Editing T-shirt (section)

===Screen printing===
[[File:0 Venise, Dame portant un tee-shirt à motif architectural.JPG|thumb|A woman wearing a T-shirt with an architectural motif]]

The most common form of commercial T-shirt decoration is [[screen printing]], in which a design is separated into individual colors. [[Plastisol]] or water-based [[ink]]s are applied to the shirt through mesh screens partially coated with an emulsion, which limits the areas where ink is deposited. In most commercial T-shirt printing, a limited number of [[spot color]]s (typically one to four) are used to print the design. To achieve a wider color spectrum with a limited number of colors, process printing (using only [[CMYK|cyan, magenta, yellow and black]] ink) or the simulated process (using only white, black, red, green, blue, and gold ink) is effective. Process printing is best suited for light-colored shirts<ref>{{cite web|title=CMYK Printing|url=http://www.impressionzprinting.com/services/color-printing/|publisher=ImpressionzPrinting.com|author=Steve Rhodes|quote=CMYK is a widely used technique to replicate full-color images on light colored backgrounds. The full-color process originated to accurately reproduce artwork on white paper.}}</ref> while the simulated process is best suited for dark-colored shirts.

The invention of [[plastisol]] in 1959 provided a more durable and stretchable ink than water-based inks, allowing much greater variety in T-shirt designs. Very few companies continue to use water-based inks on their shirts; the majority prefer plastisol because it allows printing on varying colors without the need for color adjustment at the art level.

Specialty inks trend in and out of fashion and include [[Screen printing#Garment printing inks|shimmer]], [[Screen printing#Garment printing inks|puff]], [[Screen printing#Garment printing inks|discharge]], and chino-based<ref>{{cite web|title=Subject: Re: chino ink??|url=http://forums.screenprinters.net/viewthread/2/405410|publisher=ScreenPrinters.Net|access-date=13 January 2018|first=Lance|last=Huston|quote=Chino is a special Rutland INK BASE mixing system.… While on the surface it looks similar to a reduced base, it does have a unique print quality to it that offers a waterbase feel, without the hassles of waterbase inks.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923025320/http://forums.screenprinters.net/viewthread/2/405410|archive-date=23 September 2013}}</ref> inks. A metallic foil can be heat pressed and stamped onto any plastisol ink. When combined with shimmer ink, metallics give a mirror-like effect wherever the previously screened plastisol ink was applied. Specialty inks are more expensive to purchase and screen, and tend to appear on boutique garments.

Other methods of T-shirt decoration [[airbrush|airbrushing]], [[appliqué]], [[embroidery]], impressing or embossing, and the [[ironing]] on of either [[Flocking (texture)|flock]] lettering, [[Iron-on#Iron-on transfers|heat transfers]], or [[dye-sublimation]] transfers. [[Laser printing|Laser printers]], using special [[toner (printing)|toners]] containing [[Dye-sublimation printing|sublimation dyes]], can print designs on plain paper which can then be permanently heat-transferred to T-shirts.

In the 1980s, [[thermochromatic]] dyes were used to produce T-shirts that changed color when subjected to heat; [[Hypercolor|Global Hypercolour]] was one of the most popular youth brands to do so in the US and UK. One downside of color-change garments is that the dyes are easily damaged by [[laundry|washing]] in warm water, and can also stain other clothes during washing.