Printing Guidelines
Welcome! On this page you will be able to learn all about our most commonly used printing techniques, their differences and benefits, and how to make your design perfect. We look forward to making your imagination a reality! If you have questions or need advice on your design, please contact us any time at support@faeforge.com!
DTG Printing
Most of our garments are produced with DTG (Direct-To-Garment) printing. This process involves spraying ink onto fabrics, similar to the way printing is done on paper. This method is excellent for printing intricate, multi-colored designs onto various fabric items such as t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and similar articles.
Lively hues and a comfortable wearing experience
DTG-printed designs permeate the fibers of the clothing. This ensures that the colors do not simply remain on the surface of the fabrics, but diffuse into them. This way, they retain their integrity over time without developing cracks and maintain a non-stiff and comfortable feel for the wearer.
Streamlined printing using water-based vegan inks
Our printing partners use non-toxic vegan inks, guaranteeing the safety of garments for both adults and children. They utilize energy-efficient machines that generate zero wastewater, offering a sustainable choice for your clothing.
Special guidelines
Dealing with transparency
In DTG printing, the inks consist of concentrated pigments. Consequently, DTG printers attempt to compensate for missing information by dispersing the ink. This often results in prints containing gaps with a visible white base, particularly pronounced on dark fabrics. To avoid blotchy and uneven prints caused by transparency, we recommend using solid colors for your designs.
White on white, black on black
Light ink may not be easily visible on light-colored materials, since the ink employed in the DTG printing process is quite thin. To enhance visibility, we suggest incorporating a darker color background for designs featuring light highlights. Similarly, it is advisable to refrain from black designs on black garments, as the intended black, glossy effect may not be achieved. Due to the presence of a white base used in DTG printing, the design is likely to appear more grayish or faded than anticipated.
Sublimation
Sublimation printing is a digital printing technique that employs heat and pressure to transfer dye onto various materials, such as fabrics, plastic, metal, ceramic, and glass. This technique is perfect for products such as mugs or a phone cases. Patterns and large-scale designs are best suited for sublimated products.
Vivid and intricate prints
Sublimation has the capacity to deliver vibrant and intricately detailed print results. The utilization of high temperatures during the process ensures sharp lines and prevents color fading, resulting in striking and detailed prints. The ink is absorbed right into the material, making it last even longer than a DTG print.
Great product variety
Sublimation is a versatile method that offers ample creative possibilities. Custom bags, mugs, mousepads, and various other items can be personalized using this technique. Concerning fabrics, it is only suitable for high polyester content. This is because the chemical properties of sublimation dyes require synthetic fibers to properly stick and create long-lasting results.
Special guidelines
Limitation of base colors
Sublimation is limited to white or very light backgrounds, due to the absence of white ink in the process. The sublimation inks lack the capability to lighten the base color. Attempting to sublimate on a black fabric will technically transfer the dye, but the results won't be visible. For instance, printing a vivid magenta color on a black background will yield a black print with a reddish undertone. White area will be transparent and show the background color.
White creasing
When sublimating on a pre-made garment, there is a risk of incomplete printing in certain areas, resulting in white streaks. This issue commonly occurs around seams or due to unintentional folding. That is why this why sublimation is usually only used on very flat surfaces or in all-over printing with cut-and-sow technique. In this process, your design is initially sublimated onto a fabric piece. Subsequently, patterns are cut out from the printed fabric, and the final product is sown together.
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