Choosing the Right Shirt for Screen Printing

Know Your Shirt: Why the type of Shirt you Choose can Affect your Screen Printing

Congratulations.  You’ve made the decision to immortalize your company or event with screen printing.  There are many reasons why people choose to do this, but regardless of the motivation, the desired result is always the same: to create something that is memorable and stands the test of time.  In order to ensure that the outcome is to your satisfaction, you need to be an educated consumer in the area of screen printing and the t-shirts which will hold your masterpiece. 

When deciphering the mystery that is the t-shirt, there are a couple of things to keep in mind: the weight and the material.  First, the weight of the t-shirt should play an important role in which one you choose to carry your screen printing.  The weight of the t-shirt actually refers to the weight of one yard of fabric.  Typically, you will find the weights to range from 5.1, 5.5, and 6.1 ounces. 

The lighter weight (5.1 ounces) is typically used to create designer and more fashionable t-shirts.  While the heavier weight works well in more rugged applications such as construction sites.  Although the 5.5 ounce t-shirt is the most popular, your final decision should depend on to whom the shirts will be distributed.

The second factor you should consider when choosing your screen printing medium is the material that you will use.  100% cotton and 50/50 blended cotton are the two most popular choices.  The results you get from your screen printing can vary drastically depending on the material you choose.  So let’s look at each of these a little more closely.  

Selecting the right shirt is important. Many choices are available.

The two most popular forms of 100% cotton are plain and ring-spun.  Ring-spun cotton is typically of a higher, softer quality.  However, the softness of the fabric tends to lend a fuzzy-like texture that can muddle the look of your design and give it a faded or worn appearance.  Plain cotton, on the other hand, is very durable and will hold the colors and the shape of the design very well.  Like all cotton garments, however, you need to take care when washing the t-shirts as they have a tendency to shrink which could skew the look of your design. 

There are some advantages to using a 50/50 blended t-shirt.  In most cases, the blend consists of polyester and cotton which helps to protect the garment from excessive wrinkling.  These blended shirts are also popular due to their affordability and durability.  Unfortunately, due to the addition of polyester into the mix, the screen printing doesn’t always maintain its integrity due to something called dye migration, or bleeding. 

All in all, 100% cotton is always going to be the best choice when searching for a medium on which to screen print.  Although there are many different choices within the scope of 100% cotton, you can be sure that choosing pure cotton instead of blend will always be the best way to go.  Being an educated consumer is by far the best thing you can do to ensure that the memories you are enshrining onto a t-shirt will look great and stand the test of time.    

If you're in need of some extra help choosing your garment, Advanced Impressions is your trusted source in Colorado Springs and the Front Range. Give us a call today! 

Advanced Impressions

4680 Edison Avenue, Suite J
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
(719) 637-2513

www.youhaveanimage.com