If you're looking for an affordable way to create a shirt for yourself or sell custom shirts online, there are various t-shirt printing options to add an image to a shirt. In this article, we'll explain the different methods, including how Printfits can help you print and sell custom shirts with ease.

Discover how to print an image on a shirt at home, how to choose the right printing technique, and explore some creative DIY t-shirt printing ideas.

How to put a picture on a shirt at home with no equipment

No printer at home? You can still add a high-quality print to a shirt by using an online printing service.

There are websites where you can upload your design, customize your shirt, and have it printed and shipped directly to your doorstep. Simply choose your shirt style, upload your image, and the site will take care of the printing and delivery.

Let’s walk through the process of printing a picture on a shirt online in just a few easy steps.

Step 1: Pick the right shirt

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Start by Choosing Your Shirt

The process begins with picking the shirt that your image will be printed on. You’ll find a wide range of options, including different fabrics, colors, and printing methods.

Let’s break down the key things to consider:

Printing Method

Printfits catalog offers several printing techniques, including direct-to-garment (DTG), all-over printing (AOP), sublimation, and direct-to-film (DTF).

For printing a single image on a t-shirt, DTG and DTF are your best options.

  • DTG works best on cotton or cotton-blend shirts and delivers vibrant, detailed prints.
  • DTF is more versatile across different materials and is often used for activewear.

We’ll explore both methods in more detail later.

Shirt Color

Think about how your image will look against different backgrounds.

  • Use light-colored shirts if your design has rich, dark details.
  • Choose dark-colored shirts for designs with soft or muted tones.

High contrast between the image and the shirt helps the print stand out, but don’t be afraid to test out different combinations.

Shirt Fabric

Your choice of fabric affects comfort, durability, and cost.

Consider how the shirt will be used—casually or for workouts—and which printing method you’ll use. Your budget also plays a role.

To learn more, check out our complete guide to t-shirt fabrics and find the best match for your design.

Step 2: Prepare your t-shirt design file

Use High-Quality Images for the Best Print Results

To ensure your design looks great on the shirt, always use a high-resolution, high-quality image file. Printfits supports JPEG, PNG, and SVG formats, and each t-shirt has specific print file requirements you can check before uploading.

If your image needs some tweaking, there are plenty of free or affordable editing tools available—like Canva, GIMP, Fotor, or Pixlr.

For a deeper dive into optimizing your designs, check out our comprehensive design guide.

Step 3: Apply your file to the shirt

Add Your Design to the Shirt

Now it’s time to place your design. Printfits’ user-friendly Product Creator (previously called the Mockup Generator) makes it easy to upload your image, adjust the size, and position it exactly how you want on the shirt.

Step 4: Order for yourself…

Order a Sample of Your Custom T-Shirt

If you're creating a shirt for yourself—or want to check the quality before selling—it’s time to place a sample order.

Once your shirt design is ready and saved:

  • Go to My Products
  • Click Get Samples and select your t-shirt
  • Choose the size and quantity
  • Enter your shipping details
  • Click Fulfill and wait for your custom shirt to arrive

Ordering a sample is a great way to see how your design looks in real life and ensure everything meets your expectations before offering it for sale.

Step 5: …Or publish and start selling

Start Selling Your Custom T-Shirts Online

Printfits is built to support eCommerce sellers, so once your design is ready, you can start selling your custom t-shirts online with ease.

Connect your store to major marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon, or integrate with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and more.

After your t-shirt is added to your store and a customer places an order, Printfits’ online order system takes care of the production and shipping—so you can focus on growing your business.

Which t-shirt printing method to choose

There are several ways to transfer your design onto a shirt, but some methods are more effective and efficient than others. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular apparel printing techniques.

Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing

DTG printing works much like a standard office printer—using modified inkjet technology to apply water-based inks directly onto fabric. This method produces highly detailed, high-quality prints with minimal setup time, making it a convenient option compared to traditional techniques like screen printing.

Why Choose DTG Printing?

  • Durable designs – The ink bonds directly with the fabric, creating a smooth, long-lasting finish.
  • Time-saving – No extra setup steps are needed; the image is printed directly onto the shirt.
  • No minimums – Great for small batches or one-off orders.

Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing

DTF printing involves printing your design onto a special film, applying a powder adhesive, and then heat-pressing it onto the fabric. Although the process has more steps than DTG, the results are impressive and work well on a wide variety of fabrics.

Why Choose DTF Printing?

  • Works on any fabric – Unlike DTG, which is best on cotton, DTF can be used on nearly any material.
  • Vibrant and durable prints – Produces bold, eye-catching colors that sit on top of the fabric without soaking in.

