T-Shirt Printing Granite City, IL
T-Shirt Printing Granite City, IL. Custom printed t-shirts are festive, versatile, and effective and can be used for nearly any occasion. Granite City, IL t-shirt printing is meant for everything from marketing a brand to enhancing team-building efforts to having some fun with a life event. The sky is the limit for t-shirt printing abilities and uses. Make sure to choose your t-shirt printing shop carefully – one with expert printers and designers who serve the Granite City, IL area. You know that with STL Shirt Co., you are receiving great care from the top professionals.
STL Shirt Co. is the leading screen printing shop serving the Granite City, IL area. For more than 45 years, we have been the community leader for all your screen printing and embroidery needs. You will always experience the best Granite City, IL t-shirt printing experience at STL Shirt Co. To begin your order or ask us questions about our services, 636-926-2777 or send a text at 636-299-0162 now.
The T-Shirt Printing Process
STEP ONE – Make your order.
You know you want to have some t-shirt printing done for some upcoming occassion, school group, athletic team, or some other use. You contact your shop to place the order and the Granite City, IL t-shirt printing process is set into motion. When you place your shirt order, you will have to decide on the:
- Brand, cut, style, material, and color of the shirts
- Ink type and color(s)
- The design you want printed
If this already feels overwhelming, don’t fret! STL Shirt Co. will offer advice and help through the entire t-shirt printing process. Our expert screen printing artists and designers are at your disposal. For assistance in creating the perfect logo or design work with our professional design team. If you want to know which shirt or colors will work best for your needs, we can help with that too.
STEP TWO – We make the screen
Once you determine your design, we get to work on making the screen that will be used to get your design printed on your shirts. First, we print the design on a transparent sheet of film. Based on your desired end results, our t-shirt printing team will select the best mesh screen for your order. The screen is coated with a photo-sensitive substance called emulsion. That film we printed your design on is placed on the screen and the screen is exposed to light. The design on the film blocks the light from reaching the coated screen in the shape of your design, and the rest of the emulsion hardens in the light. This is how we create the stencil.
If your design involves multiple ink colors, we repeat the process above, making a screen for each color in the design.
STEP THREE – We print.
Then, it is time to add the ink. Screen printing such as t-shirt printing usually uses a special ink called plastisol. You might have noticed that the prints on shirts are slightly textured, a little rubbery, but still smooth and flexible. What you are feeling is the plastisol ink. It is great due to its ability to withstand p washes, move with the flexibility of the fabric, and display vibrantly on any color t-shirt.
Next, we mount the prepared screens to a printing press, and each shirt is placed on a plate below. Our t-shirt printing artists take great care to line everything up exactly so to make sure the design is printed in the right position on your t-shirt. We apply ink onto the screen and use a squeegee from end to end of the screen to smooth and press the ink onto the shirt. This process is repeated for every single t-shirt in your order. For designs with more than one color, we repeat it for each color on every shirt. It takes skill to get the ink precisely so it shows up nicely and retains the sharp lines from your original design. Lucky for you, our t-shirt printing team has mad skills.
STEP FOUR – The ink cures.
You can now see the design on your shirts! We aren’t quite done, though. After the ink is applied, the ink has to cure. This means we have to turn the liquid ink into a solid so it becomes permanent on your t-shirts. In order to do this we have to apply heat to the ink. Ink curing is a science, and it’s possible to damage the shirt or the print when you don’t use the correct temperature or amount of time. You can rest assured that we have the curing process figured out, so you know your prints will come out great.
STEP FIVE – You get your shirts!
Once the ink is cured, it means that your t-shirts are officially printed! We fold them up nicely and hand the finished product off to you. We can have your shirts or other items printed and packaged within just a few days. Ask us about having your order shipped to you. And if you are in a jam and need your t-shirts ready in a week or less, use our rush printing services.
T-Shirt Printing Orders
If you ask us, there is no debating the magic and possibility of the art of Granite City, IL t-shirt printing promises. We are passionate about screen printing and aren’t ashamed to admit it. Now that you’ve heard all about the t-shirt printing journey, you are likely ready to place an order. If you don’t have an immediate need for t-shirt printing, keep in mind some of the opportunities and occasions for which t-shirt printing is perfect.
We do Granite City, IL t-shirt printing for…
- Sports teams
- Team fans
- School groups and organizations
- Fundraising
- Volunteers
- Bachelor & bachelorette parties
- Corporate events
- Class reunions
- Family vacations
- Company picnics
- Birthdays
- Clubs
- Swag for businesses and organizations
- Work uniforms
- Union events and organizations
The list goes on! There are endless occasions that are perfect for t-shirt printing and other garment screen printing. You name it, we have probably printed for it. Whatever the reason you need Granite City, IL t-shirt printing services, we are here for you.
Choosing a Partner for Granite City, IL T-Shirt Printing
Screen printing custom t-shirts are fun, effective, and personalized. However, not all t-shirt printing is equal. With printed garments or any screen printed products, there is a huge difference between the work of a top printing shop and a school group applying iron-on’s in the basement. We cheer on aspiring printers and certainly don’t have anything against printing out of the basement (countless great screen printing shops have started out this way!). Still, you will see a obvious disparity in the quality, customer service, and abilities you have access to when you work with an established and skilled t-shirt printing company for the Granite City, IL area like STL Shirt Co.
The cherry on top of it all is that we are a union screen printing shop. Having your Granite City, IL t-shirt printing done by a union shop gives you access to workers who have trained thoroughly and have demonstrated their skill in what they do. Not only that, but shopping at a union shop for t-shirt printing or anything else allows you to support fair labor conditions and participate in the local and US economy. For your next Granite City, IL t-shirt printing order, consider choosing a union print shop.
Screen Printing Services
Embroidery
Basic Polo
With Embroidery
STL Shirt Co.: A Top T-Shirt Printing Company for Granite City, IL
At STL Shirt Co., we love t-shirt printing. You may think us a bit biased, but the fact is that screen printing on t-shirts, hoodies, and other items is a reliable and effective method for creating quality custom apparel for your next event. Whether you have been put in charge of organizing a large volunteer event or a group or organization you are a part of needs new swag, STL Shirt Co.’s t-shirt printing services are ready to help. You deserve and expect top quality and great customer service when you order t-shirts. With STL Shirt Co., that is what you get.
STL Shirt Co. has been performing quality t-shirt printing and other screen printing services for people in the Granite City, IL area and beyond for nearly half a centry years. With a staff of union-member screen printing specialists, a fast turnaround time, and professional design services, our t-shirt printing services are the best around. Whenever you need t-shirt printing in Granite City, IL, we are here for you. Reach us today at 636-926-2777, text us at 636-299-0162, or request a quote online to place your t-shirt printing order today.