The usage of the best printer for tshirt printing is a great way to get your brand noticeable, but it can be difficult to find the right printer for your needs.
Not only do you need to consider the type of material that’s being you’re printing on it and whether or not there are any other special requirements (such as designs), but also what kind of finishing options you want.
Top 9 Best Printers For Tshirt Printing
Luckily, we’ve done most of the hard work for you—we’ve collected 9 of our favorite printers so that all you have left is finding one!
Thermal Transfer Printers
Thermal transfer printers are the most common type of printer that people use for t-shirt printing. They use heat to transfer ink from a ribbon onto the t-shirt. So, it can be printed or dyed in many colors. The printer can print images and text on the shirt, with impressive detail.
The cost of a thermal transfer printer is moderate, but it’s still an affordable option if you’re looking for a versatile way to get your designs onto shirts quickly and easily.
Dye Sublimation Printers
A dye sublimation printer is the best printer for tshirt printing because they are fast, easy to use and print on a wide range of fabrics. The dye sublimation printer uses heat from a press to transfer ink from the print head onto your shirt.
It does this by heating up the ink until it turns into gas, then bonding it directly onto fabric at the molecular level. This method works best on light colored shirts because there’s no need for an additional layer of ink since it’s already there! This means that you can print more colors without worrying about fading or cracking over time (which happens when using other methods).
Direct To Garment (DTG) Printers
Direct to garment (DTG) printers are a type of inkjet printer that you can use for printing on clothing. They are also popular as digital textile printers, or DTG printers. The 3d printers have been a large part of the design industry for many years and they continue to grow in popularity among consumers and businesses alike.
Some of the best printers are not only small but also very efficient. These devices can be used for creating high-quality prints on various materials including polyester and cotton fabric which were not possible before this technology became available on the market today!
Screen Printing
Screen printing is the most common and popular method of printing on cotton t-shirts. It’s also the most expensive, with a minimum order cost of $10 per shirt. Screen printing is a process of stencil production, then they push ink through the stencil onto the shirt.
The result is an image that looks exactly like it did before you printed it onto your shirt but without any of that pesky ink seeping through or making weird blotches all over your favorite pieces! Our list of the best printer for tshirt printing won’t be complete without mentioning this one!
Vinyl Heat Transfer Printing
Vinyl heat transfer printing is a method of printing on apparel. It is a direct to garment printing method that uses a special vinyl material and a heat press to apply the design to the garment.
Vinyl heat transfer printing requires a lot of equipment including, the vinyl material itself, a cutter for cutting the design, an ironing machine for ironing out any wrinkles in your shirt after you’re okay with applying your design(s).
This method is not suitable if you are going to print many different designs on t-shirts because each item needs its own set of tools and materials!
Inkjet Transfers
Inkjet transfers are a great choice for small runs of t-shirts. They’re not suitable for large print jobs, but you can use them to print on cotton and polyester fabrics. Inkjet transfers are also great for printing on dark colored fabrics as they don’t leave any residue behind when you wash your shirt after printing it! It’s one of the best printer for tshirt printing.
Man worker in glasses back using heat thermal textile application transfer press. Printing application art design on T-shirt. Printing house office offset equipment. Manufacturing picture technology.
Laser Printers
If you’re looking for a printer with the most consistent quality and color output, laser printers are your best bet. Laser printers use lasers to print, which means they can produce higher resolutions than inkjet printers (but not as high as 4K).
This makes them ideal for printing on dark colors and white shirts. They also work well with more complicated designs because of their ability to handle intricate text and graphics without spattering or skewing your artwork.
However, laser printers aren’t cheap. If you want one that can handle complex projects without breaking the bank, make sure it’s from an established brand like Canon or HP. Otherwise, its capabilities might be in limitations in certain areas where an inkjet isn’t able meet expectations. You’ll get the design printer for shirts printing with this laser printers.
Foil Printing
Foil printing is a type of printing that uses metallic foil to create a unique look. You can use it on a wide range of items, including t-shirts and stickers, but it can also be used for things like packaging or letterhead. Foil printing has become popular in recent years because it’s easy to use and forgiving when it comes to mistakes.
The best part about using foil is that you don’t have to worry about your design being too small or too big. You’ll get an accurate representation of what your product looks like without having any issues with bleed-through or other issues related to the size of your design being too small or large at all (which happens sometimes).
Professional Cut and Sew T-Shirt Printing
Professional cut and sew t-shirt printing is a more advanced technique that requires a higher level of skill and machinery. You can use it for high volume orders, as well as complex designs and materials like cotton, polyester or spandex.
