I guess you understand what t-shirt printing method being offer in Singapore, but do you know the history of these methods? It is quite fun to have a quick summary ready on these.

1. History of Silkscreen Printing

Silkscreen printing is one of the oldest printing methods that you could find. Around 1000 years ago, this type of printing method first began in China. It was slowly introduced throughout Asia, including Japan; whereby the silkscreen printing technique was adopted. The technique is refined by these countries in terms of craftsmanship using paints and blocks for printing. Slowly but certainly, it made its way to Europe in the late 1700s. However, it is still not widely used by the people just yet as the method was used for printing on expensive wallpapers, silk, or other fine fabrics for the rich. Silkscreen printing was only largely known and accepted when it was officially patented. 

2. History of Embroidery

Embroidery is available in various forms ever since the existence of fabrics. The word embroidery originates from the French word “broderie” which means embellishment. In the olden days, embroidery is hand-sewn using just a needle and threads to form an artwork on fabric; ‘painting with thread’ is what embroidery is being called. It is also a symbol of luxury. Created with a needle using prestigious threads (Eg. Silk) or yarns, garments or daily wear that are embroidered are for the royal families around the world. Motifs created on the precious piece of garment or fabric (Eg. Phoenix, Dragon, and etc) usually contain great meaning or represent the status of an individual. As time goes by and the craftsmanship of embroidery has spread, this technique has developed from being the preserve of the upper class and become a pastime of the people. It is no longer an expensive technique to be considered. However, the premium looks that embroidery presents stays without failing its’ original roots. 

3. History of Digital Transfer Printing

Digital Transfer printing is part of the screen printing family. It was introduced in the early 60s and initially, it was only applied to soft materials, vinyl-like materials. Digital Transfer Printing started to gain popularity as it was being noticed by the people on how economical that this method offers. Before digital transfer printing, silkscreen printing, which is an old family member of the screen printing industry, was the only option in regards to printing on fabric economically. However, that method required to have a stencil and also wet ink in order to have the artwork transferred to the fabric. You know what it means when it comes to the wet ink. It could be a very messy job and would have had one's work go to waste when the ink is not dried properly yet. With the creation of Digital Transfer Printing as the technology evolves, it has solved the problem of traditional screen printing; creating a mess-free, efficient, and most importantly cost-effective printing. 

4. History of Vinyl Printing

Vinyl printing is somewhat similar to Heat Transfer printing or Digital Transfer printing. The difference is whereby the artwork will be highlighted with bold details as die-cut will be done when the artwork is printed. The excess will be removed before having the die-cut artwork to be heat transferred to the garment. Other than that, Vinyl printing does offer more than just another heat-pressed printing. While those days people are just having Digital Transfer printing, they are limited to the artwork to be transferred as a whole even though they are features where die-cut is needed. Yes, the artwork may be colourful and looks exactly perfect, but how about the fine details, the complication of the artwork? Vinyl printing solves it all. Well, Vinyl printing is not limited to print die-cut artwork on vinyl stickers only. It has a variety of choices 

5. History of Foil Printing

As you know from the description above, Foil Printing is whereby a layer of gold/ silver foil-pressed down using heat in order to transfer the artwork onto your desired product. Mankind has been using gold/ silver to decorate various objects during ancient times. In ancient Egypt, they used to hammer the gold until it is a fine thin sheet. Yes, this method was very heavy in human labour as there was no machinery for the foil printing process like we have back then. This finely beaten gold is then embossed on most of the items including fabrics, coffins, and decorative objects, and so on. Later during the middle age, thin gold is printed to book covers to classify them in the west as items that are valuable, most are used on leather covered books. As time passes, beat gold is too pricey to be afforded by the people. Hence, different metallic material papers (Eg. Foil) were replaced for this printing. And yet, it still enhances a product with Foil Printing to look prestigious and. 

6. History of DTG Printing

Compared to other printings, Direct to Garment printing is a very new method that was introduced to the T-shirt printing industry. This DTG Printing was not available for the public not until a few years ago even though this printing method began in 1996 in the United States. But why did it take so long for this method to be introduced to the market? To put it simply, there is this problem that the technique faced whereby the heads of the printer will be clogged easily with dried ink when they started this inkjet printing for papers. Furthermore, people started to look into the possibilities of using this printing method for garments only years later.

To know about t-shirt printing method that is available in Singapore, do check HERE for more information.