How to Make Custom All-Over-Print Shirts: A 8-Step Guide

February 14, 2025 Team Nerds Digital

If you are in search of Occasional Printing in Las Vegas, this article will give you 8 simple steps to create custom shirts with all-over prints. These shirts can help pursue infinite creativity and customization, serving personal use, business branding, or event themes.

All-Over Printing

All-over printing or AOP refers to a process that prints on all visible areas of the garment-a design from one edge to the other David Evans, in his larger format designs in his book on textile printing processes. In contrast to screen printing, AOP provides detailed patterns and rich colors without placement restrictions.

Why Choose Occasional Printing for Custom Shirts?

Occasional Printing services have the advantage of bespoke limited-edition designs, one-time-event shirts, and seasonal shirts without necessitating bulk production runs. This is great for companies, event planners, and individuals looking to offer one-off, vivid, high-quality shirts for special occasions.

Let me introduce you to an 8-step process for designing a custom all-over-print shirt!

Step 1: Choose the Right Printing Method

There are some methods that can be used for Occasional Printing all-over-print shirts:

Sublimation Printing: Ideal for polyester fabrics; offers colorful and long-lasting prints.

Screen Printing: Suited to simple, large-scale design; not effective for full coverage.

Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing: Better suited to cotton fabrics; no mine to edge printing.
Heat Transfer Printing: Affordable method for small batches; colors may fade fairly quickly.

For high-quality results in Occasional Printing in Las Vegas, sublimation printing is the perfect process to use given its quality, full-coverage prints.

Step 2: Choose the Right Fabric

The fabric choice plays a significant role in creating high-quality prints. The ideal fabrics are:

Polyester: The best material for sublimation printing as it can hold vibrant colors.
Poly-Cotton Blends: Offers a softer feel but still compatible with certain printing techniques.
100% Cotton: Best for DTG printing but not sublimation.

For occasional use, polyester is the best material to use, offering durability and vibrant prints.

Step 3: Design Your Artwork

Designing an all-over-print shirt needs precision:

Gives an idea to print on high-quality images or graphics or logos with a minimum DPI of 300.
Carry the design over the edges to prevent white space.
Use color contrast properly for a dramatic visual effect.
Use vector graphics for crispness when printed.
Software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or online design software can assist you to make great designs for Occasional Printing purposes.

Step 4-Preparation of Your Artwork for Printing

Once you are done designing your image, please follow these steps for preparation:

Convert your design into a CMYK color mode for accurate color reproduction.
Adjust the print file size to the shirt's dimensions.
Add a bleed margin for full-edge coverage.
Save the file in PNG or TIFF format for maximum quality.

Step 5: Print the Design on Transfer Paper

For Occasional Printing in Las Vegas, most professional print shops utilize sublimation printers to print designs on special heat-resistant paper. The process includes:

Printing the design in mirror image mode for correct positioning on the fabric.
Using heat-resistant ink to avoid smudging or fading.
Correct positioning before proceeding to the heat press process.

Step 6: Transfer the Design onto the Shirt

The heat press process is important in transferring your design onto the fabric. The process includes:

Printing the design in mirror image mode to ensure correct positioning on the fabric.
Using heat-resistant ink to avoid smudging or fading.
Correct positioning before proceeding to the heat press process.
Preheat the heat press to 350-400°F (175-200°C).
Place printed transfer paper on the t-shirt with the design side
Even pressure with the heat press for 45-60 seconds.
Carefully peeling off the transfer paper to reveal the final print.

For Occasional Printing, this process produces long-lasting, high-quality prints that will neither crack nor fade.

Step 7: Quality Check and Finishing Touches

Inspect each shirt after printing is completed for quality.
Check the consistency of colors, proper alignment.
Ensure that no creases and printing errors occur.
Trim extra material, heat press, and finalize it to be strong enough.
Wash the shirts, if required, before delivering the order to get rid of the residue left from the print process.

Step 8: Packaging and Delivery

The final step in Occasional Printing is packaging and delivering your custom shirts. For a professional touch:

Fold the shirts neatly and pack them in branded packaging.
Use eco-friendly wrapping for sustainability.
Include a care instruction card to help customers maintain the print quality.
If offering Occasional Printing in Las Vegas, ensure timely delivery or pickup options for convenience.

Advanced Techniques for All-Over Printing

To further enhance your printing results, consider advanced techniques such as:

Gradient Effects: Creating smooth color transitions using gradient fills.
Texture Overlays: Depth and reality can be added to your designs by using texture layers.
Multi-Layer Printing: Printing multiple printing methods for the creation of effects.
Reflective and Glow-in-the-Dark Prints: Increase visibility and create special effects
Costs Associated with Occasional Printing in Las Vegas
The costs for Occasional Printing in Las Vegas will vary based on the following factors:
Fabric Type: Polyester is economical, whereas other blends might cost more.
Printing Method: Sublimation is cheaper for all-over prints than screen printing.
Order Volume: Bulk orders are cheaper while single prints can be expensive.
Customization Level: Unique designs and special effects are costly.
Marketing Your Custom Printed Shirts.

If you are using Occasional Printing for business, here are marketing strategies you should consider:

Pop-Up Shops: Design temporary storefronts for creating your own unique clothing.
Limited-Edition Runs: Build exclusivity with time-sensitive designs.

Conclusion

Making custom all-over-print shirts is a fun and creative process that will result in producing quality apparel for personal use or for use at promotional events, limited-edition collections, or any other reason. Occasional Printing in Las Vegas offers an easy and flexible means to materialize your prints.

By following this 8-step guide, you can successfully create stunning custom shirts that stand out. If you're looking for professional Occasional Printing services, consider partnering with a reliable printing provider to ensure top-notch results. If you're in need of expert Occasional Printing in Las Vegas, contact a trusted print shop today to get started on your custom all-over-print shirts!