T-shirt Printing | Core Digital Printers | Pretoria - t-shirts, t-shirt printing pretoria

Core Digital not only specializes in t-shirt printing and embroidery, but we also print and embroider sweatshirts, polo shirts, caps and all types of clothing. Whether you are looking for t-shirt printing or embroidery for corporate clothing, uniform, work wear, promotional clothing or a polo shirt, we can screen print or embroid your logo on it.

T-Shirt Quality

Most people make the mistake of comparing good and bad quality shirts because of the weight of the shirt. This can be used as a guideline, but this statement is not true.

A 145 gram t-shirt, preshank and made of 100% combed cotton, double stitched on the seams with interlock weaving is more durable and looks neater than the 180 gram carded cotton t-shirt. (It is produced with lower grade cotton and a high speed sowing technique for the purpose of mass production.) The dying of these shirts also differs from the high quality shirts and after the first wash it is likely to fade in colour, shrink and change in shape. Ironically most of these shirts are still popular because of the competitive market. Most of the local suppliers supply these shirts.

If you look at a high and low quality shirt when they are placed next to each other, you can hardly see a difference, but after about three washes you can clearly see a difference. Rather pay extra for a higher quality shirt and wear it with pride.

Screen Printing

Screen used for screen-printing - Polyester stretched over a steel or wooden frame.
A screen is prepared that is placed flat on the surface of the item that will be printed. Ink is pushed over the screen 2-3 times. With this movement the ink penetrates through the screen onto the surface that is printed.

For each colour in the artwork a screen is prepared. This is the reason why screen-printing is more expensive on small quantities.

Screen Printing Prices:

T-shirts can be supplied by us or by the customer.
Please be advised that the dark coloured shirts are more expensive to print on than the lighter coloured and white shirts.

If you would require a quotation for screen-printing of t-shirts, golf shirts, sports bags eg. the following must be provided:

1.		The quantity of the order.
2.		The amount of colours that must be printed.
3.		The colour of the item that needs to be printed.
4.		If the artwork is in spot colours or fading of colours.
5.		The size of the artwork.

The artwork must be supplied in the following formats:

A Vector format is applicable, Corel draw, Freehand and Photoshop.
You can send these files in the following formats: EPS, CDR, PDF.

Flat images like a tiff, bitmap, jpg and word can only be used in the heat transfer method, although the quality must be high resolution.

The turnaround time on screen-printing is 2-3 working days PROVIDED thr 50% deposit is paid and the approval of the artwork is received. The turnaround time might change depending on the quantity and amount of colours to be printed.

Heat Transfers vs. Screen Printing

Heat Transfer

The process of heat transfer starts when you print full colour on a plastic like material, it then gets cut out in any form, afterwards it is placed on a surface where it can be transferred with heat.

With the process of heat transfer, the transfer sheet is pressed with 180 degrees and pressure of 1.6 bar against the surface where the transfer is done.

Advantages of this process:

1.		This method is more cost efficient than the other printing methods.
2.		The turnaround time on your order is a lot faster.
3.		Full colour photos prints more clear than any other printing method.
4.		The artwork can be sent in different formats, where screen printing limits you to using only a vector format.

Disadvantages of this process:

1.		In some cases people dislike the rubber like surface of the heat transfer.
2.		Ventilation of air is limited because of the transfer and people experience to feel more warmth in a heat transferred shirt.
3.		After a few washes, the heat flex tends to fade in colour.
4.		Not all types of material can be heat transferred.
5.		Artwork with a lot of outline detail (sharp edges) will not be able to be heat transferred, but the artwork can be put in a white block to be a solid artwork. Please see government logo as an example:
6.		It is advised not to tumble dry, dry clean or wash in a washing machine. The best way to wash heat-transferred shirts is a cold hand wash. The quality of the shirt will last longer.

The maximum size we heat transfer is 350 x 350mm.

Click here to request a quote.

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We are based in Silvertondale in 116 Mosaic Street and have over 15 years experience of t-shirt screen printing and embroidery onto t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts or just about any other garment or promotional item.