Complete Beginner’s Guide to Custom T-Shirt Printing

Custom T-shirts have long been one of the most popular ways to express creativity-whether for personal projects, community events, or growing fashion businesses. Whether you're looking to print one unique shirt, start your own clothing line, or explore print options for your organization, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know as a beginner.

In this guide, you'll learn about the best fabrics for printing, popular printing techniques, cost breakdowns, and step-by-step recommendations to get started easily. Let's dive in.

Why Are Custom Printed T-Shirts So Popular?

• Creative Freedom: Print anything-quotes, photos, abstract illustrations.
• Community Identity: Perfect for group uniforms, events, bands, and campaigns.
• Affordable Business Opportunity: Low investment, high profit potential.
• Personalized Gifts: A unique way to leave a lasting impression.

1. Best T-Shirt Fabrics for Printing

A. Cotton

• Cotton Combed: Soft, breathable, and ideal for DTG & manual screen printing. Available in 20s, 24s, and 30s (higher numbers mean thinner fabric).
• Cotton Carded: Rougher texture, budget-friendly, great for event shirts.
• CVC (Chief Value Cotton): More cotton than polyester. Durable, comfortable, and less shrinkage.
• TC (Teteron Cotton): More polyester, less absorbent but highly durable-great for uniforms.

B. Polyester & Blends

• Polyester: Lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying. Best for sublimation printing.
• Dry-Fit: Sports fabric designed to absorb and evaporate sweat.
• Hyget: Thin and shiny, commonly used for cheap campaign or promotional T-shirts.
• Viscose (Rayon): Soft, breathable, and drapes well-often blended with cotton.

✅ Quick Tips:

• For daily comfort: Cotton Combed 24s/30s
• For sportswear: Dry-Fit
• For promotions: Carded cotton or Hyget
• For sublimation: 100% polyester
• For manual screen printing: Cotton with water-based inks

💡 Pro Tip: Gildan offers fabrics that suit all major printing techniques.

For example, Clavis Apparel Heavy Cotton  collection is great for screen printing, Gildan 64000 (Softstyle) is perfect for DTG, and Gildan 76000 is a top choice for sportswear and sublimation.

2. Popular T-Shirt Printing Techniques

A. Screen Printing (Manual)

Screen printing is a classic, versatile method where ink is pressed through a mesh screen using a squeegee.

✅ Best for: Bulk production, bold designs, long-lasting results

Pros:

• Vibrant, durable prints
• Low cost per unit for large runs
• Compatible with various inks (rubber, plastisol, discharge)

Cons:

• Requires skill and workspace
• Not ideal for complex full-color or gradient designs

Common Inks: Rubber, plastisol, discharge, glow-in-the-dark, metallic

B. DTF (Direct to Film)

Design is printed on PET film → coated with adhesive powder → heat pressed onto T-shirt.

✅ Best for: Beginners, custom orders, full-color designs

Pros: Sharp details, works on all fabrics

Cons: Slightly raised feel, higher film/adhesive cost

C. DTG (Direct to Garment)

Design is printed directly onto the fabric using a DTG printer.

✅ Best for: High-detail prints, photographic designs, small orders

Pros: Smooth, soft finish, vibrant gradients, no raised texture

Cons: Expensive machines, pre-treatment needed for dark fabrics

D. Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV / Polyflex)

Vinyl is cut into designs and heat-pressed onto the shirt.

✅ Best for: Logos, text, solid shapes

Pros: Crisp lines, easy to apply, special finishes available (glitter, reflective)

Cons: No gradients, stiffer surface

E. Sublimation

Ink turns into gas and bonds with polyester fibers.

✅ Best for: Jerseys, sportswear, all-over prints

Pros: No texture on fabric, extremely durable

Cons: Works only on light-colored polyester

Also read: Popular printing techniques

3. Estimated T-Shirt Printing Costs for Beginners

A. Using a Vendor

Component	Estimated Price (IDR)
Cotton Combed T-shirt	35,000 - 65,000
Screen Printing (1 color)	15,000 - 30,000
Screen Printing (2 colors)	20,000 - 40,000
DTF A4 Print	25,000 - 45,000
Polyflex (simple logo)	20,000 - 40,000

Total per shirt: 60,000 - 120,000 depending on method & design

B. Starting DIY Screen Printing

Equipment	Estimated Price (IDR)
Screen (2 pcs)	100,000 - 300,000
Squeegee (2 pcs)	60,000 - 160,000
Portable Table	100,000 - 300,000
Ink (rubber/plastisol)	50,000 - 150,000/kg
Emulsion & Tools	100,000 - 300,000
Heat Gun / Hair Dryer	100,000 - 300,000

Initial investment (small scale): Rp 500,000 - Rp 1,500,000

4. Choosing the Right Printing Method for Your Needs

• Low budget, small orders → DTF or Polyflex (via vendor)
• DIY learning → Screen printing
• Detailed or photographic designs → DTG or DTF
• Sports jerseys / polyester apparel → Sublimation or DTF
• Logos & solid graphics → Screen printing (plastisol) or Polyflex

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Picking the wrong fabric for the chosen printing method
• Using overly complex designs for screen printing
• Underestimating total production costs (packaging, labor, etc.)
• Skipping test prints before full production
• Neglecting quality control

6. Beginner's Checklist for Custom T-Shirt Printing

✅ Define your purpose (personal, community, or business)

✅ Select the right fabric

✅ Choose the most suitable printing method

✅ Test sample prints before scaling up

✅ Start small before investing in equipment

✅ Ensure your design is clear and fabric-compatible

Conclusion

The world of custom T-shirt printing is full of creative opportunities and business potential. Whether you're printing for yourself, your community, or launching a brand, start with the basics, use the right tools, and build your expertise step by step.

With persistence and creativity, you can master the craft-and even turn it into a profitable venture.

Happy printing, and happy creating!