What do people use to make custom shirts?

Custom T-shirts are popular for businesses, events, fashion brands, and personal projects. But what exactly do you need to make high-quality custom shirts? From printing machines to fabric selection, the process involves multiple tools and techniques.

People use various methods to make custom shirts, including screen printing¹ for bulk orders, DTG (Direct-to-Garment) printing for detailed designs, heat transfer² for small batches, and embroidery for premium branding. Essential tools include fabric, design software, printers, heat presses, and sewing machines.

Let’s explore everything needed to create custom shirts, from design tools to printing machines.

What are the essential tools for making custom shirts?

To create high-quality custom shirts, you need the right materials, design software, and printing machines.

Overview of essential tools:

Tool	Purpose	Best For
T-shirt Fabric	Base material for printing	Cotton, polyester, blends
Design Software	Creates digital designs	Adobe Illustrator, Canva, CorelDRAW
Printing Machine	Transfers designs onto fabric	DTG, screen printing, sublimation
Heat Press Machine	Cures and bonds designs	Heat transfer, sublimation
Embroidery Machine	Stitches logos and designs	Corporate apparel, branding
Sewing Machine	Assembles or customizes shirts	Handmade, fashion shirts

What fabric is best for custom shirts?

The type of fabric affects comfort, durability, and print quality.

Best fabrics for custom shirts:

Fabric Type	Features	Best Printing Method
100% Cotton	Soft, breathable, absorbs ink well	Screen printing, DTG
Cotton-Poly Blend	Less shrinkage, durable	DTG, heat transfer
100% Polyester	Moisture-wicking, lightweight	Sublimation, heat transfer
Tri-Blend (Cotton/Poly/Rayon)	Soft, vintage feel	DTG, screen printing

If you need vibrant full-color designs, choose polyester for sublimation or **cotton fo

What design software is used to create custom T-shirt graphics?

Before printing, you need high-quality digital designs.

Best software for T-shirt design:

Software	Features	Best For
Adobe Illustrator	Vector graphics, precise designs	Professional printing
Photoshop	Photo-based, high-quality effects	DTG, sublimation
CorelDRAW	Graphic design, typography	Screen printing
Canva	Easy-to-use, beginner-friendly	Small projects

For screen printing and DTG, use vector-based designs (Illustrator, CorelDRAW) for sharp results.

What are the best printing methods for custom shirts?

Different printing methods offer unique advantages depending on order size, design detail, and budget.

Overview of T-shirt printing methods:

Method	Best For	Durability	Cost
Screen Printing	Bulk orders, bold designs	✅✅✅ Very High	💲💲 Medium
DTG (Direct-to-Garment)	Full-color, small batches	✅✅ Medium	💲💲💲 High
Heat Transfer (DTF, Vinyl, Sublimation)	Personalized, one-off shirts	✅✅ Medium-High	💲💲 Moderate
Embroidery	Logos, professional branding	✅✅✅ Very High	💲💲💲💲 High

Let’s take a deeper look at each method.

Screen Printing: Best for bulk T-shirt printing

Screen printing uses stencils and ink to transfer designs onto fabric.

How screen printing works:

1. A stencil (screen) is created for each color in the design.
2. Ink is pushed through the screen onto the T-shirt.
3. The design is cured with heat to set the ink.

Best screen printing machines:

Machine Name	Features	Price Range
VEVOR 4 Color 1 Station	Manual, affordable	$200–$500
Riley Hopkins 250 Press	Multi-color printing	$1,000+
M&R Sportsman EX	Automatic screen printing	$15,000+

If you need 100+ T-shirts with bold, solid-color designs, screen printing is the best choice.

DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printing: Best for detailed, full-color designs

DTG printing is a digital method that sprays ink directly onto fabric, like an inkjet printer for T-shirts.

How DTG printing works:

1. A digital design is loaded into the printer.
2. The printer sprays ink directly onto the cotton fabric.
3. A heat press or dryer cures the ink for durability.

Best DTG printers:

Printer Name	Features	Price Range
Epson SureColor F2100	High-quality, fast printing	$10,000–$15,000
Brother GTX Pro	Vibrant colors, efficient	$15,000+

DTG is best for small orders with detailed, multi-color designs.

Heat Transfer Printing: Best for one-off and small-batch designs

Heat transfer methods use heat and pressure to apply designs onto fabric.

Types of heat transfer printing:

Method	Best For	Features
DTF (Direct-to-Film)	Multi-color, durable prints	Vibrant, flexible design application
HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl)	Simple logos, sports jerseys	Textured, cut-out vinyl designs
Sublimation Transfer	Polyester fabrics	Long-lasting, full-color designs

For customized T-shirts with names or logos, heat transfer is a cost-effective option.

Embroidery: Best for premium branding and logos

Unlike printing, embroidery stitches thread-based designs onto shirts.

How embroidery works:

1. A digital embroidery file is loaded into the machine.
2. Threads are selected and stitched onto the shirt.
3. The finished embroidery is trimmed and cleaned.

Best embroidery machines:

Machine Name	Features	Price Range
Brother PE800	5×7 inch embroidery area	$700–$1,000
Janome MB-7	Multi-needle, commercial-grade	$5,000+

Embroidery is best for corporate logos, uniforms, and high-end branding.

What other equipment is needed for making custom shirts?

Beyond printers, additional tools and accessories are needed for high-quality production.

Essential equipment:

✔ Heat Press Machine – Used for curing ink and heat transfers.
✔ Sewing Machine – Needed for modifying or assembling shirts.
✔ Vinyl Cutter – Cuts custom shapes and letters for heat transfers.
✔ Quality Control Tools – Measuring tapes, fabric rulers, and inspection tables.

A complete setup ensures professional-quality T-shirts.

Conclusion

Making custom shirts requires the right fabric, design software, printing method, and machines:

• Screen printing is best for bold, bulk designs.
• DTG printing works well for full-color, detailed prints.
• Heat transfer is great for customized, one-off designs.
• Embroidery adds a professional, premium touch.
• A complete setup includes heat presses, sewing machines, and quality control tools.

By selecting the right tools and methods, you can create high-quality custom T-shirts for personal use or business.

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