Comparison of Different Types of T-Shirt Printing

Digital T-Shirt Printing – Transfers

T-Shirt Printing with Transfers

Transfers are not stickers; they are ink applied to paper or a special film, which we transfer onto T-shirts using a heat press. You often ask us whether we also print with stickers. We would probably have to say yes—if you mean whether we print using transfers. But in fact, no—transfers are not stickers. You cannot peel them off a T-shirt. And they are not so easy to “stick on” either.

Key characteristics of transfer printing:

• we can print one-off items; printing just a single piece is no problem.
• printing is possible on a variety of materials, not just cotton. We can also print umbrellas, various bags, sports shirts, polo shirts, and even softshell jackets, winter jackets and similar items.
• full-colour printing is available (colour designs, photos, or multi-coloured text—of course, simple single-colour lettering and graphics can also be printed).
• They are also very useful when printing multiple designs in the same colour in different positions on a T-shirt—in this case, sometimes even for larger quantities.
• wash-resistant
• do not iron over the print
• we recommend air drying
• the print has a slightly plastic feel
• it is more difficult to print exact Pantone shades

Direct-to-Garment Printing

We can print directly onto T-shirts using screen printing. Different colour shades are applied separately, each colour through its own screen—and the result is beautiful, soft and durable prints. This is the best-known T-shirt printing technique, although digital printing is increasingly taking precedence. We still rely on screen printing for larger runs, as the print quality is better and, above all, it is more affordable than any digital printing technique for larger quantities.

However, when you only need one or a few T-shirts, you do not necessarily have to choose transfer printing—if you want to avoid the smooth, plastic look and feel, choose direct-to-garment printing, or DTG (direct to garment). At Gajcom, we print on three Kornit printers renowned for their exceptional quality. The print is durable and soft to the touch. It looks more integrated into the T-shirt. Of course, because it is softer and less “ironed on,” it has a more raw, natural appearance.

A good example of the difference between direct printing and transfers is the T-shirt collection Nina and Nande. Silhouettes are printed using transfers. T-shirts with photos are printed directly, giving them a more natural look—something like the T-shirts you may be used to seeing abroad or at the zoo.

 

Quality T-Shirts, Quality Printing

If we choose high-quality T-shirts, it is only right that they are printed to a high standard as well. What constitutes quality printing does not depend on the print shop, but rather on what the customer expects. Surprised? Well, technology is changing, and this is where we are now. Since durability is now practically a given, what is considered high quality depends on your taste. Do you want bold, intense colours and a plastic feel, so it is obvious that there is something printed on the T-shirt? Or would you prefer the print to blend into the T-shirt, feel soft to the touch, perhaps even with more muted, subtle colours? Everything is possible—well, almost everything 🙂 These facts do not apply only at Gajcom; the global market is moving towards digitalisation, which in the vast majority of cases is highly quality, convenient and affordable. Of course, nothing suits everyone—but it is good to have a choice.