T-Shirts: 50/50 Or 100% Cotton?
Your two main choices of textile in screen printing are 50/50 cotton/polyester blend and 100% cotton. Which type you would choose depends on the particular needs for the job and your own aesthetic preference.
100% cotton t-shirts, such as Hanes Beefy T and Fruit of the Loom Lofteez, are a denser fabric and have a heavier feel. Ringspun 100% cotton t-shirts have a soft, almost fuzzy, feel. However that same texture can show through on an image, giving it a worn look. After washing, the fibers can break through the ink film, causing the image to look dull.
An area where 100% cotton shirts, non-ringspun, work well is 4-color process printing. A higher weight shirt (6 oz. or higher) provides a denser, tighter surface to hold the small, fine dots and continuous ink layer of a detailed 4-color process image.
50/50 cotton/poly blend shirts, such as Fruit of the Loom Best and Jerzees Heavyweight 50/50, have the advantage in pricing and durability. They also have less shrinkage than 100% cotton, although new processes have made shrinkage much less of a problem for 100% cotton than it used to be. Shirts that are going to worn and washed often will last longer when printed on 50/50 textiles. 50/50 shirts also have a lighter feel that some people prefer.
In the final analysis, the main consideration in choosing between 50/50 and 100% cotton, other than some technical considerations regarding printing, will be your own personal preference in the weight and feel of the material. For a heavier, more luxurious feel go with 100% cotton. For a lighter feel and a more durable shirt, choose 50/50 blend.
About the Author
Mandar is a graphic artist and man-about-town with Expertshirt.com. Design your own custom tshirt online at http://www.expertshirt.com