The Technical Side of Making Really Cool Stuff

DTG printing excels in producing intricate designs with an unlimited color palette, offering precise and accurate results. We use this method for detailed artwork, photographs, and designs with complex color gradients and nuances. Printing directly onto the fabric without separate screens allows us to produce high-resolution detailed prints and is best suited for custom one off and low quantity runs on 100% cotton and cotton blend garments. 

DTF printing is one of the most versatile garment printing methods available. This process involves printing our design on a PET film using high quality water-based inks. Adhesive powder is then applied to the newly printed film and oven cured; this is now called our heat transfer film. At The Shirt Shoppe we believe that the best quality work always comes from the prep work. At this stage prior to the heat transfer being applied we preheat the garment to remove any wrinkles and moisture from the fabric. We then apply our  pre treatment fluid assuring we get the best adhesion from our film to garment transfer. After transferring the design at an average temperature of 165°C, the film is cold peeled, and the garment undergoes a second heat treatment to finalize curing. This process is best utilized for higher quantity production runs applied to a vast number of fabrics such as cotton, cotton blends, polyester, poly/cotton blends, canvas, denims, fleece, and more.  

Embroidery is using a needle and thread to apply stitched designs or patterns to a piece of garment or textile. After our design is completed and approved by our customers, we program them into our computerized embroidery equipment that then stitches these intricate designs and patterns onto the piece of garment or textile allowing us to create decorative embellishments like logos, monograms, or intricate artwork with precise color changes and detailed stitching. 

Laser engraving is a cutting-edge technique known as Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER). It utilizes powerful laser beams to precisely remove the top layer of materials, making it a non-contact process that melts and vaporizes the targeted area. This process leaves a permanent and top-quality engraving or cut, perfect for creating intricate designs or markings on a wide range of materials. Our computer controlled laser equipment can engrave and cut onto a multitude of materials such as wood, acrylic, plastic, metal, textile, rubber, glass, and stone. The Shirt Shoppe uses this technology to produce custom garment patches as well as custom engravings for drinkware, pens, business cards, promotional business items and practically any engravable product you can think of.   

Dye sublimation also referred to as digital sublimation is a process used for applying super high resolution images or artwork onto a sublimation transfer. This newly formed sublimation transfer is then applied to a sublimation friendly substrate through heat, which converts the solid dye into a gaseous form without going through a liquid form. Heat coupled with pressure causes the dye to penetrate the interior of the substrate, creating a permanent colored bond. Once the heat is removed,  the dye returns to a solid form and the process is complete. We use this printing technology to decorate apparel, signs, drinkware, as well as wide variety of sublimation substrates