What would I have to do to get some t-shirts made for my band? I suppose I could prolly print out the transfers on my sweet printer, but I'd prolly have to buy some t-shirts bulk...I just want to compare prices between my do-it-yourself option and my have-someone-do-it option. Anyone have some URLs?
Making T-Shirts!
- Thread starter El Barto
- Start date
64Firebird
New member
Most of the T-shirts you print yourself on your printer must go on a white shirt. The problem with that is nobody wants to by a white shirt becouse it looke like underware.
But, if you think you can use it, you can try Hanes. They offer some heat transfer paper (iron ons) that work very well. They also offer very good custamer support. They have a web site, but I can't remember the address (hanestoyou or something like that) Sorry.
There are also some people that sell a 2 step process that allows you to print on colored shirts. But, I never tried out their products, so I don't know anything about how well it works.
Whatever you get, you want "cold peel." Hot peel is very tuff to work with unless you have a heat press.
Good luck!
But, if you think you can use it, you can try Hanes. They offer some heat transfer paper (iron ons) that work very well. They also offer very good custamer support. They have a web site, but I can't remember the address (hanestoyou or something like that) Sorry.
There are also some people that sell a 2 step process that allows you to print on colored shirts. But, I never tried out their products, so I don't know anything about how well it works.
Whatever you get, you want "cold peel." Hot peel is very tuff to work with unless you have a heat press.
Good luck!
Prism
New member
I'm picky about printing
Or you can take it to a pro screenprinting person and make a kick-butt T-Shirt and save the embarrassment of looking like an ink-jet cheapskate shmo!
The band I'm recording was originally going to have me design the jackets for our CD (I begged them to let me) but they decided we didn't have time, so they did it in some cheap crap DTP program and they wanna print it on inkjet. I offered to give them 300 jackets, professionally designed in Photoshop and printed for a killer deal.. They don't know what they're missing! Their loss! It pays to do it right!
Isaiah
Or you can take it to a pro screenprinting person and make a kick-butt T-Shirt and save the embarrassment of looking like an ink-jet cheapskate shmo!
The band I'm recording was originally going to have me design the jackets for our CD (I begged them to let me) but they decided we didn't have time, so they did it in some cheap crap DTP program and they wanna print it on inkjet. I offered to give them 300 jackets, professionally designed in Photoshop and printed for a killer deal.. They don't know what they're missing! Their loss! It pays to do it right!
Isaiah
Wallycleaver
New member
Here's a neato web site.
http://www.contagiousgraphics.com/
http://www.contagiousgraphics.com/
64Firebird
New member
You can get a very good looking shirt off your printer. You just have to have good artwork.
I went to a dozzen silk screeners here in the Dallas area and looked at their samples. I was very unimpressed with what I saw (on colored shirts). And, I was able to print on white shirts at least as well as they were with my Cannon BJC-5000 printer and a hot iron. But, I make a living by selling my artwork.
Also, with a silk screener you'll have to pay extra for burning your screens, color seperations and photo work. One screen per color. 4 colors for most designs on white shirts (black, red, yellow and blue, you can get other colors by mixing these). You might be looking at $200.00 before you pront the first shirt! If your planning on printing 80 or 100 shirts, then silk screening is worth it. But, if your just want to print 4 or 5 shirts to throw to the crowd at a show, do it at home on your printer.
I went to a dozzen silk screeners here in the Dallas area and looked at their samples. I was very unimpressed with what I saw (on colored shirts). And, I was able to print on white shirts at least as well as they were with my Cannon BJC-5000 printer and a hot iron. But, I make a living by selling my artwork.
Also, with a silk screener you'll have to pay extra for burning your screens, color seperations and photo work. One screen per color. 4 colors for most designs on white shirts (black, red, yellow and blue, you can get other colors by mixing these). You might be looking at $200.00 before you pront the first shirt! If your planning on printing 80 or 100 shirts, then silk screening is worth it. But, if your just want to print 4 or 5 shirts to throw to the crowd at a show, do it at home on your printer.
CMiller
New member
Try this...
Check this out if you want to print a limited number of shirts...
http://www.cafepress.com
You can set up your own store and sell them too. They're pretty decent quality. I did it and it looks great. I agree that it's all in the artwork though. If you have good artwork, it'll look good on anything pretty much.
If you decide to open a Cafepress Store, don't forget to tell them that I referred you. I think I get some $ for it.
Check out my store if you feel like it...
http://www.cafepress.com/alphadog
Mark
Alpha Dog
http://www.mp3.com/alphadog
http://alphadog.iuma.com
http://www.musicbuilder.com/Alpha_Dog/
Check this out if you want to print a limited number of shirts...
http://www.cafepress.com
You can set up your own store and sell them too. They're pretty decent quality. I did it and it looks great. I agree that it's all in the artwork though. If you have good artwork, it'll look good on anything pretty much.
