high grade photo pressing?

[ABELnyc]

what is the secret to good photopressing on shirts? many companies have this process on lock, but most of my research has pointed me to heat transfer paper, commercial grade etc. and most people have told me it's a simple heat press process.

but all of the stuff i see done with that process yields wack, cheap results.

i'd like to get a photo, of anything, on a shirt. let's say nicer than the local film developer, putting your dog's face on a white t-shirt etc.

imagine even a grayscale image or photo. to get this on the cotton, i could screenprint each subtle color/tone change, but this would be completely inefficient and way too expensive. at least with a manual screenprinter. or, i could get heat transfer paper and get it on there...but most of the time, it feels too fake and puffy, like it's going to flake in a washing or two. cracking and fading is something i want to have happen, over time, with maybe a year or so of regular wear (and laundry). but the cheap stuff has a certain feel to it, that i would like to avoid.

still other garments i've seen (e.g. the motorcycle tank top from Fight Club) seem to have the image printed, in color, dyed into the actual fabric of the cotton.

could someone please educate me on this (or these) process(es)?

Companies who've got the photo thang down:

SSUR

XLARGE

SUPREME

and obviously many others but those three come to mind. if my only options are simply 'many color screenprint' or 'commonly available heat transfer paper' then i'm at a total loss.

advance thanks y'all

~multiflavored RodLavers~

http://abelnyc.com

ALPHA/BRAVO/ECHO/LIMA

[ABELnyc]

wow is that the scene from Full Metal Jacket? shit is gangsta. still can't front on Supreme

~multiflavored RodLavers~

http://abelnyc.com

ALPHA/BRAVO/ECHO/LIMA

[powerglov]

I have been trying to figure this one out for quite some time as well! If anyone is blessed with the knowledge please enlighten us!

[thomas_highstreet]

pretty simply its done by photo screen printing, where you will sensitise a silk screen using a special masking fluid which is light sensitive.. then screen through it with your paint/ink and fabric mediums..

gonna be hard to do on your own unless you got access to a printmakers.. if you live anywhere neer me i could hook u up... but thats unlikely!

if you want more in depth info on it gimme a shout..