Sublimation, Inkjet, DTG, or Screen Printing ??

[ArtMonkey]

Hi there. This is my first post other than my initial hello!

I am in a bit of a quandary as to whether sublimation printing on T-shirts is the right option for me. I own a heat press. I wish to print repros of drawn illustrations (black ink drawings, and the odd other colour) on shirts. Is sublimation the way to go????

Screen printing would obviously be preferred.. but I don't have the workspace unless there is some small cheap easy set-up I never heard of.. Shame as I have a regular supply of Gildan 100% cotton tees. Any bargain basement plastisol transfer merchants out there?

DTG looks way too expensive.

Digital inkjet transfer printing has never worked too well when i've tried it before (Heat pressed Xpres and Target transfer papers). It seems to flake in the wash a bit. Unless this process has improved recently?

This leaves sublimation. But it doesn't look like there are many t-shirt options. Ideally they would be cotton synthetic blend.

Your ideas will be most welcome !!

[bms]

Big question is whether you are aiming to print onto white t-shirts (or light coloured ones) or something different. If white is good then sublimation.

There are new more cotton feeling t-shirts coming - the child versions have now changed and these are lighter, much more cotton feeling. The same will be coming in with the Adult versions soon. This is a significant step forward.

[ArtMonkey]

Big question is whether you are aiming to print onto white t-shirts (or light coloured ones) or something different. If white is good then sublimation.

There are new more cotton feeling t-shirts coming - the child versions have now changed and these are lighter, much more cotton feeling. The same will be coming in with the Adult versions soon. This is a significant step forward.

Hi. Thanks for the response.

White is fine. Other lights too. Ordering in sublimation shirts would be OK. Shame in a way as I have a stock of cotton, but needs must. Are Xpres polyester/cotton tees any good?

Would the sublimation quality be as good as a screen print on white? That's basically what I'm trying to achieve. This Ralph Steadman print is similar to what i wish to do . - http://www.singer22.com/man/rlph004-bh003.html

[smitch6]

i find with xpress the sizes are very large
i'm a medium and have been for yrs but xpress sub t's drown me
i love sublisoft t's they are much thicker and a better fit for roughly the same money.

you can use the cotton t's for vinyl/flock etc
lots of ppl use cotton
or you can use them for hen/stag do's if they were cheap

[Justin]

Would work fine on sublimation. The subli shirts aren't as nice as 100% cotton due to the high polyester content. Vapor shirts are the best I've found personally. Xpres shirts are great quality but are too thick imo.

Screen printing would be great but you need to be looking at keeping a little stock in for this to work. I used to have my design range screen printed and my printer would do 12-24 shirts for a reasonable price so topping stock up wasn't a problem.

Sublimation is great becuase you can do just one or two but you'll still obviously need a stock of tee's at all times!

Chromablast is another option but recent discussions on here haven't been too positive. This is a way to print direct to cotton.

[ArtMonkey]

Would work fine on sublimation. The subli shirts aren't as nice as 100% cotton due to the high polyester content. Vapor shirts are the best I've found personally. Xpres shirts are great quality but are too thick imo.

Screen printing would be great but you need to be looking at keeping a little stock in for this to work. I used to have my design range screen printed and my printer would do 12-24 shirts for a reasonable price so topping stock up wasn't a problem.

Sublimation is great becuase you can do just one or two but you'll still obviously need a stock of tee's at all times!

Chromablast is another option but recent discussions on here haven't been too positive. This is a way to print direct to cotton.

Chromablast! Never heard of that. I looked up some YouTube videos and looks OK. Quote from elsewhere, "Excess transfer film residue does carry over to the garment from the paper, but is minimally noticeable, and 90% of it goes away after the first wash" This would put a noticeable rectangle behind my artwork. So not sure. martin@BMS didn't mention Chromablast above I notice. Ummmm....

[ArtMonkey]

Thanks smitch6.

Sublisoft look decent thanks if I go for sublimation.

[bms]

Would work fine on sublimation. The subli shirts aren't as nice as 100% cotton due to the high polyester content. Vapor shirts are the best I've found personally. Xpres shirts are great quality but are too thick imo.

They have changed. Certainly the child ones are different now, but they aren't yet available from Xpres, but we have them. They are called the Subli Plus T and are much more cotton like and thinner than the previous ones (clearly thinner by the size of the boxes they now come in!). Adult versions should go the same way as well.

[smitch6]

any idea why xpress T's are huge lol

[ArtMonkey]

They have changed. Certainly the child ones are different now, but they aren't yet available from Xpres, but we have them. They are called the Subli Plus T and are much more cotton like and thinner than the previous ones (clearly thinner by the size of the boxes they now come in!). Adult versions should go the same way as well.

Interesting that they are improving all the time.

How do you rate Chromablast? I noticed you sell the related products.