Here's what you need to know if you're looking to make custom sweatshirts (on the cheap).
If you're tired of the typical commercially available garment prints and want to buy or create affordable custom sweatshirts , you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find some helpful tips. First of all, it's important to know that customizing a sweatshirt properly isn't easy, especially if you decide to go the DIY route. In addition to the image you'd like printed on the sweatshirt, we recommend choosing the right technique for your project to save money and achieve the desired results. The success of your project, however, can depend on both the printing technique and the image you want to print. For the latter, it's important to choose the right quality and consider the complexity of the design, in terms of colors and lines. The fabric you choose for the sweatshirt will also impact the final result. Different types of fabrics, such as cotton or synthetic materials, create garments that are more or less suited to certain types of prints. Let's discover together how to properly choose the features of the sweatshirt and the most suitable printing technique to make your garment unique.
Pssst… Looking for ideas for embroidered sweatshirts? Read this: " Custom Embroidered Sweatshirts: 10 Ideas That Will Surprise You "!
Which printing technique to choose and which type of fabric to prefer to personalize a sweatshirt
If you're looking for advice on how to make custom sweatshirts, you should start with the understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all technique for all types of sweatshirt printing. You should therefore evaluate the characteristics of each technique before choosing the one best suited to your project. Specifically, the techniques we use and make available to our customers on burger-print.nl are the following:
- screen printing;
- direct digital printing;
- embroidery.
These techniques, combined with top-quality materials, allow us to create affordable yet high-quality custom sweatshirts .
How to make a custom sweatshirt with screen printing
Screen printing is an ancient printing technique used primarily when printing large quantities of materials. It involves using a screen , specifically constructed with the image you want to recreate, which comes into contact with the surface of the sweatshirt being printed using a heat press. The frame has been made waterproof in the non-designed area, while the rest has been impregnated with colors, so that they can be transferred to the fabric. The main advantages of screen printing are numerous. Here are the main ones:
- very wash-resistant colours;
- application on any type of fabric;
- perfect technique for basic drawings;
- many types of colors can be used, including gold, silver and fluorescent;
- you can print on any part of the sweatshirt you want;
- economical technique for orders of more than fifty pieces, since screen printing requires a fixed cost for the construction of the frame.
Despite the advantages of this printing technique, it should be avoided (and another technique preferred) in the following cases:
- If you want to print a complex and overly colorful design, screen printing requires a large number of templates, as many as the pre-set colors (and this isn't always possible).
- You only need to print one sweatshirt or prototype. As mentioned, there are basic costs only for preparing the frame and using the heat press;
- The chosen design presents many shades, lines that are too thin and written with a font smaller than 20pt.
On burger-print.nl, you can choose screen printing at a very competitive price, with no additional costs if you choose multiple colors. You can choose up to six colors for each screen print. Unlike many other sites, our site allows you to choose multiple screen prints for multiple parts of a single sweatshirt! Now let's move on to direct digital printing.
The direct digital printing technique on sweatshirts and other clothing items
Direct digital printing is a recent invention and closely resembles the technique used with traditional office printers using sheets of paper. Instead of printing directly onto sheets of paper, special printers with special inks print the customized image directly onto the sweatshirt. The advantages of using this innovative technique are the following:
- image resolution quality (provided that the file chosen for printing is of high quality);
- possibility of printing, at a low price, a single item or a prototype for a future line of sweatshirts;
- possibility of being able to print multiple different images in the same order;
- choice of rather complicated and colorful designs;
- possibility of printing on any type of sweatshirt and fiber.
Naturally, this printing technique also has its limitations. The disadvantages identified so far are related to the inability to use special inks, such as fluorescent, brightening, or opaque. Are you perhaps wondering how we create our digitally printed garments? Well, the machine we use for direct digital printing is the Kornit Avalanche , considered the latest generation for garment customization. It can print designs, photos, or patterns onto the fabric of your choice, using special non-toxic, water-based inks. Therefore, it does not require the use of films or heat presses, which differ from digital printing in that the design is rough and stiff to the touch.
The alternative option to printing on a sweatshirt is embroidery
While embroidery may seem like an outdated customization technique, it's certainly the best way to make your sweatshirt unique without ruining it over time, enhancing and embellishing your garments to your liking. However, flawless work is only possible if the files you upload are of the highest quality and in formats such as PDF, EPS, or AI. Also, remember that you can't create embroidery that's too small, larger than 9×9 cm, or blend the design. Embroidery is ideal for sweatshirts made of synthetic materials, which are difficult to print images on. Fleece sweatshirts , for example, are recommended for customizing them exclusively with embroidery. Now that we've clarified the options available for customizing clothing items through our web platform, let's clarify the fabrics you can choose for good printing results and comfort.
What types of materials are used for custom sweatshirts?
You might mistakenly think that sweatshirts labeled 100% cotton are the best quality on the market. In reality, this claim is debunked, as our online store offers sweatshirts made from blended fabrics, which are of great quality and durability. The main materials used and combined to create sweatshirts on burger-print.nl are the following:
- cotton;
- organic cotton;
- polyester;
- rayon.
Don't be intimidated by the names of the synthetic compounds mentioned above. These materials, combined, can create the famous fleece sweatshirt, which is made from recycled materials and is also used by athletes to keep warm. Organic cotton sweatshirts , on the other hand, are garments made from organic cotton with a low environmental impact. The cotton is harvested by hand, preventing damage to the fibers and making the garment softer and more durable. We recommend trying the Varsity Jacket sweatshirt, which costs €13.91 for an order of 100 pieces (excluding custom prints). Sweatshirts are also classified by their weight, or their final weight, which allows you to determine which garments are suitable for winter, summer, or transitional periods. Weights range from under 240 g/m2 to sweatshirts weighing 500 g/m2: the latter are definitely the most suitable for the colder periods of the year. In addition to weight, sweatshirts can be classified as brushed or non-brushed. Brushed sweatshirts are those garments with the typical soft fur on the inside. When in contact with the skin, it feels soft and warm, making them better suited to cold weather. Non-brushed sweatshirts, on the other hand, undergo an additional process where a machine "de-brushes" the inside of the sweatshirt, removing all residual fur and making it lighter and more summery. There are also various sweatshirt styles that can be customized with your favorite logos or images. Starting with the classic hooded sweatshirt, like the Continental Clothing Unisex Pullover Hoody, which can be customized with both screen printing and direct digital printing; or the hoodless sweatshirt, which on our website costs €8.19 for 100 pieces, including printing. At burger-print.nl you can also find open sweatshirts with zips (full or neck-only) that can be customized with individual or kangaroo pockets, as well as ribbed waistbands and cuffs. In short, there are no limits to your choice of sweatshirt, but be careful about the size of the design. Remember that the image will be printed at 1:1 scale, and colors may be subject to slight variations in shade. Burger Print is here to help you customize your sweatshirt or, why not, your new brand! Follow the guidelines regarding printing methods and the possibility of using multiple colors depending on the printing technique. Also, pay attention to the materials, in order to ensure maximum comfort and a sweatshirt of impeccable quality. The final product will be just how you imagined it: original, low-cost, and the envy of everyone. What are you waiting for? Order your affordable personalized sweatshirts now at burger-print.nl !
