Computer-to-screen systems save time and eliminate numerous production steps, but integrating one into your shop's workflow requires a bit of a learning curve and a lot of trust.
Integrating a computer-to-screen (CTS) system into your shop's workflow can be challenging. After all, you're dramatically altering the way you do a significant part of your production process. Though you must still coat a screen with emulsion and expose it, with a CTS system you save time by sending images from the computer to the CTS unit, which uses an inkjet printhead to image directly onto unexposed emulsion.
August 01, 2008
A contract printer shares the real-world experience of how this expensive, cutting-edge technology improved screen-making speed, print quality and profitability.
Like many mid-size contract screen printers, my shop, Mind's Eye Graphics in Decatur, Ind., has faced numerous challenges in recent years that led us to rethink the way we do business. As average order sizes have dropped, it has become more important for us to work efficiently and complete orders as quickly as possible.
July 01, 2008
Sophisticated effects appeal to trained artists, yet can be easily used by anyone.
One of my favorite programs, and one which I use to create many of the images included in my line of stock artwork, is Corel Painter X.
May 01, 2008
Follow these procedures to lay the foundation for great inkjet prints.
The secret to producing the best possible quality dark shirt print with a digital direct-to-garment printer relies on your ability to create a good underbase. This ensures the print has a soft hand and the colors are vibrant. Creating an underbase is not difficult, but most people don't know how to do it. They rely on the RIP software that came with their printer. RIP is an acronym that stands for raster image processor, and not all RIPs automatically create a good underbase for digital direct-to-garment printing. This article will show you how to control your RIP to produce the best prints from your inkjet garment printer.
April 01, 2008
ISS Long Beach saw the debut of no less than six significant developments in apparel decorating software
While it may not be news that the personal computer has revolutionized apparel decoration, the Long Beach Imprinted Sportswear Show in January was the scene for a half-dozen software-related developments that could significantly impact the industry.
March 01, 2008
Unusual decoration placements, such as the inside of a hoodie, can set your design apart from the competition's and boost your bottom line.
The hoodie has invaded the marketplace; you see them everywhere, from sport club fundraisers to hip, urban boutique racks. Apply some creativity to decorating hoodies and you can be out in front of the trendiest retail fashions with a high-margin item your customers will love. In particular, you can produce these high-dollar decorations by sublimating hoodies with unusual placements and techniques.
February 01, 2008
A vinyl cutter can create numerous new opportunities for your apparel decoration business. Here's how to pick the perfect one.
At first blush, it might not seem obvious how a sign vinyl cutter can improve your apparel decoration business — less obvious than, say, an embroidery machine that embroiders textiles or a screen printing press, which applies ink to them. Well, did you know that a sign vinyl cutter can actually cut different types of materials to be applied to apparel with a heat press or an embroidery machine? This method of indirect garment decoration is now recognized by manufacturers, dealers and businesses like yours, revolutionizing this traditional sign-making tool into an indispensable piece of equipment for garment decorating. Consequently, I am coining a new term, "garment graphics cutter," for this versatile piece of equipment.
January 01, 2008
The graphics application developed specifically for garment decorators is full of time-saving tools and features.
I love to showcase the new capabilities of the latest version of CorelDraw Graphics Suite, version X3, since CorelDraw is such a valuable design and production tool for many apparel decorators.
October 01, 2007
Ready to join the inkjet-to-garment chorus? If so, read on for answers to critical questions you should be asking.
Inkjet direct-to-garment (DTG) digital printers have captured the industry's attention with numerous suppliers introducing cutting-edge equipment that can quickly and easily produce some amazing-looking prints. If you've been thinking about taking the plunge, but have questions about how to pick the right printer, here's a guide to getting started on your shopping journey.
September 01, 2007
If you're going to invest in one digital technology, this successful decorator's experience can help you decide between direct-to-garment or sublimation.
As an owner of a digitally focused garment printing shop, I am frequently asked whether direct-to-garment printing (on cotton) or sublimation (on polyester) is the best printing process. Each person who asked that question had a different reason for asking and a different definition of "better." Some were customers who wanted the best image possible, and some wanted the best price. Some only wanted cotton, and some needed T-shirts with moisture-wicking capability. Some customers needed only a few shirts, while others wanted large quantities.
September 01, 2007
One of America's top-volume contract printers offers a different perspective on the realm of digital printing.
Let me start with full disclosure: I have tested many, if not all, of the current crop of direct-to-garment inkjet printers and have kept my eye on this evolving technology in respect to cost and production capabilities. That said, I don't claim to be an inkjet-to-garment expert.
September 01, 2007
New heat pressing techniques and garment colors are taking sublimation apparel from ho-hum to hip.
Listening to the market, the biggest misconception I hear most often is that images cannot be sublimated on colored garments. If you practice this school of thought, then it's time to drop out. While the fabric color range for sublimation is slightly more restricted than for traditional screen printing or discharge, don't let this stop you from experimenting with the huge array of sublimation-friendly colors available.
September 01, 2007
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