If you decide to open a Cafepress Store, don't forget to tell them that I referred you. I think I get some $ for it.
Check out my store if you feel like it...
http://www.cafepress.com/alphadog
Mark
Alpha Dog
http://www.mp3.com/alphadog
http://alphadog.iuma.com
http://www.musicbuilder.com/Alpha_Dog/
You people are all crazy. First of all I run my own little company. We started out a few years ago making shirts with transfers. They suck. End of discussion. Only good onw hite shirts, and they just feel nasty. You're next option is going to a silkscreener. I reccomend SO highly this guy:
http://www.cheaperts.com
I got 35 1 color, 1 location shirts for $100.
They are REALLY cheap if you buy larger numbers. Extra colors and locations don't add that much. They have no set up fees and ship free through UPS. The guy is a wicked nice guy, and they do an AWESOME job. I've seen samples of stuff they did using photos, and it looks damn good. They have an automatic quote generator thing. so check 'em out!
Jake
creation16.com
http://www.cheaperts.com
I got 35 1 color, 1 location shirts for $100.
They are REALLY cheap if you buy larger numbers. Extra colors and locations don't add that much. They have no set up fees and ship free through UPS. The guy is a wicked nice guy, and they do an AWESOME job. I've seen samples of stuff they did using photos, and it looks damn good. They have an automatic quote generator thing. so check 'em out!
Jake
creation16.com
CMiller
New member
No one said he shouldn't go to a silk screen printer. If that's the quality he's looking for...go for it. You aren't going to hurt my feelings.
The guy wanted options, and that's what we're trying to give him. Try this if your feeling curious. Set up a Cafepress store and order up a shirt yourself. If your artwork is good, then you'll get great results. All you have to lose is $20. Then you'll be better equipped to solve this problem for yourself. My guess is that you'll feel perfectly happy (as I am with my shirts) with the quality that they have to offer.
Mark
Alpha Dog
http://www.mp3.com/alphadog
http://alphadog.iuma.com
http://www.musicbuilder.com/Alpha_Dog/
The guy wanted options, and that's what we're trying to give him. Try this if your feeling curious. Set up a Cafepress store and order up a shirt yourself. If your artwork is good, then you'll get great results. All you have to lose is $20. Then you'll be better equipped to solve this problem for yourself. My guess is that you'll feel perfectly happy (as I am with my shirts) with the quality that they have to offer.
Mark
Alpha Dog
http://www.mp3.com/alphadog
http://alphadog.iuma.com
http://www.musicbuilder.com/Alpha_Dog/
Thanks to all the responses, I'd be glad to hear of more sites. I'm checking out the many options now. CMiller, it looks like with that CafePress.com site, I'd have to set up an online store on their site in order to sell my stuff? Or is there a way I can have the shirts shipped to me to sell at my shows? Cause that's where I'm looking to sell them. Also, with silk screening vs transfers...is silk screening what most shirts are? Where it kinda feels like paint on the shirt, kinda rough or whatever? Whereas transfers are like those smooth feeling sheets on the shirt, which was common in the 70s and 80s? I like both, actually, I dig classic stuff.
CMiller
New member
In order to sell them at your shows, you'd have to buy a bunch yourself (minus your markup) and have them shipped to you.
Silk screen is the paint thing you described. The Cafepress printing isn't that shiny 70's iron stuff that used to peel off. It feels more like the actual shirt that anything. I bought a couple of my shirts and washed it tons of times and it faded only slightly (barely really) and it really does look good.
A note on what we've been saying back and forth about silk screening...jrlemonz is right about the quality of silk screening. It's great, and the price he's quoting is a fine price. I think there is probably more room for error silk screening than with the Cafepress method. Cafepress really relies on the quality of your graphics.
I like Cafepress for what it is. I was really surprised how great MY shirts looked. I haven't seen the mugs or anyone else's stuff in person. I love that I have an E-store front where anyone can use their credit card to buy shirts. And I love that it's a real "do-it-yourself" interface. If I was looking to have a box full of shirts made to sell at my gigs, I might go a different route.
Mark
Alpha Dog
http://www.mp3.com/alphadog
http://alphadog.iuma.com
http://www.musicbuilder.com/Alpha_Dog/
Silk screen is the paint thing you described. The Cafepress printing isn't that shiny 70's iron stuff that used to peel off. It feels more like the actual shirt that anything. I bought a couple of my shirts and washed it tons of times and it faded only slightly (barely really) and it really does look good.
