One-off T-shirt printing? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Redlemon · 09-30-2005, 04:15 AM

I have a simple design, and I want to make a single shirt out of it for my niece (infant size). What's the easiest way to go about doing this? I tried searching threads here, but they were either for selling lots of shirts, or they were wet T-shirt contests

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Pip · 09-30-2005, 04:37 AM

There are transfer papers for printers that you could use, but those usually turns out kind of crappy imo. I would paint it straight on the t-shirt, either with textile paint and a small paintbrush, or with special marker pens. They should be avaliable in any crafts store.

Put a newspaper or a piece of cardboard inside the t-shirt before you paint so the paint doesn't run through to the backside. Follow the instructions for the paint, there are some different ways to use them. Good luck!

Redlemon · 09-30-2005, 04:39 AM

Ah, I forgot to mention the part where I have no talent in the visual arts. It's just a word in a specific font. Trying to hand trace it would end up quite ugly.

maleficent · 09-30-2005, 04:41 AM

What about places like www.cafepress.com - -generally they are there to sell stuff for you but i see no reason why you couldnt buy just one... it's free to set up your store

jwoody · 09-30-2005, 05:04 AM

I have a t-shirt which was printed using a printer-transfer-type-thingy and the print still looks quite fresh after a few years and a lot of wear.

It's plain black text.

I presume, like many things, that you can get good ones and crappy ones. I can't help much further than that.

Charlatan · 09-30-2005, 05:19 AM

I would agree with jwoody... I've seen some shirst done with iron on transfers and they look quite good... especially when they are just one colour (photos only look as good as your printer can print colour photos).

You can by the inkject papers at any craft store or, probably, Staples.

Redlemon · 09-30-2005, 05:35 AM

I don't even have access to an inkjet printer. Lasers at work and at home.

The CafePress option sounds good; I had figured that it would have a minimum order requirement.

monkeysugar · 10-01-2005, 12:34 AM

There are two or three small shops in my area that do custom shirts and things of that nature. We've had them do individualized shirts before, and a few of my friends have done one-of shirts there as well. They typically use iron on transfers, but they are quite durable. The advantages: You get the shirt quickly, often in less than and hour and you could be supporting a small, locally owned business if that's your thing. The disadvantage: It's not the cheapest route, but I haven't found it to be hideously expensive either.

Of course, you could always make a stencil as well. Print out the design/text you want onto a piece of paper, rubber cement it to a piece of sturdy cardstock (file folders work rather well.) and cut it out with an xacto knife. Grab some fabric paint or something from an arts and crafts store and you're ready to rock.

Good luck!

BAMF · 10-01-2005, 02:30 PM

they have stands open in shopping malls (America) around the holidays. You can have shirts made there.

vanblah · 10-02-2005, 04:55 PM

My band-mate screenprints all of our shirts at home 3 to 5 at a time. It's not that difficult to do and it's fairly cheap. Screenprinting just looks better than anything else. You just need a good dark room (not a darkroom). A place without a window would be best. You just turn on a light bulb and burn the silk with your image.

It may be too involved for what you want to do ... but I thought I'd throw it out there.

A place like Michael's (or another craft store) or an art supply store should have everything you need including instructions.

sashime76 · 10-03-2005, 07:29 AM

If you have a digital copy of it, just use MS PowerPoint and make a slide out of it. You can use image programs like Photoshop or Paintshop to turn it into sepia, black and white or anything you like. Add text, or word art is very easy, too. It's a picture, scan it and manipulate it anyway you like with PS or PP. When you print, specify the paper as T-shirt transfer, that way it will print out as a mirror image. If you don't, the text will reversed when you iron it.

What you want to do is do a T-shirt transfer on Google.
http://www.paper-paper.com/transfer.html
http://www.hanes2u.com/workshop/tech...ds_tshirts.htm

I've done aprons for my mom and mother in law, my sister and T shirts for myself, wife, etc.

Have fun.

thingstodo · 10-06-2005, 11:40 AM

And you can always take a file to places like Kinkos to get it printed for a small fee.

Redlemon · 10-07-2005, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thingstodo

And you can always take a file to places like Kinkos to get it printed for a small fee.

Kinko's does T shirts?

