Print Quality and FAQ

Hidden Street will always be screenprinted handdrawn art on the highest quality blanks, hence the 40$ + price tags.

Hi everyone, Hidden Street here to explain everyone the differences of printing techniques to differentiate poor quality and high quality tees. 

There are three main methods of printing, DTG / DTF / and Screenprinting.

DTG: a method of printing images and graphics directly onto fabric using inkjet technology (essentially a giant inket printer). Even when properly cured, DTG prints tend to not look that great and end up washing out or fading after 20+ washes. Some good examples of these are UNlQLO anime shirts, or dropshipped anime shirts you see on the tiktok shop.

   <<< DTG printer

DTF: A method of printing that uses a heat-transfer process that involves printing a design onto a special film and then transferring it to a garment using a heat press. Another popular method of printing for major anime tee suppliers such as UNlQLO or Hot Topic; low cost, low quality, high demand. If you feel the print on your tee and it feels like a sticker or is peeling off, that is DTF printed. 

  <<< DTF transfers

Screenprinting (Highest quality and longest lasting prints): A method of printing that uses a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee to transfer a stencilled design onto a surface. The ink can be plastisol based or water based ink. In this niche, plastisol ink is the most popular. Screenprinted tees are more costly but the quality is superior to any other method of print. Those old vintage anime tees you see from the 90's? Wonder why the print is still intact? They were screenprinted.

 <<< Screenprinted Tee

Now, aside from the print quality, you also have the quality of the blanks (garment the design is printed on). Generally you can tell which is a low quality cheap blank like gildan, or a high quality premium feeling blank like LA Apparel. Do your research before purchasing from shops online via tiktok or instagram. Many shirts are dropshipped or printed on demand, which means the seller doesn't even see or touch the item, it gets printed and shipped to you straight from the printer. You can tell when a design is ripped from google images or straight from Alibaba.

Just look at the difference between what's advertised and what was left on a review, that is clearly a 2$ gildan shirt with a low quality DTF transfer, that will wash away after 3 washes guaranteed. And they sell these for 20-30$, with STOLEN ART too.

 If you guys want high quality anime merch, make sure you do your research. Generally, screenprinted plastisol tees are pricier but will be higher quality, and always research what blanks they are printed on! I hope you enjoyed the read!