In today’s Digital world, printing photos on T-shirts has become incredibly popular for expressing creativity for small orders, offering unique gifts, and promoting brands and events.
Whether you want to create promotional products or sell for events, photo-printed t-shirts make it easier to turn your photos into printed t-shirts.
In this blog guide, we share easy steps to personalize t-shirt photo printing, Design tips, pricing details, and benefits for customizing photos for events, promotions, or running small orders.
Understanding Types Of T-shirt Printing Methods
Several methods are available for custom t-shirt printing, each offering unique advantages. Understanding these methods can help you choose the best one for your needs.
👉Screen Printing
It is a printing method that makes designs on a surface using a stencil called a screen. In this method, ink is placed on the screen, and a tool called a squeegee is used to press the ink through the open areas of the screen, and the design is printed.
Pros:
- It offers vibrant colors, Durability, and versatility.
- It is cost-effective for bulk quantity printing.
- It can print on polyester, plastic, glass, and ceramic.
Cons:
- It can be time-consuming for complex designs that require new stencils and screens for each colour.
- It’s not suitable for intricate designs and gradient colors.
- It’s not ideal for small-run orders.
- It needs high-volume orders with a minimum quantity of 50-100.
👉Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing
Direct-to-Garment printing(DTG) is a digital printing technique that involves printing the design directly onto the fabric using specialized inkjet printers. The printer sprays the ink onto the garment, creating the desired design.
DTG printing allows for intricate designs and detailed artwork with a wide range of colours. It can accurately reproduce gradients, shading, and intricate details like photographs.
Pros
- Delivers vibrant, detailed prints with smooth gradients, perfect for various textile applications.
- Requires minimal setup, making small batch orders or single-item production cost-effective.
- It uses water-based inks and is energy-efficient, making it a sustainable option.
- DTG printing is relatively fast, enabling quick turnaround times for orders, making it suitable for on-demand and time-sensitive projects. For example, Small orders take approximately 3-5 days to complete in DTG printing.
Cons
- Dark printed clothes may crack over time due to the need for a white background, where white ink is used, which can form colloidal objects.
- DTG printing is limited to relatively flat products and may not work well on uneven surfaces.
- Relatively expensive.
👉Embroidery
Embroidery is a decorative technique that involves stitching a design onto fabric using thread or yarn. It can be done by hand or machine, and it adds both texture and visual interest to fabrics.
Pros:
- Embroidered designs are generally more durable.
- Embroidery works well on a variety of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and denim.
- Unlike screen printing, which can have high setup costs, embroidery can be more economical for small quantities, especially if using an existing design.
Cons:
- Complex designs or large areas of coverage can make embroidery more expensive.
- There are fewer thread color options compared to the range of ink colors available for screen printing.
- Embroidery can be more time-consuming compared to other methods.
👉DTF Printing
Direct-to-Film printing(DTF), is a method for printing on textiles. It involves printing a design onto a special PET(Polyethylene Terephthalate) film, then transferring it to fabric or garment using a heat press. This process creates durable prints with vibrant colours.
Pros
- DTF printing offers excellent print quality, providing a smoother finish compared to vinyl printing, Also, DTF prints are fade and peel-proof.
- It is cheaper than DTG printing while offering similar functionality. However, the print look and feel play a significant role in the cost-effectiveness.
- There are no limitations on design colours in DTF printing, enabling printing from single-colour to multi-colour designs with vibrant colours, shades, and patterns.
- DTF is compatible with various fabrics like cotton, polyester, silk, and linen, offering scalability for online sellers without fabric limitations.
- DTF is print-on-demand friendly, allowing printing on garments as per demand, reducing the need for inventory storage, and partially contributing to eco-friendliness.
Cons
- The printing process is simple, but the print feel is heavy and textured. Because of the fixing powder, it has a plastic, glossy, and less blended feel.
- It won’t be your ideal print technique if you wish to sell a premium quality product and provide your customers with a soft, blended, and comfortable feel.
- It is simply not as smooth and light as DTG printing.
Why Personalized T-shirt Photo Printing Are Perfect for Events, Promotions, and Small Orders
Personalized photo-printed T-shirts have gained immense popularity in India. Whether planning a business promotion, a family reunion, or a special event like a birthday or wedding, custom photo T-shirts allow you to print your favourite images on t-shirts.
