Printing Techniques

Print Techniques

The source you see below about the Printing Techniques comes from the Spreadsheet Printing provider I use in this shop. URL is: https://help.spreadshirt.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207487605-Printing-Techniques.

i2s comment

Just before you start read about the printing type differences let me give you some heads up and examples so you can understand more why in my shop you'll find Designs which have two sepearate versions for Flex and Digital, and some Designs only have Digital or Flex.

The Flex Printing methods (Smooth and Valvety) allow you to change the colors of the Design and the Quality of the Graphics on the Product is amazing, as a Designer the only dissadvantage is that this method comms with limitations. It can be only a Image with max 3 colors, and very often complex images like the "White Beast" just can't be converted for Flex Print, also Flex Print has pre defined palette of colours, which sometimes doesn't fit my expectations.

I don't want to say that using Flex Print is bad, it's actually the right opposite. I would suggest first go ahead with Flex Print Designs as the quality is really amazing, but the reason why I would have two version for Some Designs is because the Digital option would have more small details in the Picturte, and would have the Colors originally designed with the image, where Flexi Print gives me and you more Freedom where you can play aroung with the colors to fit the Design to the Product and its color you choose.

From the other hand some designs are only Digital, because converting them to Flex Print didn't look good.

Most of the time i design Images to fit Flex Print, but if there is something which require more details then I don't have a problem order a T-Shirt with Digital Print.

Smooth (Flex print)

	Look	Durability	Application
	Matte, overlying colour foil	Very high	Designs in 1 to 3 colours
	The design is printed on matte foil and then heat-pressed on the product

Flex is a printing technique where the design is cut from a coloured foil and then pressed onto the shirt under high heat. Some flex printing features are:

Brilliant colours

The printed colours have a slight shine to them and contrast extremely well with fabric.

Longevity and durability

Tests have shown that the form and colour of the flex print barely change after 100 washes. It is made of a flexible and resilient material - even thin lines do not break.

More Details about this Technique can be found here

Examples

Velvety (Flock print)

	Look	Durability	Application
	Velvety, overlying colour foil	Very high	Designs in 1 to 3 colours
	The design is cut out of a velvety foil and then heat-pressed on the product.

Flock is a printing technique where the design is cut from a coloured foil and then pressed onto the shirt under high heat. Flock printing features:

Elegant appearance

A flock print has a velvety, fuzzy surface. The foil (0.5 mm) is somewhat thicker than flex, which causes the design to appear slightly elevated from the apparel and results in the plush feel. The colours have a soft glow to them.

Longevity and durability

Flock designs retain their colour brilliance after many washes.

More Details about this Technique can be found here

Examples

Digital printing

	Look	Durability	Application
	Inked surface	High	Photos, multi-colours, large-areas
	The colours are sprayed onto the product. This is done with a computer-controlled printer.

Advantages	The print	Application
Digital direct
Ideally suited for large-scale prints Results in a relaxed “vintage look”. The design looks a bit faded, don’t expect brash colours	Print with computer-operated digital print Colours are sprayed on and made durable with a hardener The fabrics can still be felt when touching the design	Cannot yet be used for every product Can be printed on the front and backside of T-shirts, and only on the backside of some hoodies
Laser print
Suitable for printing of accessory fabrics Ideally suited for designs and photos Smooth, slightly shiny print with brilliant print results	The design is put on transparent transfer foil, and then cut out and pressed on the fabrics while applying great heat What remains is a hardly visible rim of transfer foil	Suitable for accessories such as bags, caps and hats Brilliant print results that stay when hand-washing
Digital transfer
Smooth, slightly shiny print with good print results Prints that last many a washing	The design is put on transparent transfer foil, and then cut out and pressed on the fabrics while applying great heat What remains is a hardly visible rim of transfer foil	Only suitable for white and very light products Print foil can tear when twisted (e.g. on Men’s Slim Fit T-shirt)

More Details about this Technique can be found here

Examples

Special (Flex print)

	Look	Durability	Application
	Overlying foil with effects	Very high	Catchy look, for special occasions
	This special kind of flex printing uses foils that make you stand out from the masses when wearing it. These foils include glitter, glow-in-the-dark and halogen-reflex.

More Details about this Technique can be found here

Examples

Thermal sublimation for Accessories

	Look	Durability	Application
	Inked surface	Very high	Mugs, cups, covers
	The design is transfered to a special foil and then heat-pressed onto the product.

Thermal sublimation is a printing technique used for mugs, beakers and covers (iPad, Kindle, Smartphone).

When printing with thermal sublimation, the design or text are first printed back-to-front on a carrier foil. By applying a lot of heat (hence ‘thermal’) the design is then steamed off of the foil onto the product. A special layer on the product reacts with colour pigments and fixates them into the products permanently.

The result is a vividly coloured image that is integrated directly into the product's surface - the design does not protrude from the product. Extreme durability also after exposure to sunlight make thermal sublimination a long-lasting and high-quality option for accessories.

More Details about this Technique can be found here

Examples