Other popular printing methods

  • Screen Printing
    A widely used stencil-based technique where ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the fabric. It’s ideal for bold, simple designs and large orders due to its durability and cost-effectiveness at scale.
  • All-Over Printing (Dye Sublimation)
    This method uses heat to transfer digital images from a special transfer paper onto fabric, allowing full-coverage designs that span the entire shirt. It’s perfect for creating seamless, edge-to-edge prints.

When selecting a printing method for your custom shirt, consider factors like print quality, design complexity, durability, and cost.

Want a full comparison? Check out our Ultimate Guide to the 8 Most Common Types of Shirt Printing for a detailed breakdown.

How to Get a Picture on a Shirt: DIY Methods

If you’re looking to create a custom shirt at home, there are several easy ways to transfer an image onto fabric. While some methods need a bit more equipment, others can be done using standard printer paper and household tools.

Here are three popular DIY approaches:

Iron-On Transfers with Transfer Paper

One of the simplest at-home methods. Print your image onto heat transfer paper using an inkjet printer, then apply it to the shirt using a household iron. This method is great for personal projects or gifts, though the prints may not be as durable as professional methods.

Iron-on transfers are an easy way to create custom shirts at home. You’ll need a few key supplies: an inkjet printer, transfer paper, and an iron.

1. Get the Right Transfer Paper
Transfer paper is available at most craft, stationery, and office supply stores.

  • For light-colored shirts, buy light transfer paper.
  • For dark-colored shirts, choose transfer paper designed specifically for dark fabrics.

2. Print Your Design
Once your image is ready, print it on the transfer paper using your inkjet printer.

  • Mirror image: For light-colored shirts, print the design normally, but for dark-colored shirts, make sure to print a mirror image of the design (especially important for text).
  • Check instructions on the transfer paper packaging for specifics.

3. Cut Out the Image
Trim the design closely around the edges to avoid excess transfer paper when applying it to the shirt.

4. Iron on the Design

  • Set the iron: Follow the transfer paper instructions. If none are provided, set the iron to the highest heat suitable for your fabric, and make sure it’s set to dry (no steam).
  • Prepare the shirt: Lay the shirt flat and iron out any wrinkles.
  • Apply the design: Position the transfer paper with the image on the shirt, and press the hot iron firmly on top of it. Apply even pressure for the amount of time recommended in the instructions.

5. Cool and Peel
After ironing, allow the shirt to cool for a few minutes. Once cool, gently peel off the transfer paper, revealing your custom design.

Parchment Paper Transfer with Plastic Wrap

No transfer paper? No problem. This DIY option lets you create designs using magazine cutouts, regular printer paper, and plastic wrap.

  1. Find and Print Your Design
    Print your design on regular printer paper. If you don’t have a printer, you can cut out a picture from a magazine or other source.
  2. Cover the Image in Plastic Wrap
    Trim the image close to the edges, then cover it with cling wrap. Fold any excess wrap around the back of the image to secure it.
  3. Place the Image on the Shirt
    Lay the shirt on a flat, hard surface, smoothing out any wrinkles. Place the wrapped image on the shirt and cover it with a piece of parchment paper.
  4. Iron Over the Image
    Heat your iron, then press it down firmly over the parchment paper. Iron around all edges, applying even pressure.
    Once done, let the shirt cool for a few minutes before removing the parchment paper.

FAQ: Why Choose Printfits for Printing Images on Shirts?

Prefer a hassle-free way to print your design? Let Printfits handle it for you.

Printfits is a Print-on-Demand platform offering over 900 products for customization, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies. With a few simple steps, you can have your image printed and shipped directly to you.

How Printfits Works:

  1. Sign Up with Printfits
    Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.
  2. Pick a Product to Customize
    Browse through Printfits’ catalog of apparel, accessories, and home decor items to choose the perfect product for your design.
  3. Add Your Design
    Upload your image file and use our easy-to-navigate Product Creator to position your design. You’ll get a real-life preview of the final product before confirming.
  4. Order Your Shirt
    Once your design is ready, place your order. Personal orders are referred to as sample orders, and the process is seamless.
  5. Want to Sell Online?
  6. Connect to an Online Store
    To sell your custom shirts online, connect to a marketplace (Etsy, eBay, etc.) or create your own store using platforms like Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce. Printfits integrates with all major sales channels.
  7. Start Selling
    Once connected, start promoting your custom tees. Printfits will handle the printing and shipping process—so you can focus on growing your business.

Whether you’re creating a custom shirt for yourself or launching an online store, Printfits is the perfect solution.

Why Choose Printfits?

  • 900+ Customizable Products – Choose from hundreds of apparel items, accessories, and home decor products.
  • 100+ Fulfillment Centers Worldwide – Printfits partners with over 80 print providers, giving you flexibility in production costs, shipping rates, and fulfillment locations.
  • Free Design Tools – Use Printfits’ free Product Creator to design your products with ease.
  • Made on Demand – Products are only printed when an order is placed, reducing waste and minimizing upfront costs.