Clothing printing is the process of creating designs on cloth. Unlike traditional embroidery, it does not involve stitching. Instead, it uses a printing process called resist printing. In this process, the cloth is first coated with a dye or resist that prevents the dye from penetrating the printed areas. The dye is then only applied to the parts of the cloth that are not covered with the resist. This process gives clothes a plisse effect.
This process uses a heat press and can be either hand-operated or automated. The cloth is laid out on a printing table, pinned to a gray backdrop and the design is applied through a screen, which is made of a nylon or silk gauze stretched over a frame. Unlike hand-painted designs, however, the vinyl can crack or pop out if washed regularly. Nevertheless, it is best for printing simple shapes and lettering.
Another technique used in clothes printing is direct-to-garment printing. This process allows you to print full-colour images onto any type of garment, including shirts. You can get a batch of high-quality printed clothes within hours. This method also requires no set-up fees. In contrast, sublimation printing uses special paper to transfer designs onto garments. This method is useful if you want to use it on garments made from 100% white polyester.
For direct-to-garment printing, high-quality graphics are required. Raster images must be 300-dpi at least. If the design includes text or other graphics, they should be converted to outlines. The process can also be performed on dark garments. Embroidered clothing is suitable for frequent wear and is the preferred method of printing workwear apparel. In addition, it does not fade, fading or cracking. It is a long-lasting method for workwear uniforms because it is not affected by washing.