Choosing the Best Fabric Type for Your Print

Understanding Fabric Types

• Cotton:

  • Carded Open-End (C.O.E.) Cotton: The most common and affordable option. It has a slightly rough texture due to short, interwoven fibers. This fabric excels in screen printing with various inks, including plastisol, waterbased discharge, and metallic inks.
  • Softspun/Ringspun Cotton: Provides a softer feel than C.O.E. cotton due to longer, finer fibers. These shirts work well with screen printing and offer similar decoration capabilities as C.O.E. cotton.
  • Combed Ringspun Cotton: The premium cotton option. Undergoes a combing process to eliminate impurities, resulting in a super soft feel, strong fibers, and a smooth printing surface. This cotton is ideal for both screen printing and direct-to-garment printing.
• Poly/Cotton Blends: Offer a balance between affordability and comfort. The polyester content prevents shrinking and maintains softness, while cotton enhances breathability and printability. These blends are best suited for reduced plastisol inks, creating a vintage look. Avoid thick prints or excessive colours on poly/cotton blends, as they can feel heavy. Metallic inks and foil are not recommended due to the high heat required for application.
• Tri-blends: Combine cotton, polyester, and rayon for exceptional comfort and softness. Due to their thin nature, they share similar printing limitations as poly/cotton blends. Use reduced plastisol ink to maintain a thin, soft print. Avoid excessive colours and high-heat methods like metallic inks and foil to prevent burning.

• Polyester: Perfect for sportswear due to its moisture-wicking properties and smooth feel. However, polyester presents printing challenges. The heat used in screen printing can burn or discolour the fabric. If using polyester, limit your design to a maximum of three colours with either reduced plastisol ink or regular plastisol ink. Polyester is not compatible with metallic inks, foil, discharge inks, or direct-to-garment printing methods.

Conclusion