A note on what we've been saying back and forth about silk screening...jrlemonz is right about the quality of silk screening. It's great, and the price he's quoting is a fine price. I think there is probably more room for error silk screening than with the Cafepress method. Cafepress really relies on the quality of your graphics.
I like Cafepress for what it is. I was really surprised how great MY shirts looked. I haven't seen the mugs or anyone else's stuff in person. I love that I have an E-store front where anyone can use their credit card to buy shirts. And I love that it's a real "do-it-yourself" interface. If I was looking to have a box full of shirts made to sell at my gigs, I might go a different route.
Mark
Alpha Dog
http://www.mp3.com/alphadog
http://alphadog.iuma.com
http://www.musicbuilder.com/Alpha_Dog/
David Hooper
New member
I have an old newsletter about how to silkscreen your own shirts. It is easy, really.
I'll look for it and try to get it up here within the next couple of days.
dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
Click here for a free, 10-day music promotion course.
I'll look for it and try to get it up here within the next couple of days.
dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
Click here for a free, 10-day music promotion course.
Go to your neerest college or Uni and try to get in contact with art students. Art students usually come up with:
a: good ideas
b: have access to silkscreening equipment which is a good and long lasting option
c: Art students usually need money but also don't ask too much $$$$$
b: relate weel to musicians becuase they are also in the creative game and have the same mindset
a: good ideas
b: have access to silkscreening equipment which is a good and long lasting option
c: Art students usually need money but also don't ask too much $$$$$
b: relate weel to musicians becuase they are also in the creative game and have the same mindset
I used to do some silk-screening. Single colors are easy. 2-color is a bit more tough in that you have to fashion some sort of "thing" to make sure you place the screens properly on the shirts.
If you're thiking of going this route you don't need too much in the way of supplies. Go to an art shop and get some of the plastic backed resin, an x-acto knife, the silk screen, the chemicals to burn the resin to the silk screen, and some good ink (definitely don't skimp here. Cheap stuff will wash out in a couple of washes). You can make your own stretchers for the silks. I'd estimate you can get all of this stuff for somewhere between $30-50. Oh, and I recommend Hanes Beefy Tees. They hold their shape and last long.
Some tips. Get your band together and do something of an assembly line. Put some heavy paper or cardboard inside the shirts to avoid the ink soaking through the back of the shirt. When the shirts are dry, use another sheet of paper or a thin towel over the print and stroke a hot iron across it to cure it. Come to think of it, while your at the art supply store, look for a book on it. Its fun and pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
If you're thiking of going this route you don't need too much in the way of supplies. Go to an art shop and get some of the plastic backed resin, an x-acto knife, the silk screen, the chemicals to burn the resin to the silk screen, and some good ink (definitely don't skimp here. Cheap stuff will wash out in a couple of washes). You can make your own stretchers for the silks. I'd estimate you can get all of this stuff for somewhere between $30-50. Oh, and I recommend Hanes Beefy Tees. They hold their shape and last long.
Some tips. Get your band together and do something of an assembly line. Put some heavy paper or cardboard inside the shirts to avoid the ink soaking through the back of the shirt. When the shirts are dry, use another sheet of paper or a thin towel over the print and stroke a hot iron across it to cure it. Come to think of it, while your at the art supply store, look for a book on it. Its fun and pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
The resin is the best way to go, but it is much easier to use screen filler. I stilld o make my own shirts, along with getting them professionally done. For really simple stuff I just do it myself. Stretching the screen is a bitch, and not as easy as you might think. A book is almost totally necessary unless you buy a kit as I first did. I don't know if they exist near you but A.C. Moore sells a kit with a screen, black+white ink, squegee, screen filler, drawing fluid, and photo emulsion stuff for like $50. It had everything I needed to get a little screen made to make logos for my company on shirts or anything I else I wanted to.
Jake
http://www.worthlessmusic.com
http://www.creation16.com
Jake
http://www.worthlessmusic.com
http://www.creation16.com
David Hooper
New member
For what it's worth, my t-shirt guy says that the 50/50 shirts hold up the best.
dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
Click here for a free, 10-day music promotion course.
dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
Click here for a free, 10-day music promotion course.
just got done screen-printing a bunch of t-shirts. We used 50/50, I got a case, 72, off of the web, can't remember the address, but I searched for cheap t-shirts. Anyway the screen printing process is the way to go, its cheap and easy once you get the hang off it, just test it out on some throwaways before you use the real ones. I would cut a piece of wood the same size as the shirt when pressing, it provides a nice surface to press the screen against. Also I don't suggest you get black shirts and use white ink, it really sucks up the ink and doesn't turn out to professional, it fades pretty easy.