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GREAT T-SHIRTS 101: USING PHOTOGRAPHS IN YOUR T-SHIRT DESIGN
APR 2001

The screen printing experts at Dux D'Lux have a few simple tips that can make it easier to get a great t-shirt for your company or organization. In our previous lessons, we've discussed the information you need in order to get an accurate screen printing quote, and tips on choosing a t-shirt color. But, usually the most important factor to our clients is the t-shirt design! We are often asked the question: "Can we put a photograph on our t-shirt?" This lesson we share some considerations on how to do it successfully.

USING PHOTOGRAPHS IN YOUR T-SHIRT DESIGN:
Yes, you can print a photograph on your t-shirt. However, getting the photograph to come out right can be a little tricky. Screen printed t-shirts are printed literally by pushing ink through fine meshed silk. This process can not achieve the level of detail that you see on a computer screen or in a book or magazine. Here are a few things to take into consideration when you want to include a photograph in your design.

Black & White Photographs
-- All printed photographs will have a visible dot pattern used to achieve the shaded areas.
-- Photos can be printed in any single color.
-- They will lose many of their mid-tone shaded areas when printed.
-- Lighter areas will lose their ink coverage.
-- Darker areas will close up to 100% ink coverage.
-- We can drop color areas behind the photo layer to achieve a multi-color look.
-- On darker shirt colors, we can underprint the entire photograph with a layer of white.

Color Photographs
-- We can only achieve a full color look by using PROCESS inks.
-- Process inks are transparent and can only maintain their color on white t-shirts.
-- Four-color process printing is achieved using four "primary" colors printed as dot patterns to achieve a full color spectrum.
-- Color accuracy is difficult to achieve in photos that contain lots of neutrals, such as brown, gray and olive tones.
-- Because all of the t-shirts at Dux D'Lux are HAND PRINTED, there are sometimes color variations in 4-color process t-shirts.
-- Vibrant colors reproduce the best in 4-color process printing.
-- Process inks can also be used to reproduce a drawing, painting, etc on t-shirts.

As you may have guessed, there aren't many hard and fast rules when it comes to getting a quality t-shirt using a photograph. We often make recommendations on whether a photo can be printed, and how it might need to be retouched on a shirt by shirt basis. If you are thinking about using a photograph in your next t-shirt design, let the experts at Dux D'Lux advise you on how to make it a great-looking shirt!