Printing Planet UK
Vinyl T-shirt printing uses a cutting plotter to cut shapes from coloured vinyl film, which is then heat-pressed onto the garment. It is one of the oldest print methods in custom clothing, but it still wins on specific jobs where DTG and screen printing fall short.
Printing Planet UK on Tildesley Road, Putney Heath offers vinyl T-shirt printing with same-day turnaround on small orders. Walk in with your artwork, or send a file and collect by 5pm.
Types of Vinyl Used in T-Shirt Printing
CAD-Cut Vinyl
CAD-cut (computer-aided design) vinyl is the most common type. The plotter cuts your design from a roll of single-colour vinyl. Ideal for:
- Player names and squad numbers on sportswear
- Bold logo marks with no gradients
- Sponsor names on club kits
- Text-only job names or job roles on workwear
Each colour requires a separate sheet of vinyl. Designs with more than three colours become expensive compared to DTG or DTF.
Flex Vinyl (HTV)
Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is a smooth, slightly rubberised vinyl available in a wide range of solid colours including neon, metallic, holographic and glitter finishes. It produces a clean, flat print with a subtle sheen. Good choice for:
- Sports kits where a slick finish is preferred
- Branded gifts where colour accuracy matters
- Small-batch uniform sets for hospitality and retail
- Designs on dark or coloured fabric where DTG struggles
Flock Vinyl
Flock vinyl has a soft, raised, velvet-like texture. It is popular for:
- Premium sports kits
- Branded clothing for luxury brands
- Children’s clothing where tactile appeal matters
Flock is more expensive than standard flex vinyl and not suitable for fine detail.
When to Choose Vinyl Over DTG or DTF
| Situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| Single-colour text or numbers | Vinyl |
| Photographic design, full colour | DTG or DTF |
| Small run, 1 to 10 pieces, bold logo | Vinyl |
| Large run, 50 to 500 pieces, bold logo | Screen printing |
| Stretch fabric (polyester, nylon) | DTF or vinyl |
| Dark fabric, colourful design | DTF |
| Dark fabric, single-colour text | Vinyl |
Vinyl does not crack or fade when applied correctly and washed cold inside-out. It outlasts DTG on synthetic fabrics because no pre-treatment is required.
Vinyl T-Shirt Printing Prices in London
Pricing depends on the number of colours and the size of the print.
- Single-colour name and number: from £8 per garment
- Two-colour chest logo: from £10 per garment
- Full front panel (up to A4 size), two colours: from £12 per garment
These are single-piece prices. Bulk orders of 10 or more bring the per-unit cost down significantly. For a full price breakdown, visit our vinyl T-shirt printing service page.
Artwork Requirements for Vinyl Printing
Vinyl is cut, not printed, so only solid shapes and text work cleanly. The plotter cannot reproduce gradients, shadows or photographic images.
Ideal file types for vinyl:
- AI or EPS with outlines converted
- SVG at full size
- PDF with vector paths only
Raster files (JPEG, PNG, PSD) can be used if the design is simple enough to auto-trace cleanly. Our team checks all artwork before cutting and will flag any issues.
Same-Day Vinyl Printing in Putney
Walk-in vinyl orders can be completed same day when artwork is approved before 11am. Common same-day vinyl jobs include:
- Player shirts for a match the same evening
- Last-minute team event T-shirts
- Staff name labels for a pop-up
- Replacement shirts for a damaged kit piece
Visit us at 395 Tildesley Road, Putney Heath, SW15 3BD, or WhatsApp us on 07376 464869 to confirm turnaround before travelling.
For a comparison of vinyl against DTG and DTF printing, read our screen printing vs DTG vs vinyl guide.