Platforms like QiKink simplify the process and enable customers to upload their custom photo designs.
Here, we share why personalized photo-printed T-shirts are an excellent occasion option.
1. Perfect for Special Events: Birthdays, Weddings, and Family Reunions
Personalized photo T-shirts add a unique, customised touch to events that people will remember long after the event is over. Printing a group photo from these occasions creates lasting memories for birthdays, weddings, and family gatherings.
2. Perfect for Business Promotions
Businesses can use photo T-shirts as part of their promotional campaigns. A logo or product photo printed on a T-shirt is an effective way to advertise at trade shows or giveaways at corporate events.
When people wear these shirts, they are essentially walking advertisements, spreading brand awareness in an approachable way.
3. Affordable For Small Orders
Advanced printing techniques allow you to print a single photo T-shirt or a small batch without committing big investments.
Qikink platform prints your orders without minimum order requirements, which makes it easy to order just one T-shirt with a personalized photo, giving you a high-quality product at an affordable price.
Even small businesses can take advantage of personalized photo-printed T-shirts for brand promotion.
Whether starting a new venture or conducting a small local event, custom T-shirts with your company’s promotional image can serve as marketing tools and giveaways.
Advantages of Online Photo to T-Shirt Printing
Ordering custom T-shirts online offers many advantages for businesses and end customers. Online photo T-shirt printing is a fantastic option for creating personalized clothing.
1. Order from Anywhere, Anytime
One of the biggest benefits of online custom T-shirt printing is that you can design and order your T-shirt from the comfort of your own home at any time.
2. Easy-to-Use Design Software
Most online t-shirt platforms like Qikink offer user-friendly mockups on their dashboard to upload photos directly from your device.
3. Affordable for Small Quantities
There are no setup fees; you can easily order just one T-shirt or a small batch without high cost. This primarily benefits personal gifts, family events, or small business promotional items.
4. Advanced Printing Methods
Online photo printing services typically use Direct-to-Garment (DTG) or Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing methods, which allow for high-resolution, vibrant, and durable prints. These modern techniques produce full-color designs, including intricate details and gradients, without compromising on quality.
5. Wide Range of Customization Options
When you print a T-shirt online, you have endless design options. You can choose from different styles, colours, and sizes to ensure the final product fits your vision. Plus, you can customize the front and back of the T-shirt, or even the sleeves, to add more personal touches.
6. No Minimum Order Requirements
Online photo T-shirt printing allows you to order as few as one T-shirt. This is perfect for personalized gifts and small promotional campaigns where you don’t need large quantities.
7. Versatile for Various Occasions
It is perfect for a wide range of applications. Whether you need a custom design for a birthday, wedding, business promotion, or family event, you can easily create a T-shirt that fits the occasion.
How To Print Photo On A T-Shirt Online With Qikink
Printing a photo on a T-shirt is a great way to showcase custom designs. Here, we share a step-by-step guide to Printing a photo on a T-shirt online with Qikink Print On Demand services.
Step 1: Choose Your T-shirt: Choose your blank T-shirt for printing. Qikink offers an excellent collection of T-shirts for men’s, women’s, and kids’ clothing. We offer 30+ trending colour options on plain T-shirt collections.
Step 2: Prepare Your Photo: Choose a photo with high resolution (300 DPI). The more transparent and detailed your image is, the better the print quality. Use PNG Or JPEG file format for better output.
Step 3: Choose a Printing Method: Qikink offers excellent printing methods, including DTG, DTF, and Screen Printing. Before you add any design, make sure you trim all the empty/transparent spaces around it; otherwise, it will reflect in your final printed product.
Step 4: Upload Your Photo Design: You can upload your custom design or photo on the dashboard. Click and upload designs.
Once the image is uploaded, you can adjust its placement, size, and orientation directly on the T-shirt preview.
Make sure the photo is centred and fits well within the print area. If you’d like, you can add print text to complement the photo on your T-shirt.
Step 5: Place Your Order: You will need to provide shipping details and payment information and confirm your order. Once your order is placed, Qikink will handle the printing and fulfillment process.
T-shirt Photo Printing Design Tips
Here are some essential tips for designing your T-shirt photo print.
- Use High-Resolution Photos: High-resolution images at least 300 DPI ensure that your photo is sharp, clear, and vibrant when printed.