A professional printer will use an automated cutting system that cuts the fabric into the required shape before sewing it together with heat-sealing technology. The machine then applies heat to the seam which seals it in place so there are no loose threads on your final product when you receive it!
What to look out for before buying the best printer for Tshirt printing?
A cool design on a t-shirt can garner sales, but it’s not always easy to get that design printed onto your shirt. That’s why we have picked out a list of things to look out for when shopping for the best printers for tshirt printing that suits your needs.
Print quality
Print quality is the most important factor in choosing a printer. It determines how well your design will come out on the shirt, and it also affects customer experience—if you’re printing a design that’s not going to look great when printed or if you’re running into problems with the final print job, then there won’t be any reason for customers to buy from you again (or even recommend you).
Automated silk screen printing rotary machine prints black t-shitrs
To determine print resolution:
Measure the size of your image area. The measurement should be at least 1/4 inch smaller than actual size. So that there won’t be any bleed-through onto other areas on shirts that you’re printing. For example, if we were printing an 8×11 inch photograph with a 2 inch border around it and measuring 1/4 inch inside each corner and center along all edges then our measurement would be 5 inches wide by 7 inches tall – pretty close!
Maximum print size
The maximum print size refers to the largest printable area on a printer. This is determined by the dimensions of your printer’s printing bed (the surface on which it prints).
If you want to print something that’s smaller than its maximum, then don’t buy a large one. You’ll have to sacrifice some quality and speed in order to get what you want.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something huge and detailed like an actual t-shirt design or logo graphic, then getting one with a larger capacity will definitely be worth it! A very important thing to consider when buying the best printer for tshirt printing.
The number of ink cartridges
Ink is the lifeblood of your printer. The more ink cartridges you have, the more colors and prints you can print. If you are printing a lot of shirts, it makes sense to get a printer with more than one color (or at least two).
The price will go up because they’ll need to make sure they have enough ink in each cartridge so that all the colors don’t run out at once. You’ll also see higher prices on paper since some manufacturers charge extra for using different colored papers in their product lineups (i’m looking at you HP).
Your printer won’t be able to handle everything! Printing T-shirts requires lots of different materials such as heat transfers, transfer vinyls and even fabric graphics depending on how complex your design is going to look like when printed onto clothing items like shirts or jackets etcetera…
Connectivity
The first thing you should consider is the connectivity of your printer. Is it going to be wireless or USB?
The best printers for t-shirt printing have either a wireless connection or a USB connection. Wireless connections tend to be faster and more convenient, but require that you have a router in your house (which can be expensive). A wired connection is more secure, but slower than its wireless counterpart.
Male worker using screen printing film and a printing machine in a workshop
Design software
Design software is a must-have for the best printer for tshirt printing. It’s not just for designing logos and text, but also for creating your own designs from scratch. Vector graphics are easier to manipulate, which means you can make any shape or size you want without having to worry about losing quality in the process.
You’ll also be able to import images from the internet into your design program so that you don’t have to spend the time hand drawing everything yourself!
White ink printing and underbasing
Underbasing is a process of printing the base color first, followed by white ink. This allows for better quality and more vibrant colors because it prevents you from seeing through your shirt. It also makes it easier to print on dark shirts as well as lighter ones (because white ink prints much darker than any other color).
Print speed
Print speed is the number of shirts you can print per hour. It’s measured in inches per second. And it depends on how fast the printer can move its print head, as well as its size and quality of paper.
The higher the print speed, the more expensive your printer will be. But it’s also worth noting that there are some high-quality printers with low speeds. So, if you’re just starting out with the best printer for tshirt printing, then these might be perfect for you.
Conclusion
When exploring the diverse world of t-shirt printing, thermal transfer printers emerge as a standout choice. This method leverages heat to transfer ink onto fabrics, delivering durable, high-quality images that endure through washes without the need for water-resistant treatments. Not only does this technique sidestep the complexities and costs associated with direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, which demands additional preparation and equipment, but it also simplifies the printing process, making it more cost-effective. For those looking to amplify their brand or artist profile, seamlessly integrating high-quality printed merchandise can be a game-changer. Platforms like Spotifystorm offer a straightforward solution to gain Spotify followers, views, and likes, enhancing your visibility and engagement in the digital space. By combining the efficiency of thermal transfer printing with strategic online growth, creators can significantly expand their reach and impact.
