Alternatives for printing/silk-screening

vsp · 06-01-2003, 11:27 PM

I have a substantial collection of hockey jerseys, and have an interest in creating some of my own one-off logo designs. (There are plenty of dealers that sell jersey blanks that will serve nicely.)

Unfortunately, most dealers that can customize jerseys will do so only for runs of ten or more, and may have problems with potentially copywritten images. I have a jersey coming in the mail with a cool Garfield-biting-a-hockey-stick design (for my wife), so SOMEBODY knows how to do this stuff. A simple screen-printed logo will be fine, though if anyone does print-on-twill embroidered crests for less than a dozen jerseys at once, I'd gladly pay extra.

One option that came to mind (for a D-I-Y approach) was to invest in an inkjet printer and transfer iron-on kits, though I'm not sure how permanent those kinds of iron-ons may be. Airbrushing is rather inexact, though it could produce some one-of-a-kind looks; I'd rather have more control over how the end image will look.

Apart from that, I'm not sure where to begin. Anyone know a maverick screen-printer who can handle small orders?

wolf · 06-02-2003, 12:07 AM

Back in the Day I made several Beru Revue Tee Shirts of my very own (and one for Johnny Sacks) by using Deka Tee Shirt paints and hand painting them (you apparently could thin this stuff out and run it through an airbrush as well).

There was some plasticizing material in the paint, so after you were done painting the design and it had dried for a couple hours, you then ironed the image with a cloth over it and it would fuse to the fabric.

I have no idea if the paints are still available, though.

You might be able to hook up on a silk-screening kit through A.C. Moore or Michael's Crafts.

Tobiasly · 06-02-2003, 12:14 AM

I doubt you'd be happy with the results from those inkjet iron-on transfers. The colors are rather dull, they don't last long (especially larger designs, which tend to crack after washing), and of course the largest image you can print is 8-1/2 x 11.

SteveDallas · 06-02-2003, 08:44 AM

I'll second that about the iron-ons... they're good for one-off projects, butthey tend to crack as athe fabric stitching underneath them naturall expands and contracts through wear.

vsp · 06-02-2003, 10:43 AM

Homebrew silk-screening is an option... but I'm not much of an artist.

From doing a little homework, I think what I'm looking for are custom heat transfers -- I have a couple of jerseys that use that approach (rubbery color logos) and look fine.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-02-2003, 06:06 PM

Pick your best design and go for a tattoo.

The paint Wolf mentioned was available a year ago at A C Moore.
Silk screening is really tricky to get shading. The heat transfers are much better. Start Googleing.

richlevy · 06-02-2003, 11:04 PM

My understanding is that there are two kinds of inkjet ink. The cheaper, more popular kind will fade faster. I believe that photo cartridge ink is different. One is dye and the other is pigment.

I am still considering using an iron-on for a leather flight jacket I picked up for $10 from Value City. The leather has a kind of stone-washed jeans look to it. I actually want the transfer to crack. I am thinking of using an old WWI lady liberty, eagle, or possibly an old aviation sign.

The only problem with iron-ons is that there is no such thing as white ink so anything white has to be changed to a color.

vsp · 06-03-2003, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by richlevy
The only problem with iron-ons is that there is no such thing as white ink so anything white has to be changed to a color.

I may have found an answer to that -- <a href="http://www.prodistributors.com/inkjet.html">JetOpaque</a> inkjet paper has a bright white opaque backing. I may invest in a sample pack, take it to my dad's inkjet printer and see how it prints.

06-01-2003, 11:27 PM	#1
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	Alternatives for printing/silk-screening I have a substantial collection of hockey jerseys, and have an interest in creating some of my own one-off logo designs. (There are plenty of dealers that sell jersey blanks that will serve nicely.) Unfortunately, most dealers that can customize jerseys will do so only for runs of ten or more, and may have problems with potentially copywritten images. I have a jersey coming in the mail with a cool Garfield-biting-a-hockey-stick design (for my wife), so SOMEBODY knows how to do this stuff. A simple screen-printed logo will be fine, though if anyone does print-on-twill embroidered crests for less than a dozen jerseys at once, I'd gladly pay extra. One option that came to mind (for a D-I-Y approach) was to invest in an inkjet printer and transfer iron-on kits, though I'm not sure how permanent those kinds of iron-ons may be. Airbrushing is rather inexact, though it could produce some one-of-a-kind looks; I'd rather have more control over how the end image will look. Apart from that, I'm not sure where to begin. Anyone know a maverick screen-printer who can handle small orders?

06-02-2003, 12:07 AM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Back in the Day I made several Beru Revue Tee Shirts of my very own (and one for Johnny Sacks) by using Deka Tee Shirt paints and hand painting them (you apparently could thin this stuff out and run it through an airbrush as well). There was some plasticizing material in the paint, so after you were done painting the design and it had dried for a couple hours, you then ironed the image with a cloth over it and it would fuse to the fabric. I have no idea if the paints are still available, though. You might be able to hook up on a silk-screening kit through A.C. Moore or Michael's Crafts. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-02-2003, 06:06 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Pick your best design and go for a tattoo. The paint Wolf mentioned was available a year ago at A C Moore. Silk screening is really tricky to get shading. The heat transfers are much better. Start Googleing. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-02-2003, 11:04 PM	#7
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Ink My understanding is that there are two kinds of inkjet ink. The cheaper, more popular kind will fade faster. I believe that photo cartridge ink is different. One is dye and the other is pigment. I am still considering using an iron-on for a leather flight jacket I picked up for $10 from Value City. The leather has a kind of stone-washed jeans look to it. I actually want the transfer to crack. I am thinking of using an old WWI lady liberty, eagle, or possibly an old aviation sign. The only problem with iron-ons is that there is no such thing as white ink so anything white has to be changed to a color. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama Last edited by richlevy; 06-02-2003 at 11:09 PM.

06-02-2003, 12:14 AM	#3
Tobiasly hot Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jeffersonville, IN (near Louisville) Posts: 892	I doubt you'd be happy with the results from those inkjet iron-on transfers. The colors are rather dull, they don't last long (especially larger designs, which tend to crack after washing), and of course the largest image you can print is 8-1/2 x 11.

06-02-2003, 08:44 AM	#4
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I'll second that about the iron-ons... they're good for one-off projects, butthey tend to crack as athe fabric stitching underneath them naturall expands and contracts through wear.

06-02-2003, 10:43 AM	#5
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	Homebrew silk-screening is an option... but I'm not much of an artist. From doing a little homework, I think what I'm looking for are custom heat transfers -- I have a couple of jerseys that use that approach (rubbery color logos) and look fine.

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