Newbie/Oldie

[Justin]

Screen print/DTG sound ideal but as I've said, it all depends on your designs.....how many you'll be printing...and your budget.

[doeflax]

Point taken & understood Justin, but for someone with (as yet) no customers to reclaim some of the extra equipment cost, screening & dtg are outside of my present budget. But never say never lol.

[Justin]

Not necessarily. It may just mean that you have to outsource for the time being. My first range of clothing was all screen printed by a local printer, small enough initial quantity to justify the outlay but it is an outlay Depends if you're printing one offs or a range.

[doeflax]

You see, I was led to believe that the latest OKI printer had cracked the "white on dark" scenario with the newly developed gel type toners. My set up is going to be a home based operation, small, and low cost. Was figuring on doing some one-off freebies & sending them out to local businesses in my area to hopefully entice them into placing an order for say 10 or 12 shirts. So equipment has to be concise with medium size footplate, and I'm hoping to obtain a "artwork software-printer-heat press" finished product type setup. There must be some way that's not too overcomplicated/mega expensive lurking out there ??

[Justin]

White on dark is very good but you're limited to A4 at the moment I'm afraid.

[doeflax]

I see, maybe if I'm a tad more inventive with the artwork A4 may be ok.

[Justin]

This is a very good point. I've held off buying the white system just for now as A4 would be too limiting for me. Like you say, if you can design around this and print in 2 halves it would work fine. Slightly high cost per print at the moment.

[doeflax]

I think Sawgrass or one of the big print companies will crack it soon (says doeflax lickin' his lips) !

[socialgiraffe]

The White toner is a laser system and Sawgrass are ink jet based. I do not think there are any plans yet to develop white ink from Sawgrass but that could well change as they need to "catch up"

The problem with the A3, as I understand it, is registration. This is why TMT will not stock it. I think that Xpres do stock the A3 white system but you would have to check. Personally if TMT are not doing it there must be a reason.

DTG is great but does have its limitations, for example the surface you are printing on must be completely flat (i.e. no zips or pockets).

As you can see... its a minefield

The one thing I will say is that taking longer to make a choice will not make it easier! I have only had my white system for about 6 weeks (possibly a bit longer) and I reckon it will pay for itself within 3 months max. I am not the only one who will say this, Logobear and Jason will probably say the same and I am sure that others with the white system may be quicker or not much longer.

[doeflax]

ok, thanx socialgiraffe. exactly what "white system" is it that you have ?