Comparing Decorating Methods

Embroidery

In embroidery, designs are stitched onto the substrate with a needle and thread. Images and logos can be embroidered on a wide variety of materials and colors, producing professional-looking, long-lasting products. There are, however, drawbacks to this method. Because of the difficulty of using thread to produce shading, logos may need to be altered. It is also difficult to embroider small text and to achieve exact color-matching. Embroidery carries a steep learning curve. It can be more time-consuming and less cost-effective than other decorating options. Start-up costs vary widely, but include embroidery machines ranging in price from several hundred dollars (for hobby/enthusiast machines) to several thousand dollars for professional-grade models.

Screen Printing In screen printing a piece of fabric is stretched over a wood or metal frame, creating a screen. A stencil is then created on the screen, which is placed over the substrate. Ink is forced through the open areas of the screen, creating an image on the substrate. This process is repeated for each color of the design being applied. Capable of producing detailed designs and logos, screen printing is usually more cost-effective than embroidery. Not only can images be produced on any color garment, but textures and effects (3-D, reflection, etc.) can also be applied. Screen printing also offers a quicker turn-around time on large orders. Set-up and clean-up for screen printing can be extensive and messy, limiting the number of colors for practical use. Also, some materials are not compatible with the process. Given the time and material used for each step of the process, screen printing is much better suited to large-volume jobs and is not efficient or economical for short-run or sample production. Equipment costs for starting a small screen printing operation are in the RM2000-RM7000 range, and there is a steep learning curve. Heat Printing Heat printing is a decorating process which uses heat-applied materials and a heat press to transfer designs and images onto various items. There is a wide variety of heat printing processes, such as transfer papers, plastisol/screen printed transfers, dye sublimation, and print/cut applications.

Using a desktop color laser copier/printer or inkjet printer, full color designs are printed onto specialized transfer papers and heat applied to apparel or fabrics. This method is quick and inexpensive, allowing almost instant customization and requiring limited inventory of goods. Photo-quality images can be quickly printed and applied to garments.

While this method offers the advantage of high-quality images, it has some drawbacks. Standard transfer paper will not show white images on any garment. Because most desktop printers do not have white ink, any areas which show white on the transfer paper will show as the garment color after application. This can be avoided by using special paper for dark garments, though this paper is more expensive and has a heavier feel than standard transfer paper. Also, unless properly trimmed, most transfer papers will leave an outline of excess coating around the image when transferred onto garments. Precise (and often time-consuming) trimming must be done before application. Furthermore, transfer paper is not as long-lasting as other decorating options.

Start-up costs are low, as only photo-editing software, a desktop printer, and a heat press are needed. There is virtually no learning curve.