Shirt Cost:
We often get the question 'How can I make my shirts less expensive?'. The number one answer is to use fewer colors in your design. What can you do with a one color print? Actually, a lot. One color prints are essentially two colors anyway; the ink color and the shirt color. When additional costs for oversized prints and specialty prints are multiplied by five or 6 colors it can really add up! We have customers send us some very clever designs that use one color. The boldest prints we see are often one color designs because the contrast between the ink and tee can be maximized. 
The next question in the conversation usually is 'Why is one color cheaper?'. This is a great question as screenprinting is a rather mysterious craft to the outsider. For each color that is printed in a design we must produce one additional film and screen. The film is attached to the screen before the screen can be 'burned'. Once the screen is burned final screen prep can be completed. Once completed the job is ready to be set up in the press. Between color separations, film production, and burning the screens; each screen will take approximately 1 hour to produce. Remember, each separate color requires its own screen. This is why the more colors that are in a design the more expensive the print becomes. 
Next time you have a project that needs to be 'budget friendly' consider a one color print. One color does not restrict the amount of detail that the print can produce, nor does it affect the size of the print. Just the cost! Cheers, The Legacy Crew.