you will need to flip your design before printing. For dark transfer paper, which is used for dark-coloured fabrics, do not mirror the image.
Step 3: Prepare the Workspace
While your printed ink is drying, prepare your shirt and workspace. Choose a cotton shirt with a tight and smooth texture, and pre-wash it to avoid shrinking. Iron the shirt to get rid of any wrinkles and provide a smooth surface for your design.
Find a flat, hard surface that is suitable for ironing and can withstand heat, such as a table or countertop. Lay down a cotton pillowcase or towel, and spread the t-shirt over it. Heat your iron according to the transfer paper’s instructions, usually on a high or cotton setting without steam.
Step 4: Iron On Your Custom Design
Place the transfer paper on the t-shirt – face down for light-coloured shirts, and face up for dark-coloured shirts. Use your iron as a heat press to transfer your design onto the shirt, pressing it down for the amount of time specified in the transfer paper instructions. Let the paper cool, then peel it off to reveal your design.
Washing Instructions:
Turn the t-shirt inside out and wash it in warm or cold water. Do not use bleach, fabric softeners, or harsh chemicals on the transfer. Dry the t-shirt at low heat, and do not iron directly over the transfer.
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Heat Transfer Vinyl Printing
Step 1: Prepare Your T-Shirt Design
Use image editing software, such as Cricut Design Space, to create your desired T-shirt design. For the best quality, use the SVG vector format and scale the image according to your T-shirt size. Mirror the print and remember to flip the design before cutting it.
Step 2: Cut the Design
Adjust the cutting machine settings according to your base material. Each type of vinyl requires different adjustments, so ensure you select the right ones. Place the heat transfer vinyl (HTV) on the cutting mat with the glossy side down, as this side will transfer your design to the shirt. Once the vinyl is prepared, insert the cutting mat into the cutter and let the machine cut out your design.
Step 3: Weed the Excess Vinyl
Weeding involves clearing away any unwanted bits of vinyl from the carrier sheet. First, peel the vinyl off the mat and place the glossy carrier side down. Then, use tweezers, a pen, or a weeding tool to remove the first vinyl layer and any other unnecessary parts that are not part of your design.
Step 4: Prepare the Shirt and Workspace
For your workspace, choose a flat, sturdy surface. Avoid using an ironing board as the applied pressure can cause it to bend or fold. Instead, use a floor, table, counter, or a piece of wood. Ensure your T-shirt is wrinkle-free and place it on the prepared workspace.
Step 5: Iron On Your Cut Design
This step requires heat and pressure. Place the shirt on your flat surface and align the design where you want it on the fabric. Cover the HTV with parchment paper to protect your iron from getting vinyl on it and to help with layering and repeated heating. Place the iron straight onto the design, pressing it down for 10-15 seconds per section. Do not slide the iron, as this can cause the HTV to wrinkle. Finally, peel off the carrier sheet and check the result. Some designs may require the carrier sheet to be peeled off while still hot, while others may need to cool down first, so check the vinyl instructions to avoid mistakes.
Advantages of Heat Transfer Vinyl Printing
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Direct-To-Garment Printing
DTG is similar to printing on paper at home, but on clothing. Digital printers are used to jet water-based ink directly onto fabrics. The garment is loaded onto a printing platen to ensure it's flat and effectively aligned. A pre-treatment solution is first applied to the product to help the ink bond with the fabric's fibres. Ink is then jetted directly onto the wet surface of the garment where special chemistry prevents the ink from moving out of position during the printing motion. After a few minutes, your design has been turned into a physical print. Finally, the garment is carefully removed from the printer and placed onto a conveyor dryer to evaporate the pre-treatment and cure the ink for a durable, lasting print.
DTG works best on 100% cotton, but cotton blends are also suitable. The main advantage of DTG is that it’s easy to print one-offs because there’s almost no setup time. It is a wallet-friendly solution for smaller orders and is one of the most popular printing methods. It is a fast process, with shirts done within minutes, and is available for multicoloured designs. The print blends with the fabric but shirts need to be pre-treated. It is best for cotton shirts.
There are some disadvantages to DTG. The colours will not be as vibrant as with other printing methods. Due to the CMYK process and water-based inks, brighter colours are not achievable. If vibrancy is needed, screen printing will be a better choice. DTG also has fabric limitations and works best on cotton shirts that are at least 80% cotton. Fabrics such as tri-blends are not possible unless specifically formulated for DTG printing.
