DIY T-shirt print without silkscreen equipment. Real print, little known method
Some people use small rollers to apply the paint to the t-shirt.
It is good to put some kitchen towel inside of the t-shirt – this way excess of paint will not stain the back of the t-shirt. If this happens, there is chance to remove the paint using water – as long as the paint is not cured by ironing.
Printing white on black t-shirt would be the most difficult. You need at least two layers. Let the first layer dry a bit (wait 10 minutes) and then apply second layer.
When you are done, let the t-shirt dry for say 10 hours. After that carefully remove the film. You have to do it really carefully, otherwise the print may be destroyed. Try to pull the film along the edges of the print and follow the edges.
Acrylic paint applied. Looks messy but it is going to be ok
The last thing to do is to iron the printed area of t-shirt on the reverse for approx 5 minutes. Do not burn it. Your acrylic paint may require different curing time – check its package for instructions. If there is none – 5 minutes is plenty.
Some tips
If you print on dark t-shirts and want to use bright colors, you need to put a layer of white first. Otherwise the bright color will not be visible.
With complex artwork this method of printing t-shirts is really time consuming. The artwork you see on the photos can be considered complex. Logos or text are much easier to print.
Be really patient when removing the film from the t-shirt. This is the most difficult phase and it is easy to ruin the whole work during it. Take your time. If you can not tell the film from fabric, stretch the problem area a bit, the edges will show. Also, do not wait too long before removing the film from your t-shirt. The print should be still flexible when you do it.
Do not dry the paint with hairdryer, as any heat would cure the paint. It should not be cured before film is removed.
Ready, printed t-shirt. Note very good sharpness and fine details.
Do not worry about the glue from the film – it will not stay on the t-shirt and even if some of it does the first wash will remove it.
By the way – wash the t-shirt before you print, because new t-shirts are starched so they look nice on the shelf. This can make print less durable.
If you like to do art projects, I am sure you will love this t-shirt print technique. You also will be surprised with the quality of print and sharpness of edges. Happy t-shirt printing! If you have questions, feel free to ask in comments below.