09-30-2005, 04:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	One-off T-shirt printing? I have a simple design, and I want to make a single shirt out of it for my niece (infant size). What's the easiest way to go about doing this? I tried searching threads here, but they were either for selling lots of shirts, or they were wet T-shirt contests . __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

09-30-2005, 04:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Ah, I forgot to mention the part where I have no talent in the visual arts. It's just a word in a specific font. Trying to hand trace it would end up quite ugly. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

09-30-2005, 04:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	What about places like www.cafepress.com - -generally they are there to sell stuff for you but i see no reason why you couldnt buy just one... it's free to set up your store __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

09-30-2005, 05:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
jwoody Shackle Me Not Location: Newcastle - England.	I have a t-shirt which was printed using a printer-transfer-type-thingy and the print still looks quite fresh after a few years and a lot of wear. It's plain black text. I presume, like many things, that you can get good ones and crappy ones. I can't help much further than that. __________________ .

09-30-2005, 05:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I would agree with jwoody... I've seen some shirst done with iron on transfers and they look quite good... especially when they are just one colour (photos only look as good as your printer can print colour photos). You can by the inkject papers at any craft store or, probably, Staples. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-30-2005, 04:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	There are transfer papers for printers that you could use, but those usually turns out kind of crappy imo. I would paint it straight on the t-shirt, either with textile paint and a small paintbrush, or with special marker pens. They should be avaliable in any crafts store. Put a newspaper or a piece of cardboard inside the t-shirt before you paint so the paint doesn't run through to the backside. Follow the instructions for the paint, there are some different ways to use them. Good luck!

09-30-2005, 05:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	I don't even have access to an inkjet printer. Lasers at work and at home. The CafePress option sounds good; I had figured that it would have a minimum order requirement. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

10-01-2005, 12:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
monkeysugar I'll be on the veranda, since you're on the cross. Location: Rand McNally's friendliest small town in America. They must have strayed from the dodgy parts...	There are two or three small shops in my area that do custom shirts and things of that nature. We've had them do individualized shirts before, and a few of my friends have done one-of shirts there as well. They typically use iron on transfers, but they are quite durable. The advantages: You get the shirt quickly, often in less than and hour and you could be supporting a small, locally owned business if that's your thing. The disadvantage: It's not the cheapest route, but I haven't found it to be hideously expensive either. Of course, you could always make a stencil as well. Print out the design/text you want onto a piece of paper, rubber cement it to a piece of sturdy cardstock (file folders work rather well.) and cut it out with an xacto knife. Grab some fabric paint or something from an arts and crafts store and you're ready to rock. Good luck! __________________ I've got the love of my life and a job that I enjoy most of the time. Life is good. Last edited by monkeysugar; 10-01-2005 at 12:37 AM..

10-01-2005, 02:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
BAMF Crazy	they have stands open in shopping malls (America) around the holidays. You can have shirts made there.

10-02-2005, 04:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
vanblah Junkie	My band-mate screenprints all of our shirts at home 3 to 5 at a time. It's not that difficult to do and it's fairly cheap. Screenprinting just looks better than anything else. You just need a good dark room (not a darkroom). A place without a window would be best. You just turn on a light bulb and burn the silk with your image. It may be too involved for what you want to do ... but I thought I'd throw it out there. A place like Michael's (or another craft store) or an art supply store should have everything you need including instructions.

10-03-2005, 07:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
sashime76 Addict Location: Hoosier State	If you have a digital copy of it, just use MS PowerPoint and make a slide out of it. You can use image programs like Photoshop or Paintshop to turn it into sepia, black and white or anything you like. Add text, or word art is very easy, too. It's a picture, scan it and manipulate it anyway you like with PS or PP. When you print, specify the paper as T-shirt transfer, that way it will print out as a mirror image. If you don't, the text will reversed when you iron it. What you want to do is do a T-shirt transfer on Google. http://www.paper-paper.com/transfer.html http://www.hanes2u.com/workshop/tech...ds_tshirts.htm I've done aprons for my mom and mother in law, my sister and T shirts for myself, wife, etc. Have fun.

10-06-2005, 11:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	And you can always take a file to places like Kinkos to get it printed for a small fee. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.