DIY T-shirt print without silkscreen equipment. Real print, little known method
Silkscreen print on t-shirts requires certain minimum order. If you want to print just one t-shirt, the cost of setup can be prohibitive. There is a DIY solution though, that will let you print even one t-shirt, in many places (front, back, sleeve). This t-shirt print method is time-consuming and requires some manual skills.
With this method you will be able to print just one t-shirt and it is going to look and behave like silkscreen printed. If you – just like myself – dislike flex or flock (special films that are cut and then hot-pressed into fabric) this method is perfect for you.
The print quality is nearly the same, and durability is roughly equal to t-shirt’s durability. It means the print will last as long as t-shirt fabric. I have a t-shirt made this way eight years ago, and the print is still there.
What you need:
- Artwork you want printed in vector graphic format
- Acrylic paints in colors you want to use (you always need white layer if printing on dark t-shirt). Ones dedicated to painting on fabric are best, but any acrylic paint will do. Dedicated ones are more flexible when cured.
- T-shirt you want to print on
- Some paper self-adhesive tape (can do without if your artwork is simple)
Artwork preparation
First you need to prepare your artwork on a computer in vector format. You will normally use program like Adobe Illustrator and then save your artwork to eps file. Next step is to go to the nearest signmaker and get your artwork cut on self-adhesive film on cutting plotter. Make sure the size is right.
Disposable stencil, remove elements you want to print
The film can be of any color, you are only going to use it as a disposable stencil. If you supply the artwork in proper format (vector eps) they will charge you very little. In Ireland where I live (and Ireland is very expensive) they charged me 10 euro to cut 6 stencils like the one you can see on the photo. It is quite big, smaller ones would be much cheaper.
The plotter cuts only the film, the backing paper is left intact. Now you have to remove the elements that you want printed.
Stencil transferred. Note the use of paper tape to hold small elements in place
Once this is done, the tricky part is to remove the backing paper, transfer the film onto your t-shirt and stick it in place where you want your print to appear. Sometimes it is easier to transfer your film if you put some paper sticky tape over your artwork – it helps it to stay in one piece and keep small elements in place. It is good to stick the tape to some fabric and tear it off a couple of times to make it less adhesive. The film does not stick to fabric too well – so it could be difficult to remove the tape.
Make sure your film sticks to the t-shirt as well as possible. It will prevent the paint from leaking to the areas covered by stencil. Then you can start painting though the stencil. Do not dilute your acrylic paint – use it as thick as possible.
Actually do not just paint, but tap with your brush. It is best to cut a brush quite short if you have one to spare. This way the acrylic paint goes deep into the fabric structure. Also, this makes the finished print look like ordinary silkscreen print. If you paint, you will get smudges.
