Decorating Methods Up Top
My career started in the imprinted sportswear industry selling both screen-print and heat-transfer equipment for embellishing caps.
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Digital Decorating: Process + Techniques
Direct-to-Garment Printing Tips
The direct-to-garment (DTG) printing process rapidly is growing as a preferred decoration method for many garment printers. The water-based CMYK+ white-ink system requires the right shirt for the best finished product. Gildan® has met this challenge with the Gildan® Softstyle® 64000 adult T-shirt. This garment is manufactured with a high-stitch-density fabric for a DTG-friendly, smooth printing surface.
The semi-fitted Gildan® Softstyle® 64000 is a 100% ring-spun cotton, preshrunk jersey knit, with a fabric weight of 4.5 ounces.
In this Impressions Tech Tips Newsletter, sponsored by Gildan®, I’ve printed white and black garments, but 50 colors are available in a size range of XS-3XL. A companion style, the 64000L ladies’ T-shirt, also is available.
DTG printing is unique in that garment choice will, in part, determine the final image’s quality. Starting with the right garment will potentially result in a bright and vibrant image. Printing on a less-than-suitable garment, however, will not yield a perfect print, no matter how many variables you change. This goes beyond printing on 100% cotton, which is the ideal substrate for any DTG printer. You also need a high-stitch-density fabric, such as that found in the Gildan® Softstyle® 64000, for a smooth surface and best results.
More Process + Techniques News
Try Creating Multiple Variations on a Theme When Designing for the Holidays
The end of the year is a great time for garment decorating. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas–all are the perfect reason for creating fun, festive designs for printing, and with dye sublimation, in particular, sales opportunities abound.
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Designing for DTF Transfers
Direct-to-film (DTF) transfers provide a new, fast-growing garment-decoration method that’s ideal for designing layouts for sports apparel. From team and practice uniforms to fan wear, DTF transfers allow you to easily and inexpensively incorporate full color into layouts.
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