Custom printing has shared progressively wide market in recent decades. Yet due to limitations of specific workflows and budget concerns, more and more printing business owners are venturing into gang sheet printing instead. In this blog, we’re going to take a closer look to this new trend - gang sheet printing.
PASSAGE SUMMARY
1. What is Gang Sheet Printing
2. Why is Gang Sheet Printing a Trending Niche
2.1 Stronger technological support
2.2 Higher cost-efficiency
2.3 Quicker turnaround
3. Which Gang Sheet Printing Business to Choose
1. What is Gang Sheet Printing
A gang sheet is a sheet of printing material (usually film) that contains multiple different designs or graphics together. This printing method so far is popular in heat transfer printing methods like DTF (Direct-to-Film), UV DTF and HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl) printing, gradually taking up considerable proportions of global printing market.
2.Why is Gang Sheet Printing a Trending Niche
Custom printing has shared progressively wide market in recent decades. Yet due to limitations of specific workflows and budget concerns, more and more printing business owners are venturing into gang sheet printing instead.
Take DTF printing for example, a complete DTF printing workflow requires machines including a DTF printer, an oven and a heat press, with additional human effort in the powder curing and heat pressing. For people who are relatively short in budget and workspace, a one-stop custom garment business might be hard to achieve.
Gang sheet printing instead, offers great flexibility in not just upfront investment but also working space, with supports and advantages detailed as below:
2.1 Stronger technological support
Software upgrade: Compared to printing software in the past, most software now offers more assistance functions like smart layout or easier duplication of graphics. This do a great favor for printing needs on the same sheet with graphics of diverse patterns, sizes, colors or shapes.
Enhanced printer: Advanced printers nowadays are equipped with higher configuration of ink deposit, ink dry time and color management. This guarantees that all the diverse graphics on the same page can be presented in accurate colors, overcoming issues like ink bleeding or ink fading that negatively impact the final print outcome.
2.2 Higher cost-efficiency
Lower machine cost:
Less maintenance cost: By printing multiple jobs on a single sheet, the printer runs fewer cycles to complete the same number of prints. This reduces the wear and tear on the machine, leading to lower maintenance costs and extended machine life.
Less must-have machines: Different from producers specializing in on-stop custom business like personalized T-shirts, people doing gang sheet business don’t have to gear up with a full set of printing machines. Instead, they can boost their business with just a printer on hand, focusing solely on producing sheets with graphics, and eliminating the need for processes like heat pressing.
Less material consumption: Gang sheet printing allows multiple different jobs to be printed on a single large sheet, maximizing paper usage and minimizing waste. This is particularly beneficial when printing small quantities of various designs. Moreover, with accurate color management and improved ink properties, gang sheet is printed with consistent quality, reducing the need for reprints due to quality issues.
Reduced shipping charge: When multiple jobs are printed on a single sheet, they can often be shipped together, reducing the per-unit cost in both shipping and packaging.
2.3 Quicker turnaround
Reduced setup time: Gang sheet printing allows multiple different jobs to be printed on a single large sheet, meaning only one setup and calibration are needed, rather than multiple setups for each individual job. This significantly reduces preparation and machine adjustment time.
Reduced Changeover Time: Now that all jobs can be processed on a single sheet, there is no need for frequent film changes or color adjustments, reducing intermediate steps and the time required to switch between different jobs.
2.4 More flexible application
To consumers that prefer gang sheet printing, its versatility and flexibility of application empower them with greater creativity on their desired objects. By cutting the graphic they need from the combined sheet and process the patching, they can freely arrange the print placement to create any graphic combination. Moreover, with improved compatibility between ink and film, most print sheets nowadays exhibit higher durability from wear and abrasion and can be stored for a longer time before being applied.
3.Which Gang Sheet Printing Business to Choose
DTF & HTV printing : Among all the printing methods, heat transfer printing methods like DTF(Direct-to-Film) and HTV(Heat Transfer Vinyl) enjoy one obvious advantage in performing a gang sheet printing business that suitable for custom garment market - they do not directly print on fabrics; instead, they first print or cut on a film sheet, then get transferred to the desired surfaces with the help of heat and pressing. Besides the application of film, these two methods especially DTF printing, also exhibit high quality in print performance and color reproduction, greatly heightening the gang sheet quality.
UV DTF printing: Unlike DTF and HTV printing, UV DTF printing doesn’t need any heat press to get transferred. But still, it perfectly fits in the gang sheet printing business model since it produces stickers - the ink will be deposited on glued film first to obtain viscosity, then get cured by UV lights and finally be transferred to normal film and form a sticker that can be directly applied on objects of a wider materials.
In conclusion, when it comes to gang sheet printing, whether you opt for DTF, HTV, or UV DTF, the overarching goal is to integrate a method that not only meets your specific production needs but also optimizes efficiency and quality.
The choice between these techniques should be guided by the type of materials you are working with, the desired outcome in terms of durability and visual appeal, and the nature of your production volume.
Selecting the right printing method will ensure that you achieve cost-effective, high-quality prints that align with your business objectives and customer expectations, thereby enhancing your overall production process and market competitiveness.
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About the Author - Simon
Simon has worked in inkjet printing industry for years. He has the rare ability to see print related issues from many perspectives. Witnessing the gradual development of digital printing especially inkjet printing, Simon knows better about what the users are looking for and how the new technologies will truly help big or small businesses.
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