Making Our Vintage Shirts
With over 100 designs in our vintage shirt collection, and more being added all the time, I thought I would show you exactly what goes in to making these custom shirts.As you may already know, our vintage shirts are not screen-printed like our regular shirts. Instead, they are printed using a process called Direct-To-Garment (or DTG). Rather than ink passing through a screen onto the shirt, the ink is applied directly to the shirt using a machine much like a large format inkjet printer. While this method of printing has been around awhile, it has only been in use for white or lighter colored garments. In recent years, the technology has improved, and machines have finally started being developed that could print on darker or black garments.
The reason it is so hard to print on dark or black shirts is because the dark colors would dull the ink, causing it to look faded or washed out. Have you ever tried drawing on black paper? Doesn’t work, does it? The same principle applies here. What was developed was a method that involved a pre-treatment layer, white ink layer, then colored layer. So, for darker garments, a pre-treatment solution is first sprayed onto the face of the garment, which will allows the ink to adhere to the cotton fibers but not sink into them. Then, a white layer of ink, or underbase, is applied to allow a clean and bright basis for the colored inks. And, finally, the colored areas of the design are printed. Once the shirt is heat set in a garment dryer, the design is permanently adhered to the fabric, and is as durable as any screenprinted t-shirt. To see how the process works, click the video below to watch a shirt printed in real time!
I researched this technology for over 2 years before I found the perfect company to work with that had the best machine on the market. We now work closely together on each new batch of vintage shirts, to ensure that every image is optimally processed for the best results. Each week I send them a new batch of orders along with blank garments, and the experts there print my order and send them back to our office where we ship them to you. That;s why it takes longer to ship and deliver these types of shirts…but I assure you the wait is worth it.
So that’s how our vintage shirts are printed. And since they are each custom printed one at a time, we are able to offer them in a wide variety of styles, colors, and sizes for every design. You can also get them with a “clean” look, or completely “distressed” to add to that vintage look and feel. We’ve even added a “custom shirt designer” to every vintage shirt product page that allows you to see what your shirt will look like before you order! Make sure to post your thoughts and comments below and then click here to check out our huge selection of vintage shirts!
A special thanks to Contract DTG for helping to make this video possible.
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Awesome! Does the faint black coloring around the design visible once dried? Also, why not buy this machine yourself, Seems easy enough to use?
excellent demo!
and to the tune of Son of a Gun (Nirvana covering the Vaselines) even!
cant wait to peep the new designs, the vintage shirts are why i keep coming back to Fright Rags
I love these behind the scenes things. Great stuff!
Now I have to decide what custom shirt I want…
I am really looking forward to seeing what new vintage designs you have to offer Ben
I love the Vintage stuff
thanks for including us your customers in the process
Now that is goddamn cool! I really enjoy all of these videos and blogs seeing how the shirts and designs are made.
You guys sure aren’t the ‘typical’ shirt store, more people need to care about, and involve their customers like you do. Thanks for sharing!!
@ MAX – As much as I’d love to own one, they are ridiculously expensive ($200K+) and take up more room than I really have available. Plus, it really takes someone to work it full time to keep it up and running smoothly. I don’t know anyone around here that could do it. So I figured I’d leave it up to the professionals to do what they do best!
Fantastic video showing vintage shirt production
Ben,
Thanks for sharing that info. I’ve been a t-shirt designer now for about two years and am always on the lookout to learn new things. Amazing shirts!
Thanks for this great demo!
Thanks for sharing the process with us. You are the best t-shirt guy on the net, hands down!
That was cool to see! Thanks for showing the process on how the shirts are made. Can’t wait to see the new vintage designs!
Awsome video! It is always nice to see how things are made, The fact that you care about the quality of your shirts says alot!
Popcorn & Killer Party! I am about to experience my first Vintage Shirts and I couldn’t be more excited! Everyone should want a Popcorn shirt…everyone!
A fun video, one that I’ll think about when admiring my beloved vintage shirts. I was disappointed with the new batch of vintages, though. Too many 80s movies, too many slashers, too many movies that sound the same. But I guess most people are fans of all that. I like my classic horror far more “classic”.
Really love the new technology! I used to do old-school screen printing and this is very cool!
Please keep the behind-the-scenes stuff coming.
That’s so cool Ben. And I agree. The wait is worth it. My Night of the Demon shirt by you is my favorite T shirt of all time now. Thanks for sharing the process with us.
Very cool! I have always wantedd to learn how to silk screen. I have been tie-dyeing for about 20 years and combining the two can make an excellant shirt! Keep up the great work!
WOW! T-shirt technology has sure come a long way since I was pushing a squeegee and cutting seps by hand. GREAT VIDEO! THANKS!
Good video. I think it’s cool they way the colours don’t run together when applied.
Awesome technique. I am really glad that you take the time to inform your clients about the process of the shirts. It was really informative and entertaining. Thank you for that…You guys totally rock!
awesom critters shirt, now raw head rex, lol!, great job ben
Thats alot of ink…so worth the money
nice job guys
Wow the kool things we have these days to make art, like to have one of those myself.
Awesome demo made even cooler with the addition of Nirvana.
My wife’s name is Evelyn, so I’m kicking around the idea of getting your “Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave” shirt. Heh, heh (something tells me I’ll be the only one laughing).