What is Digital T-shirt Printing

Since the advent of the digital age t-shirt printing has come a long way since the days of dripping water soluble screen printing inks and cut out stencils. There is no doubt that computers have changed t-shirt screen printing forever, however, the digital age has ushered forth many new forms of digital t-shirt printing not possible before there was mass usable computing. The main benefit is the ability to do small runs.

The first methods of digital t shirt printing came from printing onto transfer paper and with a hot press, you stick this on a t-shirt. Originally call Iron-on transfers because you could put them on with a hot iron. They where originally only possible to put them on light colours t-shirts. While the transfer products have improved for digital transfers, and transfer overlays they are not well known for there durability. There are now more efficient methods of digital t-shirt printing that are making digital transfers more and more obsolete.

There are digitally plotted cut-outs that are transferred to the t shirt or other garments with the the aid of heat presses, these cut-outs can be made from many different substances. Like Flock, Foil or Vinyl. The numbers on the backs of sports jerseys are usually done using this form of digital transfer overlay. This method is suitable for designs that have gentle curves and basic shapes, as fine details or sharp curves are not possible as the plotter has difficulty with such fine detail. These transfers are fully opaque and can be placed on any coloured t-shirts.

Another form of digital transfer overlay is digital printed dye-cut vinyl transfers. These can be printed in full colour and are transferred to garments with a heat press. This is a very durable application method but can sometimes feel very soft to wear.