Are Digital Fabric Printing and Screen Printing - the same as IPods and Cassette Players?

So you thought this was a blog about digital fabric printing and transfers and stickers? So what do IPods and cassette players have to do with that? Well, how many cassette players do you see for sale in Dick Smith’s? And how many IPods? My point exactly!

I am sure you can see where I am going with this – cassette players are old hat, defunct, no-one wants them. But they do want IPods. Its new technology, fills a niche and everyone wants one. So my question is this – Is digital fabric printing the new screen printing?

Why would you use screen printing in Brisbane – when you can use digital printing? And we are talking about screen printing t-shirts here (because Everything Vibrant makes awesome digital t-shirt transfers!).

Well let’s take a look at both methods and see if we can decide if we are talking IPods and cassette players here.

Screen printing t-shirts

Screen printing is an old technique – first used by the Chinese around 1000 AD. It uses a stencil to apply layers of ink onto the fabric. And you need a different stencil for each colour in the design. It can be quite time consuming, but for large orders it is very cost-effective.

Digital fabric printing – direct to garment
Your design is created on a PC and then transferred to a printing machine and the design is printed straight onto the fabric. This is called direct to fabric printing and is easier than screen printing as it is a single, fast process.

As a printing method, the problem with direct to fabric printing is that it uses heat to transfer the designs onto the fabric. So you can only use 100% natural fibres or materials with a high mix of cotton – nylons and polyesters just melt under the heat!

Digital fabric printing – transfers

Now using the digital technique to create transfers is a lot more versatile than screen printing or direct to fabric printing. Small orders are no problem and delivery is fast. With digital printing your t-shirts are embellished with photographic quality images, impossible to achieve with screen printing techniques. And the transfers can be applied to any material from neoprene to silk!

In today’s competitive market, when you need promotional t-shirts for your business - digital transfers win hands down against screen printing t-shirts. So, yes digital fabric printing is the new IPod!

For all your digital fabric printing needs - call Everything Vibrant on 07 3386 0536, email us on sales@everythingvibrant.com.au or fill in our online enquiry form.

3 Reasons to Include Transfers and Stickers in your Business Marketing Plan

Marketing is all about gaining the consumer’s attention and then making the sale. If you can’t grab their attention – you will soon be out of business. And a great way to grab people’s attention is with promotional products. And one of the best ways to do this is to use transfers and stickers. 

You might not believe it, but T-shirt transfers and stickers are two of the best ways to advertise your business. Particularly if you have your own logo or tagline. In Brisbane, t-shirt printing and promotional stickers for marketing purposes are on the increase as businesses realise that they can get a ton of free advertising at little cost to their budget.

So here are 3 great reasons why transfers and stickers should be part of your marketing plan:

1.     People are walking billboards: You don’t need to empty out your budget for huge billboards or TV ads. Give people free t-shirts with your logo or tagline printed on the front (and maybe the back) and you have instant FREE advertising! Everywhere they go and everyone who sees them will also see your business information - all of their friends, relatives, colleagues and even total strangers. All are potential customers and all will be exposed to your branding.

2.     Everyone has a car: What about car bumper stickers and car window stickers? Give them away free. People love this stuff! Not everyone will stick it on their car but enough will. And once again, you have instant FREE advertising.

3.     Increase brand exposure: So you have people walking around wearing your logo and taglines on their t-shirts, they are driving around in their cars or trucks with your logo and taglines emblazoned on their bumper or rear window. FREE advertising! You have instantly increased brand awareness and brand exposure. And it has cost you very little in dollar terms.

As you can see, transfers and stickers are a great way to increase people’s awareness of your business or service. And as part of your overall marketing strategy their cost is practically nominal, but the returns can be substantial.