Prints can be an expressive means of self-expression. From dresses and shoes to bags and purses, fashion prints make powerful statements without needing to speak directly about them!
Dye sublimation creates complex and colorful designs that cover the entire surface of fabric garments, such as cotton. It works best on lightweight materials like this. Prints on clothes have become increasingly popular and open up a world of creative possibilities for fashion lovers!
Design Your Own Clothes
Designing your own clothes can be both enjoyable and challenging; however, it also requires certain skills and knowledge. While you don’t need to be an artist or seamstress, understanding how your designs translate to real garments will help.
Direct to garment (DTG) printing provides one solution, using special inks that absorb into fabric to form lasting prints that won’t peel or crack over time.
Screen printing is considered by many professionals to be the highest-quality option and can be applied to almost any fabric type. When selecting a manufacturer, be sure to compare their pricing, capabilities, and reputation in addition to ordering product samples to test printing quality.
Printing Techniques
Printmaking is a form of art that can be utilized on various materials to produce visually-appealing patterns, images, and textures that catch consumers’ eyes.
Sublimation printing techniques for garments have become an increasingly popular way of adding color. This involves printing a color design on transfer paper and then applying heat to the fabric so the dye penetrates it, producing vibrant all-over print shirts with vivid designs.
Screen printing is another widely utilized printmaking technique that’s ideal for more intricate designs requiring many colors; each shade requires its own separate screen.
Digital printing is another widely utilized apparel printing method, using a computerized printer similar to a home inkjet printer. Digital printing enables unlimited colors in CMYK with additional spot colors allowing it to be one of the more cost-effective methods of printing dark fabrics.
Choosing the Right Fabrics
Fabric selection for printing can have both aesthetic and durability effects. Hewett suggests choosing light cotton linen or furnishing fabric that can withstand repeated printing sessions; silk or wool fabrics won’t hold ink well and must be avoided.
Other options to consider for your fabric selections include gingham (woven white stripes with one color), polka dots – either small, ditsy ones, or large bold ones, depending on your preference – or floral prints, which come either monochrome or multicolor options.
If you plan to print multiple sides of the fabric at once, linen is an ideal reversible material that gives more versatility in designing with designs. Also, keep in mind how much time and fabric is available to complete your project; keep a few extra yards on hand as testing material.
Getting Started
Print-making success begins with selecting an ink that dries permanently; many water-based inks available at art supplies stores rewet when painted upon, leading to muted colors and lost details. Furthermore, it’s vital that paper thick enough to support wet media doesn’t buckle, warp, or bleed through during the printing process.
Explore various printing techniques. Doing this is a great way to discover which ones work best for you and gives an excellent opportunity to gain more insight into different areas of printmaking, like carving and inking.
Are you ready to elevate your designs to the next level? Apliiq’s team of print-making masters is here to assist. Let us handle apparel production logistics while you focus on building your brand!