Woodcut printing is one of the oldest known printing techniques. Early examples of textiles decorated with woodcut prints date back to China in the fifth century CE. To create a print, artists carved a mirror image relief into a wooden block and applied ink to the surface to make a stamp. Woodcut prints are typically minimal and stylized with bold outlines. The natural variation of wood grain gives these prints a unique texture.
Modern printing techniques are faster, can depict more detail, and cause fewer splinters, but woodcut printing is still practiced today. Printmakers choose to work with woodcut stencils when they want to create a bold, graphic design with a subtle organic feel.
Different printing methods offer unique advantages and drawbacks. Finding the perfect approach for your t-shirt business is all about pairing the right printing method with the right design. Learn more about how to put a picture on a shirt to find a technique that suits your needs.
Methods for putting a picture on a shirt
All you need to create a custom t-shirt is a blank shirt and a few tubes of puff paint. Things get a little more complicated when you want to produce high-quality prints with intricate detail. This list focuses on printing methods that can print realistic photographs on shirts and other apparel:
Heat-transfer vinyl
Heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) printing is a popular choice for DIY t-shirt designers because the inexpensive materials and simple technique make it well-suited to home production. HTV image transfer involves printing an image onto a special vinyl transfer sheet (light transfer paper for light-colored shirts, dark transfer paper for dark-colored shirts) and using a heat press or regular clothing iron to apply the vinyl to a piece of fabric.
For photorealistic images, you can use a standard inkjet printer to print photographs onto printable heat-transfer vinyl sheets. For simpler t-shirt designs, such as word art or logos, you can also create stencils by cutting the vinyl into a stencil. HTV prints, sometimes called iron-on transfers, work on natural or synthetic fabrics. The opaque vinyl designs show up well on any color background, including on dark-colored shirts.
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Sublimation
Sublimation printing can create detailed, durable designs. This process requires a few pieces of specialized equipment, including a sublimation printer, sublimation ink, special heat-transfer paper, and a heat press. Sublimation printing uses heat and pressure to force solid ink into a gaseous state. Once it’s in this form, ink can penetrate fabric fibers and create a design that won’t flake or fade. Sublimation printers use CMYK color processing, so they can create almost any color but cannot print in white ink. The designs may not be visible on a dark background, which makes them ideal for light-colored shirts. Additionally, sublimation printing is only compatible with polyester or poly-blend shirts.
Direct to garment
Many printing methods, including HTV, sublimation, and direct to film, require printing your design onto heat-transfer paper or film to create a stencil and then using this stencil to transfer images. Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, on the other hand, uses a specialized DTG printer to transfer pictures straight onto fabric.
DTG printers can print in full color and create designs with a white base layer. This base layer helps ink stand out against dark backgrounds. DTG is suitable for printing on any color shirt and works with both natural and synthetic fibers. With DTG prints, the ink design sits on the surface of the fabric and can chip or peel over time.
DTG printing is a relatively new technology and specialized DTG printers cost thousands of dollars. As a result, DTG printing may be prohibitively expensive for some entrepreneurs who want to create custom shirts at home.
Direct to film
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing can create high-quality prints on light or dark-colored shirts. This technique requires a specialized printer that prints with liquid ink. DTF printers apply a thin layer of ink onto specialized heat-transfer film to create stencils. Printmakers then use a heat press to activate the stencil’s adhesive properties and apply the design to the fabric.
DTF printers are expensive, hard to set up, and require frequent maintenance. Partnering with a local business or a print-on-demand company can help make DTF printing possible for small business owners who can’t afford the upfront investment or don’t want to navigate the necessary maintenance.
With DTF prints, the ink-based design sits on the surface of the material. This yields bright, vibrant colors but leaves designs susceptible to wear and tear. These prints may chip or peel more quickly than sublimation prints.
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Key considerations for putting pictures on shirts
Choosing the right t-shirt printing method and production style can help make your custom apparel business a success. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a printing technique:
Fabric choice
If you prefer t-shirts in a certain color or made from a certain material, look for a printing technique that’s compatible with your selections. DTF, HTV, and DTG printing are all compatible with natural and polyester fabrics in both light and dark colors. By contrast, sublimation printing only works on polyester or poly-blend fabrics and designs show up best on light-colored fabrics.
Design quality
DTF, HTV, DTG, and sublimation printing methods can all create high-quality images with photorealistic details.
DTF, DTG, and HTV printing create designs with bright, vibrant colors. These methods all apply printed designs to a fabric’s surface. Resting on top of the fabric helps the colors pop out against the background—even on dark-colored shirts. Unfortunately, it also leaves the transfer vulnerable to wear and tear. Designs printed with these methods may crack or peel over time or with frequent washing. A DTF-printed t-shirt can sometimes have a slightly stiff or plasticky feeling.
Sublimation printing is the most durable of these printing techniques. With sublimation, the ink fuses with fabric fibers instead of resting on the surface. Sublimation designs may be slightly more muted and transparent than their alternatives, but they will never crack or peel.
Order quantity
Consider how many shirts you’d like to print. If you need a large volume, you might want to work with a professional printing service. If you’re producing products based on customer demand, it may make sense to partner with a print-on-demand service or print garments at home. If handmade printing is important to you, choose a process with affordable materials that match your skill level. Of the methods listed above, HTV and sublimation printing are best suited to home production techniques.
Budget
Material and labor costs affect the price of printing. DTG and DTF printing both require sophisticated equipment and skilled labor. Professional printing businesses often charge a premium for these services. Sublimation and HTV printing are typically more affordable options. These techniques require relatively inexpensive materials and are more accessible to home printmakers.
When partnering with professional printing services, it’s important to differentiate between upfront costs and running production costs. Sublimation and DTG printing require an initial setup but much less recurring effort and the average cost per custom shirt decreases with larger production runs. DTF and HTV, on the other hand, require applying a transfer sheet in the same manner every time. While HTV may be the least expensive option for small orders, sublimation often becomes more cost-effective over time.
How to put a picture on a shirt FAQ
How do you transfer a picture onto a shirt?
There are several printing methods, including heat-transfer vinyl, direct-to-garment, direct-to-film, and sublimation, capable of printing photorealist images on shirts. Screen printing is a high-quality t-shirt printing method, but it can't capture enough detail to render realistic pictures.
What apps do you use to put a picture on a shirt?
Pint-on-demand companies, like Printify and Gelato, with built-in t-shirt design apps are an easy way to print a picture on a t-shirt and order prints. You can also use graphic design software tools like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator to create digital image files to send to a t-shirt printer.
How do you care for shirts with pictures?
Garment care instructions vary based on the t-shirt printing method. Using gentle cleaning techniques, such as turning shirts inside out, washing with cold water, and air drying can prolong the lifespan of printed designs.
