A lot of times you know what you want your shirt to look and feel like but you aren’t sure what “type” of print you are getting. Well, luckily, we are here to help!
Hey y’all! Today we’re gonna talk about the differences between three popular types of printing methods: Direct to Film (DTF) screen prints, sublimation, and Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV).
First off, let’s talk about Direct to Film (DTF) screen prints. This method is pretty self-explanatory – the design is printed directly onto a film, which is then pressed onto the fabric or material. It’s a great option for printing high-quality images and graphics, and it’s pretty durable too. With DTF you can have detailed and full color designs that include white ink. You can easily mass produce the items and the pressing time is cut down to a fraction. The downside is that it can be a bit more expensive than other methods, but in my opinion well worth the time it saves and the high quality of work..
Next up, we’ve got sublimation. This method uses special ink and a heat press to transfer the design onto the fabric. It’s a great option for printing full-color images and graphics, and it’s also pretty durable. The downside is that it can only be used on certain types of materials, like polyester and polymer-coated items. You typically have to sublimate on lighter color fabrics that have 50% or more polyester content unless you do a process called reverse bleaching. Reverse bleaching is a stylized process where bleach is used to remove the shirt pigment from the area in which the design is to be pressed.
Last but not least, we’ve got Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV). This method uses a vinyl material that is cut into a design and then pressed onto the fabric using heat. It’s a great option for printing designs with multiple colors and it’s also very durable. It does require special software and a cutting machine in order to completed the process. The downside is that it can be a bit tricky to work with, especially for beginners. It is more time consuming and if the clothing product isn’t washed properly, the adhesive will deteriorate after time and the vinyl may peel off.
So there ya have it! DTF screen prints, sublimation, and HTV are all great options for printing designs on fabrics and materials. It just depends on what you’re looking for and what type of material you’ll be working with. Happy printing, y’all!
