what is the best computer graphic file format for tee shirt art?

We are often asked " What is the best computer file format to send to a silk screen printer
for imaging on a tee shirts?"

The Simplest answer is..... Any that can be viewed with out specific software! Let me explain.....

If you create your "artwork" in a program like Microsoft Publisher, Word or Megasystems Monkeypics and the screen printer does not have that software, then they will not be able to open it. Use a common graphics file format like jpeg, gif, png etc. Here is more information on these Graphics industry formats at Wikipedia Computer graphics file formats.


Now, for the more difficult answer. Many people know that Personal computers are great for creating graphics, photographs and artwork, and want to use their PC to create a custom image themselves, expecting that it can just be reproduced onto t-shirts and other products. Please be aware that the personal computer is just a tool used by artist and designers to create Professional graphics. And that most of the graphics you see on your computer and the internet are designed specifically for the computer monitor and NOT any other form of reproduction. this is due to many factors.

So, What am I saying?... Keep in mind that even seasoned Graphic designers rarely understand the limitations and file structures used for the silk screen printing process. So Unless you are inexperienced knowledgeable computer graphic designer, anything you do will most likely need to be re-created for Quality tee shirt printing.

"Does that mean I can't or shouldn't create my own art for t shirts?"

Absolutely not..... Just don't expect that a printer can take any file and reproduce it. I'm telling you this because many people spend thousands of hours on a file only to find out it is only good for viewing on a computer monitor. Most real graphics can only be viewed with the appropriate High end expensive Computer graphics software like Adobe Illustrator. then they are saved to a jpeg format so the client can see them. This is something to keep in mind because many clients get these jpeg ( Previews) from a professional and then assume that it can be sent off for professional printing.

" What about photographs I have that I want printed onto t-shirt, hoodies and other apparel or garment?"

The easy quick answer to this without getting into to much techno babble is... ... ..... ......... Ok, Maybe there is none with out a little understanding of Digital imaging.
Digital photography and photographs digitized to be on a computer are comprised of many small squares of information called Pixels. The more pixels per square inch, the smaller the pixel is. What's this mean? Well, the smaller the pixel, the more the resolution or the finer the detail. Please see Wiki info.

Now, with this in mind please remember that most digital cameras are designed to produce a 6X4 print. Thats pretty small for the front of even a small child's t-shirt. However, the screen printing process for textiles in the imprinted apparel industry uses a much lower resolution the say offset printing for cards and magazines. These means we can enlarge the photo some with out it getting to Pixelated or Blurry.


It is also good to know that jpegs ( Joint Photographer Expert Group) files are also Pixel based images. This means that if you computer file is High enough resolution it might be used. Keeping in mind that the color structure is always RGB or CMYK. Let me explain. RGB or red, green blue refers to the three colors of the light emitting diodes of you monitor. More Wiki here.

These may have very bright colors that only a neon ink can get close to reproducing. and the file is ONLY for computer monitors , cell phones or TV's etc.

Cmyk refers to the four colors used like those in your bubble jet printer. ( Cyan-Blue, Magenta-Red, Yellow and K for Black) these are the four primary colors and between them can miz to create orange, green, purple and brown. Then with a percentage of ink or inks they create tints and tones like Pink, gray and teal. see wiki. CMYK

Having said that, Understand that while screen printing can do four color process printing, it is difficult and expensive to do an so usually reserved for large quantity's of shirts with the same image. Also the screen print inks ( Plastisol) have a reduced Gamut.. See Wiki on color gamut and are subject to color fading with time and laundering.

Most screen print art files use Spot color. This is where every color produces a separated film for each color of ink. and each individual color is printed onto the garment. And a vector file from drawing programs like Adobe© Illustrator & Corel® Draw are preferred.

Vector also called Post script & Raster also called Bit-map.

Direct to garment Digital print on demans for tee shirts.

What's the deal with this " Digital t-shirt printing"? Is it the same as " print on demand"?


Digital t-shirt printing is starting to come of age. Since BASF has developed a White ink for use in bubble jet and ink jet printers along with a curable textile ink. Companies can now print onto garments or textiles using the same printing technologies as the desktop printer attached to your homes personal computer system.

What are the Pros & Cons of Digital tee shirt imaging as compared to other processes like Heat transfers, Sublimation or silk screen printing?

 Unlike heat transfers or sublimation, Digital printing can now be done right onto colored garments as a White ink can be applied first. Heat transfers do come in white however each transfer must be cut out of the square or rectangular paper an applied. It leaves a big plastic window on the garment. Sublimation can only be don on Polyester goods and not 100% cotton.

Silk screen printing was invented in Asia some 4000 years ago. It has come a long way since then using discoveries in modern technology and materials.. It is  THE standard in imaging anything textile.!
Here is a breakdown of some of the pro's & con's of Print on demand custom t-shirts as compared to the Industry standard of Silk screening.

Pros....
     
         1.) PRICE: There are no set ups associated with this form of reproduction. This means mechanical color separated films and screens are not needed. This is a major cost saving factor and has made it affordable to do just one or two full color printed items. Please see the number one con as an opposite effect of this.

         2.) TIME: If you find a shop that does not have a lot of orders going on at the time, It is possible for shirts to be done While you wait! do to the lack of set ups required.

Cons....

         1.) PRICE + TIME: Digital printing is a slow process as compared to silk screening. With the silk screen process, Once the job is set up , Hundreds of full color garments can be produced on just one press in 30 minuets or less.
Digital printing may take that long just to spray one shirt. Silk screening can reproduce t-shirt quantities at 500 percent faster then Digital.
  This means you can get MAJOR price breaks for ordering quantities of silk screen printed shirts whereas digital printing does not give you a price break for quantities! this can be the difference from $3.00 bucks a tee compared to $8.00 to  $20.00 a shirt.

             Also in this area is the fact that you pay the same price for a one color digital print as a full color digital print. Screen printing charges per color and can generate Free mixed tertiary colors on press as well.


           2.) QUALITY:  Digital printing Sprays the ink onto the garment whereas Screening uses a Squeegee with pressure to Push the ink into the fiber thus completely permeating the material completely. In fact most digital printers spray an alcohol down first just to get the ink to slightly absorb into the textile weave a few millimeters below the surface. Screen printing can also use different meshes of screen  to adjust thick or thinner deposits of ink.
   These inks fade quickly from Sunlight, laundering and wear. Silk screened shirts....  I still have a Pink Floyd shirt from the seventies, The shirt is falling apart but the print still looks great.

          3.) SPECIAL EFFECTS: Unlike silk screening, Digital print on demand cannot print creative custom effect inks like.. glitters, shimmers, metallics, glow in the dark, neon,  florescent black light, puff & raised,Color changing ultra violet chromatic, clear gel gloss, Foils, sued, Light reflective, vinyl, Lycra & specialty material inks, as well as exact pantone color match inks.

     Color matching, Digital cannot do a color match! in fact re-orders may result in an image that is completely different in color.!

     Three-D effect, Digital printing does not offer killer effect that can be done by a screen printer like, High density printing, Fake process, Indexing, Flamingo printing and a whole host more.


In short, Digital print on demand custom tee shirts are only for those who want just a few Cotton only garments that are just a generic graphic or photo and are not meant to be a keepsakes or retail commercial products.
This is why there are so many Cafepress "$#@ks" blogs and website..... people are charged 20 bucks for a tee that will fade, the store owner only gets two bucks and the images are usually pretty cheesy stolen internet jpegs.