A blank t-shirt can become a powerful marketing tool with the right customizations. It offers just what any brand needs to stick in people’s minds or tell a story. Custom t-shirts are also a great investment considering the garment’s versatility – outfitting teams, being part of a merch lineup, or being the next promotional giveaway. That’s why the decoration method also matters, as a wrong one can make the t-shirt lose its perceived value, essentially defeating its purpose.
With the right custom t-shirt, a brand can build connections. But with so many customizations available, it could be confusing to pick the right technique to serve specific needs. Still, there are 5 techniques that your brand can switch between, depending on the requirements at the time.
These customization techniques can be chosen primarily based on budget, the number of t-shirts to be customized, and the complexity of the design.
- Screen Printing
Old-school, classic, and still relevant, screen printing is also known as “silkscreen” among decorators. It’s undoubtedly the most popular t-shirt customization technique, so much so that even wholesale apparel brands manufacture garments specifically for this technique. Port Authority t-shirts wholesale are a great example of their high customizability, with some styles designed to be ideal for screen printing alone. This technique forces ink through a mesh screen onto the fabric, creating vibrant and durable designs that do not fade even after many wash cycles. However, there is a limitation in the colors available. So you won’t be able to design extremely colorful prints or anything very vivid. Setup costs can also be steep for multi-color designs, and intricate details might get lost. Still, the technique can deliver knockout results for designs that are vibrant and not too color-heavy.
They are best suited for:
- Designs with bold, solid colors
- Large quantity orders (the setup costs are worth it)
- Polyester t-shirts
- Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
DTG is arguably as popular as screen printing and is known for precision. The technique sprays ink directly onto the fabric, giving it all the detail it needs to look amazing on t-shirts. DTG can blend colors much better than screen printing can and is best suited for:
- Photorealistic images, even ones with gradients
- Complex, multi-colored designs
- Small batch orders without hefty setup fees
DTG allows a lot of flexibility in customizing a single t-shirt. You can have one complex design or many different designs on the same canvas. However, the prints are not as durable as those from screen printing. If personalized t-shirts are the need, DTG won’t disappoint.
- Dye Sublimation
I’d say dye sublimation is the most balanced customization technique. For this technique, solid dyes are converted into gas that bonds with a t-shirt material’s fibers, essentially becoming part of the fabric and not just a printed layer over it.
Choose sublimation when you want:
- Edge-to-edge, all-over prints
- Colors that never crack or peel
- Custom light-colored t-shirts
If you are customizing performance t-shirts, sublimation can do some magic. By now you might have realized where sublimation shines. On polyester and poly-blend fabrics. They don’t give good results on dark-colored shirts also, though there are some exceptions. For full-coverage designs that can grab a lot of attention, nothing beats sublimation.
- Direct-to-Film (DTF)
DTF is relatively new but has been getting a lot of praise lately. With DTF, designs are printed on special films that are then transferred to t-shirts. The result is a combination of DTG-level detail and heat transfer-level versatility. Unlike DTG, you don’t have to pre-treat the garment for DTF. The technique works on cotton and polyester fabrics, delivering a design that is shiny and vibrant. The t-shirt’s base color remains unaffected.
Go for DTF if:
- There are t-shirts made of various fabrics
- Bright prints are needed
- There are t-shirts with different base colors
Long sleeve t-shirts particularly benefit from DTF printing, as the transfers maintain flexibility without cracking at the elbows. DTF is mostly chosen for retail-quality merch but can be used to make custom t-shirts for branding. Brands like District are known for long sleeve tees that take DTF prints well. With sourcing District t-shirts wholesale being very reasonable in terms of investment, it’s no wonder they are top picks for decorators undertaking DTF projects. The quality and durability is very high but so is the cost as the technique is still catching on.
- Embroidery
The technique is ancient but can deliver serious brand cred with the output. Originally done manually, now we have machines to create precise, raised designs that are high quality and permanent.
Choose embroidery if:
- You need a premium, high-end look for the tees
- You need maximum durability that might even outlast the shirt itself
- You are working with small logos and text
Embroidery can be done on crewneck t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, cropped t-shirts, and even v-neck t-shirts, offering a polished, upscale look every time. However, it can be a little costlier than other methods. Embroidered t-shirts generally have a higher perceived value also. But the catch is that it may not be viable for complex designs with many colors. The more the colors, the more the cost. Embroidery also cannot present the fine details of the design well, but it can make designs pop with a 3D effect.
These techniques are the most preferred for custom t-shirts meant for branding. However, there is one more technique that deserves a little praise. Heat transfers.
For small orders, heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and digital heat transfers offer quick, effective solutions.
Pointers: Picking The Right Technique
The best customization method depends on your specific goals.
- Screen printing for brand consistency across large teams
- DTG & DTF for high-quality, detailed designs
- Sublimation for breathable, permanent designs on performance fabrics
- Embroidery for premium positioning
- Heat transfers for quick turnaround times
The t-shirt’s fabric is a key player here, and so are the fit and the feel. A superb print on an ill-fitting, not-so-comfy t-shirt takes away all the value, obviously. These techniques can create custom tees that actually accomplish branding goals easily. Employing them in the right manner on the right threads is where you should be careful.
