So your cat is just the cutest and the smartest thing
on the block right? We all think our cat should be on the Funniest
Animal Videos show. But alas... not everyone's cat can be on
television. But maybe you've got some great photographs of your feline
friend doing his or her kitty thing and you'd like to put them on a
t-shirt so everyone else can appreciate how cute your cat is. A few
years ago your options would have been pretty limited. You could take
your photos to your local silk screening company, where after set up
fees, screen charges, and minimum print requirements, you might end up
spending a couple of hundred dollars and have a box full of a few dozen
shirts with your cat's picture on them. Sure...you could give one to
each of your friends as gifts, but do they all think your cat is as
cute as you do?
Another option would be to go the iron-on route.
This involved uploading your picture to your computer, printing it out
on special t-shirt heat transfer paper, and then ironing it onto a
shirt. The results left much to be desired. Starting with several
attempts to get the photo to print correctly on the special paper,
remembering to print it in reverse so when you ironed it on, it would
come out right. Then several tries at getting the pressure and
temperature right in the ironing process, usually ruining a couple of
shirts in the process. Only to discover that the first time you wash
your shirt, the beautiful photo of your kitty has faded, cracked and
started to peel!
Well thanks to digital printing technology there
is a better way. Print On Demand companies, or "PODs" like Cafepress
offer the ability to easily and inexpensively print your photos on
t-shirts.
So how do you get your picture onto a t-shirt using Print-On-Demand?
- Open a free account at a POD.
- Start
with a high resolution (200 dpi or more) photo, drawing or cartoon and
size it accordingly for the item you will have it printed on. Most PODs
will offer easy sizing templates to use so your image will fit just
right on whatever item you choose.
- Upload your image to your account. You will be given a Media Basket area to store your photos.
- Pick which items your want your photo on. You will be offered choices of apparel size, color, printing on front or back etc.
- Place your order, and voila! your beautiful creation will arrive at your door in about a week. No fuss, no muss.
What
about quality? POD technology has come a long way. T-shirts are placed
directly into a special printer which, using permanent fabric ink,
prints your image directly onto your shirt. Shirts can be washed, dried
and ironed along with all your other clothes and will last as long as
the cloth they're printed on. So dig out those photos of your favorite
feline friend and get going. Because we all know that no cat is as cute
as yours!
Kimberly
Lunning is an artist, photographer, and owner/creator of Tuff Kitty
Designs. If you love cats and the funny things they do, please visit
our online gift store. Tuff Kitty Designs: Funny and irreverent gifts
& t-shirts for cat lovers. http://www.tuffkitty.com