Apparel printing has a long history in the US, dating back to the 18th century. The emergence of different print shop changed the way that t-shirts were made, and apparel printing methods followed suit. Screen printing and embroidery are the two main techniques used in apparel printing. Screen printing involves passing a colored ink through a heat press, which imprints designs on the fabric.
The most popular screen printing technique is called vibrancy printing. This print method was used primarily for apparel printing in the 20th century but is making a comeback today. The vibrancy technique combines metallic inks with a ribbon dye, which is then applied to fabrics using a special dry-pap machine. The ribbon dye reacts with the metal inks to create a silver-like sheen, which has a high print quality and exceptional color range.
Screen printing, on the other hand, used paper or cloth templates to imprint designs on items such as shirts, vests, pants, shorts, and socks. Unlike vibrancy technology, screen printing does not use ink cartridges. Instead, garments are printed using heat transfer paper or fabric dye. The printout from a garment printing press must be immediately wiped or laminated to prevent fading. This process is more time-consuming than using a vibrancy press but provides high-quality screen printed designs that last for years.
Many businesses use both screen printing and embroidery together to produce promotional products like t-shirts, hoodies, and hats, but they do so using separate equipment. T-shirts and garments can be set up like screen printing with no setup required by the client. The garment printing company sends the needed materials to the set-up location, and the employees at the set-up location make all of the necessary modifications to the orders as instructed by the client. When the item is finished, it is then sent back to the printing shop for the job to be completed. Like screen printing, the equipment needed to handle this task must be either a vibrancy machine or a set-up machine.
When looking for an effective solution, businesses should consider all of their apparel printing techniques. They should also consider whether they need any special equipment to complete their orders. If they use the Internet to purchase items or if they have an in-house design team, they may find that the Internet is the best printing method. This is because it allows them to offer custom solutions to their customers, which will often be better than the offered solutions from vendors that use machines. Businesses that have both an online presence and a design team will find that it is easiest to meet their business needs with the help of the Internet.
Colour gradients are another way to increase the visibility of a print. Different colour gradients can be used depending on whether the design is to be displayed in monochrome or colour. The printing process known as screen printing inks employ different gradients, including full-cade, shadow, orchid, and leaf. High-gloss and matte shadows produce striking effects when the garment is worn. Leaf and light-weight gradients are used when more of the design is seen. Screen printing inks allow printers to make garments in a wide range of weights and fabrics.