Question : Is a cutting plotter the same as a plotter printer?
I’m trying to make some t-shirts for extra cash. I just wanted to know if these are two different things.
so the cutting plotter is the same as a vinyl cutter?
plotter printer

Best answer:

Answer by Denver Al
As the name implies, a “cutting plotter” actually cuts out shapes & designs in a variety of media, unlike the “plotter printer” that actually prints on different medias like paper, vinyl, etc.

http://www.hflaser.com/Cutting-Plotter.html

http://www.graphtecamerica.com/fc2250series.html

As for making t-shirts, you have a couple of options:
1) Get a regular inkjet or laser color printer and print out t-shirt transfer sheets (available at most office supply stores) that can then be applied to shirts using an iron or heat press machine.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0&oq=printer+ir&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4HPIC_enUS309US255&q=printer+iron+on+transfer+paper

http://www.proworldinc.com/

http://www.artbrands.com/

2) Get a silk-screen process to create your t-shirts.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0&oq=silk+screen+t-shirt+printing&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4HPIC_enUS309US255&q=silk+screen+t-shirt+printing

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=1&oq=t-shirt+&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4HPIC_enUS309US255&q=t-shirt+printing

There are custom t-shirt printers out there. Here are a couple of YouTube videos that show them:

http://www.dtgamerica.com/west/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVZh07CfJSw

Best of luck.