Apparel printing is an effective marketing tool for businesses, sporting events and brands. By incorporating their logos, slogans and brand visuals on customized clothing items, companies can turn apparel into walking billboards to promote their products or services. Customizing the appearance of a garment with text, barcodes and graphics allows for quick production of promotional materials that meet the needs of a particular audience or market segment. The versatility of apparel printing techniques provides endless possibilities for creativity and customization to suit the specific preferences of a target demographic.
There are many different methods to customize apparel, but digital printing is one of the most cost-effective and fastest ways to produce eye-catching apparel for promotional campaigns. This technology uses specialized inks to create complex patterns and colors on garments, bags, caps and other fabric products. This technology has transformed the textile and fashion industry by allowing manufacturers to achieve creative and unique designs while reducing costs.
Digital printers are widely used by apparel decorating and fulfillment companies such as Fanatics, Amazon, and the countless home-based shops that fulfill online orders. DTG (direct-to-garment) printers use a special ink to print directly onto pre-sewn shirts, hats, hoodies, children’s and baby clothes, tote bags and throw pillow covers. DTG printing is ideal for small-run, high-definition full-color prints on light-colored fabrics that are soft to the touch and more durable than standard screen printing.
Other popular apparel decorating techniques include vinyl heat transfers, direct-to-film and plastisol transfer printing. Unlike screen printing, which requires a separate printing plate for each color in the artwork, these transfers are printed on film or paper using a CMYK DTG printer, and then applied to a tee shirt or other garment with heat. The resulting image is bright, vibrant and crisp with no noticeable texture or print flaws.
Plastisol transfers use a water-based ink to remove pre-existing dye from the garment, leaving a softer feel and superior breathability. Embroidery is another traditional apparel decoration method that uses needles to sew a design or pattern on a garment. This type of decoration is perfect for embroidered text, high-density and 3D embroidery effects on garments like tees, hoodies, polos and tote bags. This type of apparel printing is also perfect for companies that want to offer customers a variety of colors, designs and sizes in their merchandise options. It’s important to choose the right printing method for your needs, and a trusted print shop in Denver will be able to help you make the right decision. They can advise you on the best fabric options based on your printing method, as well as the color and fit preferences of your employees.