vTote bags are a versatile fashion item that can come in handy over a multitude of occasions. All Polyprint’s TexJet dtg printers offer you the possibility to print your desired designs on tote bags, due to the wide range of snap on platens that are equipped with.
The printing procedure on tote bags can occur with two alternative options:
The first one is utilizing the tote’s fabric beforehand sewing. This allows you freedom of movement, as you can adjust the fabric easily and print according to your needs. For example, you can print on the garment, cure it and then stitch it in a way that the print is on both sides or even at the sewed areas.
The second one is “wearing” the tote bag in the printer’s platen. With this way, you can print only in the surface available, meaning that if you want to print on both sides of the bag, you should print on the one side first, cure it and then repeat the process on the other side.
In order to print on tote bag fabric successfully, follow the detailed steps below:
Mount the suitable platen on the printer, in accordance with the dimensions of the fabric and the design that you want to print.
Tip: A useful option when printing tote bags is the snap-on platen with dimensions of 27x32cm (10.6x12.6in).
Prepare the platen’s surface with fabric glue, if necessary. By doing this, the tote’s fabric sticks to the surface and the chance of moving during printing is eliminated.
Place the fabric on the platen or wear it in case the bag is already sewed. Make adjustments by pressing the fabric on the platen in order to keep the surface flattened.
Select the design you want with the RIP software. Make sure that you choose the suitable template for your selected platen size.
Basic printing process with Digital Factory Apparel Polyprint Edition v10
Start printing and enjoy the process! Any design can easily be reproduced on tote bags and make them stand out.
When the printing is finished, remove the fabric or the bag from the platen.
Proceed to cure the print using a heat press or an oven dryer.
Tip: The material often used for tote bags is canvas, due to its durability and eco-friendliness. This material is sensitive to heat and sometimes after fixation can appear yellowish. It is recommended to lower the temperature and time during the curing of these materials.
When it comes to making custom-printed bags for your business, it is important that you make the right decision in regards to the printing technique used for your artwork or logo.
Each method of printing offers different benefits, and drawbacks, and many are only suitable on certain types of materials so you may be limited in your choice depending on the type of bag that you are creating.
Before you get started, you should familiarise yourself with all of the options available so that you can make the right decision for your business.
We offer a professional design and printing service using any of the below techniques. You can learn more about it and get a quote here
Screen printing (or silkscreen printing) is a popular, traditional printing technique.
The process involves transferring a stencilled design onto a flat surface using a mesh screen, ink and a squeegee. It's ideal when printing on textiles and is the go-to printing technique for bags and clothing.
We would recommend screen printing for:
This method is a specific type of screen printing based on the combination of the 4 basic inks cyan, magenta, yellow and black. With CMYK printing, a full-colour print that enables exact Pantone colour matches can be achieved by using these four screens.
This is a slightly more expensive method of printing but it can be essential when a design requires specific colours.
We would recommend CMYK printing for:
Digital printing is the most modern and cost-effective method. A digital-based image (PDF) is sent to the printer and a laser or inkjet is used to apply that image to a surface.
It's simple, fast and works really well on bags, kitchen textiles and clothing.
We would recommend digital printing for:
One of the most commonly used print methods for fabrics is rotary printing which is a type of screen printing.
Ink is pressed through mesh on a cylindrical screen onto fabric. It works on many different types of materials and is ideal for bags, clothing and kitchen textiles.
We would recommend rotary printing for:
Though it may be considered an old-school method, transfer printing is still a great option.
It uses a heat press to apply a design from paper onto another surface. There are endless possibilities when using this technique as there are no restrictions when it comes small, intricate details.
We would recommend transfer printing for:
Embroidery is a well-known branding (not so much printing) technique that uses a needle and thread to stitch the artwork or pattern into a fabric giving it a more luxurious look.
Though it can be more time-consuming and costly than other methods, it adds a lot more value to the product itself so can be worth the investment.
We would recommend embroidery for:
Litho printing (lithography) is a trusted classic where the artwork is etched onto an aluminium plate using a laser. This plate is covered in wet ink and then put onto the printing press which is made up of lots of rollers that the material goes through.
We would recommend litho printing for:
Tonal printing is a more subtle technique that is used to create a worn look. It uses water-based ink to create a hue that is lighter or darker than the fabric being printed on that makes it look aged. It's ideal when you want to achieve a very specific vintage feel on your textiles.
We would recommend tonal printing for:
Foil printing adds a premium look to any product. It uses a pre-glued metallic foil and a heated die to press the design into the surface of the material. It works well for single colour artwork and can be used on a variety of materials but looks great on bags, notebooks and clothing.
We would recommend foil printing for:
Glitter printing is a type of transfer printing that uses the glittering granules visible after print as part of the design. It's a great way to make a statement and can be used on virtually any material but it isn't the most durable printing method.
We would recommend glitter printing for:
If you would like to explore any of these printing methods for your sustainable, custom bags by using our professional bespoke and branding service, then click here to get started.