Textile Printing Solutions Comparison

	Traditional Screen Printing	Plastisol Heat Transfers	Dye Sublimation Digital Transfers	Dye Sublimation Digital Transfers with Flock^*	ChromaBlast Digital Cotton Transfers
Setup Costs	$$$	$$$	$	$	$$
Highlights	Large production runs very cost effective Print longevity High-impact colours Dye allows air circulation in fabric Print fluorescent and phosphorescent (glow-in-the-dark) images	Print many small designs/logos onto one large transfer sheet No need to inventory different printed t-shirts; transfer onto shirt when there is demand Eliminates the need to store screens Excellent for fine and halftone printing Quick transfer process Produce foil transfers using a printable adhesive first	Limited equipment required: Computer, printer & press Print full-colour detailed photographs or vector graphics Quick setup time Effectively no cleanup process No chemicals, screens/frames Transfer cannot be felt on the garment Print will not wash out Not limited to just printing garments	Limited equipment required: computer, printer & press Print full-colour detailed photographs or vector graphics Quick setup time Effectively no cleanup process No chemicals, screens/frames Using flock allows you to transfer dye sublimation image onto cotton and dark garments	Limited equipment required: computer, printer & press Print full-colour detailed photographs or vector graphics Quick setup time Effectively no cleanup process No chemicals, screens/frames You cannot ‘feel’ the transfer on the garment Very soft hand that is reduced after the first wash Excellent washability
Limitations	One-off jobs not cost effective due to setup required Requires a range of positives, chemicals, screens/frames, mesh and ink stock Full colour photographs require a 4 colour process print; 4 screens, 4 stencils, 4 positives, proofing, colour separations, etc	One-off jobs not cost effective due to setup required Transfer can be felt on the garment Transfer promotes perspiration Requires a range of positives, chemicals, screens/frames, mesh and ink stock Can’t iron plastisol	Transfer size limited to printer, press & paper size Limited range of polyester garments	Transfer size limited to printer, press & paper size Transfer can be felt on the garment It is most suitable for block vector graphics, logos, pocket prints, etc - not intricate designs. Requires a vinyl cutter for best results otherwise scissors can be used for less complex images	Transfer size limited to printer, press & paper size Slight over-print that is reduced after the first wash Cotton garments ‘fluff-up’ after the first wash though can be minimised with higher quality garments
Garment Fabric	Any	Any	Polyester Only	Any	Cotton Only
Garment Colour	Light & Dark	Light & Dark	Light Only	Light & Dark	White Only
Production Runs	Small to Large	Small to Large	One-offs to Medium	One-offs to Medium	One-offs to Medium
Starter Kits From	$7,825.00 View Textile Starter Kits	$8,320.00 View Heat Transfer Starter Kits	$2,595.00 View Dye Sublimation Starter Kits		$4,488.00 View ChromaBlast Starter Kits

^* Sublimation Flock: The dye sublimation printed transfer is first pressed onto the flock material, the design is then cut-out (using hand scissors or a cutter) and removed from the backing sheet and then transferred onto the garment.