- Choose Right File Format: Use high-quality file formats such as JPG and PNG for better output, especially if the image has a transparent background.
- Choose the Best T-shirt Color: The colour of the T-shirt impacts how the printed photo will appear. If printing on a dark T-shirt, ensure the photo contrasts nicely with the fabric colour.
- Adjust the Size of the Image: The placement and size of your photo are crucial to the overall look. A photo that’s too large may overpower the T-shirt, while one that’s too small might look lost.
- Consider the Type of Fabric: The choice of T-shirt fabric impacts photo printing quality. Cotton and cotton blend fabrics generally give the best results. Ensure that the T-shirt material is compatible with the printing method used.
Why Choose Qikink for Ordering Personalized Photo Printed T-Shirts?
If you are looking to print custom photo-printed T-shirts for your business, events, personal use, or gifting, Print-on-Demand suppliers can help.
Qikink is India’s number one print-on-demand platform. We offer a variety of customizable Print-on-Demand products, including a wide variety of T-shirt collections.
1. Trending T-shirt Collections
We handle the entire process, from Printing to packing to delivery to the customer’s address.
Qikink offers various trending T-shirt collections for sale online and for personal use. Here are some of our best-selling collections.
2. No Minimum Order:
With Qikink, there is no minimum order requirement, which allows businesses to try different ideas without investing in bulk. You don’t need to make an upfront investment; you only pay for the products when you order.
3. Advanced Printing Method:
Qikink provides the best high-quality DTG and DTF printing services with no MOQ(Minimum Order Quantity), quick turnaround time, eco-friendly practices, and unparalleled quality.
Apart from having the largest Direct to Garment facility in India, Qikink is also equipped with Sublimation, Screen Printing, and Digital Transfer printers to fulfil Print on Demand and bulk orders.
4. E-commerce Integration:
Qikink offers seamless integration services on popular e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce, which can help you quickly start your online store.
5. Efficient Order Fulfilment:
With Qikink, you don’t have to worry about inventory management and shipping. They handle everything from printing to shipping your products under your brand name.
Pricing For Custom Photo Prints
The price of printing a photo on a T-shirt can vary depending on several factors, including the printing method, the type of T-shirt, the complexity of the design, and the printing service you use. Here, we share DTG and DTF printing prices for a photo print on a T-shirt.
Sample Price:
DTG Printing Cost:
Printing Charges | Pricing Rs. | Minimum | GST |
DTG Printing: Color Garment | ₹0.75 / Sq.Inch | ₹100 | 5% |
DTG Printing: White Garment | ₹0.5 / Sq.Inch | ₹50 | 5% |
DTF Printing Cost:
Printing Charges | Pricing Rs. | Minimum | GST |
DTF Printing | ₹0.75 / Sq.Inch | ₹80 | 5% |
Conclusion: Start Designing Your Custom Photo Printed T-Shirt Today
Designing your own custom photo-printed T-shirt is a creative way to express your unique style.
With Qikink’s Print On Demand service, the possibilities for T-shirt customization are endless.
Whether you’re creating for your own use or business purpose, our easy-to-use tools and a wide variety of T-shirt collections bring your Favorite photo-printed T-shirts to life.
Start designing your custom photo-printed T-shirt today with Qikink.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I customize my photo print t-shirt?
Here we share step by step process for customizing photo print t-shirt
- Choose Your Image
- Pick a Printing Method
- Design your photo
- Select a T-shirt style
- Upload your design on the POD Platform
- Check the final design
- Place your order
- POD partner handles order fulfilment.
How do I create a photo print t-shirt design?
To create a photo-print t-shirt design, select a high-quality photo with high resolution. Use software like Canvas or Photoshop to crop or edit your photo.
Next, choose a printing method like DTG or DTF to print your t-shirts.
Use the Qikink dashboard to place your design order. We will fulfill and ship the t-shirts to your address.
Can I order personalised photo printed t-shirts for special occasions?
Yes, with the Qikink Platform, you can order personalised photo-printed T-shirts for any occasion. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding event, family gathering, or any other celebration, you can customize photo-printed T-shirts.
How much does it cost to put an image on a shirt?
The cost to put an image on a t-shirt typically ranges from Rs. 350 to Rs. 500, including shipping charges, for a simple photo print, depending on the printing method, t-shirt type, and service provider.
Content Writer, Blog Editor at Qikink