There are some things to keep in mind when using DTG. The garment must be pre-treated for increased vibrancy. Extreme heat and pressure are then applied to eliminate any stray fibres that may be on top of the surface. The ink is then printed and cured. It is highly recommended that you wash your garment before wearing because the pre-treat process can leave a little residue. This will be gone after washing.
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Screen Printing
What You Need for Screen Printing
- A mesh screen
- Fabric paint
- Emulsion
- A 150-watt lightbulb or its LED equivalent
- A screen printing squeegee
- A frame (wood or metal)
- A counterfeiting machine
- A generator
Steps for Screen Printing
- Decide on an image you want to print.
- Print your image onto a regular piece of paper and carefully cut it out with a craft knife.
- Grab your frame. A screen printing frame is a wood or metal frame with "silk" (which is actually polyester) on it. You can buy this pre-made or make your own by stapling "110" polyester mesh to a square wood frame.
- Prepare and burn your screen. Paint the screen with emulsion in a completely dark room and let it dry for a couple of hours.
- Place your cut-out image onto the prepared screen.
- Expose your screen by turning on a light to cure all of the photo emulsion. The emulsion on the screen exposed to light will become permanent, while the emulsion under your image will wash away.
- Wash your screen with a high-pressure tap, such as a shower head or outdoor garden hose.
- Lay your t-shirt out and smooth it.
- Put your screen over your t-shirt so the recessed side is facing upwards.
- Run a line of paint across the top of your screen.
- Drag the paint over your image with your squeegee without applying pressure.
- Going in the same direction, run over the image with the squeegee again, this time applying some pressure to push the ink through the screen and onto the fabric.
- Carefully remove the screen from the t-shirt.
- Hang your t-shirt up to dry.
- When the ink is dry, heat set the image by pressing it with a dry iron.
Tips
If you want to print more complex images, invest in transparency paper. The image you print must be opaque so that it blocks all light from going through it.
Pros and Cons of Screen Printing
Pros:
- It is the gold standard of DIY.
- It is a speedy printing process for bulk orders.
- It is the most fabric-friendly method with no limitations.
- It produces stunning and sturdy prints that last.
Cons:
- It can be a messy process for printing at home.
- There are limited colour options.
- There is a huge learning curve and it can take a lot of time to learn the process.
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Printable Vinyl Printing
What You Need for Printable Vinyl Printing
- Printable heat transfer vinyl
- Printer with eco-solvent ink
- Heat press machine
- Cutting machine
- Vinyl cutter
- Software to make the design
Step-by-Step Guide to Printable Vinyl Printing
Step 1: Prepare the Design
Use software such as Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Cricut Design Space to create your design. Remember to mirror the image before printing.
Step 2: Print the Design
Load the printable vinyl into your printer, ensuring it is facing the right direction. Adjust your printer settings according to the instructions that came with the vinyl.
Step 3: Cut the Design
Load the sheet with the printed design into your vinyl cutter, or trim by hand.
Step 4: Prepare the T-Shirt
Iron the t-shirt to remove any wrinkles and provide a smooth surface for your design.
Step 5: Apply the Vinyl to the T-Shirt
Place the printed vinyl in the desired location on the t-shirt. Use a protective sheet or parchment paper over the design, then apply heat and pressure with a heat press or iron.
Step 6: Check the Design
After the specified time has elapsed, carefully lift one corner of the protective sheet to ensure the vinyl is adhered to the shirt. If not, apply heat for a little longer.
Tips for Printable Vinyl Printing
- Do a small test print or cut before making the whole design.
- Keep your workspace clean and well-lit.
- Use original designs to avoid legal issues.
- Always do a test cut if using a cutting machine.
- Pre-press the garment for a few seconds before applying the design to remove any moisture.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a printer, transfer paper, a cutting machine, a heat press machine, and an iron.
Heat transfer paper printing and heat transfer vinyl printing are the two best and easiest methods for printing on a T-shirt at home.
You should use t-shirt transfer paper, which can be found anywhere you can buy stationery or printer paper. There are two types of transfer paper: one for white or pastel shirts, and one for darker colours.