The Print Column


Improve your garment decoration business with the correct print equipment


There are a great many competitors out there, all trying to get a piece of your business. One way to stop them is to have all the answers when the customer comes calling. Peter Wright, managing director of Amaya Sales UK, explains further.


H


aving the correct piece of equipment is essential to give the customer the best value for money and the best quality. This will keep them happy and have them coming back time after time. So, although itʼs not always possible to have everything in place right from the start of your business, Iʼve put together a list of what I believe are the most important.


Everything depends on how much you want to invest, you can start a garment decoration business from as little as £750. This would set you up in either basic transfer or sublimation printing. Systems can vary, right up to over £200,000, but spending around £15,000 would cover the majority of a good package. Some of the packages you should be considering are listed below.


Garment film and vinyl


This process is perfect for producing single colour text, numbers or simple logos. It caters for small to medium production and is easy to use. You would require a good heat press and a vinyl cutter. The package would cost from £1,200 to £2,000.


Transfer printing


This kind of printing has improved significantly over the last few years and is now a low cost way of producing full colour prints on to dark and light garments. To create full colour prints on dark garments you would need to use an OKI white toner printer which comes in both A4 and A3 size. You can purchase RIP software that can cut down on the toner usage and provide a rasterised effect that gives a very soft feel and gives improved washability. A simple black and white laser printer can be used with some of the papers for single colour designs on dark and light garments. The big


advantage is that with these new type of papers there is no weeding like on the film and vinyl. Costs for full colour printing are around £2,000 to £4,000 and for single colour around £500. You would also require a good heat press of the swing or draw type which start


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at around £995. Also remember that with transfer paper you can print on to most substrates.


DTG printing


Direct to garment printing is now a major player in the garment decoration market. It gives an excellent feel, very good washability, prints in full vibrant colour and is a simple process to use. It can be used for small to medium production runs or one offs. Most printers come with their own RIP software, so all you have to do is load your design, size, position and print. There are no screens required like in screen printing so it is just as economical to print one as it is 100. It works with cotton or cotton mix blends and can print unlimited colours. Good professional printers start at around £7,950 up to £200,000+. You would also require a good heat press or tunnel dryer.


Dye sublimation printing


Dye sublimation printing uses a chemical process to help transfer the ink from the paper to any polyester garment or coated product.


Full colour images or lettering can easily be printed on to the paper and then heat pressed on to the product. When heated the dye (ink) changes to a gas which penetrates into the product or surface. This provides a first class print which will not crack, fade or wash out.


An example DTG print


Prices start from around £450 for the printer, but you will also require a heat press.


Print and cut systems


This system is like the film cutter/plotter but with the addition of printing. The design is printed onto a PU type material in full colour and is then cut out. A printed badge is then produced which can be applied to a garment with a heat press. It gives a good quality finish with excellent washability.


Prices start from around £4,500 depending on the cutter width.


Screen printing


This is the most traditional way of printing but to be economical the production need to be 500 plus pieces. This is because screens have to be made for each separated colour, making one off prints very expensive. Screen printing gives high quality,


professional looking prints that are very durable and can be very price affective on large numbers.


To sum up, I would suggest that vinyl/ film, transfer and DTG printing would cover most of your needs to help you compete well with your competitors. If you are producing high volumes you would also require screen printing equipment.


Examples of transfer printed products


A good supplier should be able to give you all the advice you need and at what level to start at.


www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk


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