Menu
PRODUCTION PRINT + EMBELLISHMENT METHODS
We produce almost everything we do here in our shop in Pasadena, MD. We have been printing t-shirts in Maryland for over 20 years!
We produce almost everything we do here in our shop in Pasadena, MD. We have been printing t-shirts in Maryland for over 20 years!
DESIGN | QUANTITY | FABRIC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SIMPLE (1-4 Colors) | COMPLEX (3-12 Colors) | COMPLEX (Full Color) | LOW (1 to 36) | MID (36 to 72) | BULK (72+) | COTTON (100%) | BLENDS (variations) | POLY (100% Polyester & Performance) |
 | |  |  |  | | | | |
Screen printing – in our use and application – is a print method that applies very thick ink to blank t-shirts (or other garments/apparel/etc). This process takes a LOT of set up time. However, once the printing has begun… you’ll need a few extra pairs of hands to keep up with the stacks piling high! You’ll need GREAT artwork and layouts before any of this process can begin, and we’ll assume you’ve already approved your graphics with the Creative Team in order to begin production.
As in the diagram, the logo is blocked out with a liquid film that dries on the screen – which is very much like a stencil. Then, we’ll print out the image In our shop, we actually burn the liquid to dry, and it leaves open your ‘stencil’ for the shirt to receive the ink. Each color that will end up on your shirt will need its very own screen. So, if you’ve got 6 colors going on your front logo and 4 colors going on your back – we’ll be prepping 10 screens with your designs.
Once the screens have completed the setup process, it’s over to our automatic screen printing presses and manual screen printing presses. We even have screen printed numbers and other items! Each color must be aligned so your image comes out sharp, crisp and on point… so you can guess, this is sometimes a long (but fruitful) endeavor.
Aside from the cost benefits, screen printing offers an exceptionally valuable perk – VIVID & POPPING COLOR! The colors you see coming out of a desktop printer or even our own Direct To Garment Printer will never be as full and saturated “Spot Color” inks from our huge selection. Another perk? Since the inks go on wet and then heat up, we are able to monitor the temperatures to ensure the “curing” has reached optimal levels on every single piece that leaves our shop! This means that you’ll enjoy our shirts MANY more wears and tears in the future!
(see below RECOMMENDED MINIMUMS PER TOTAL COMBINED COLOR SETUPS)
PRIOR TO PRODUCTION, Your Art, Graphics or Layouts MUST BE:
Option 1. HIGH RESOLUTION (suggested 300 dpi or higher). Option 2. Clean Vector file (suggested formats: .ai, .eps, .pdf, .cdr, .svg)
Our in-house Creative Department is able to connect your ideas to your ideal solutions. When ordering in bulk, the cost of the best t-shirt artwork for your job will seem like an obvious choice!
We Recommend Quantities That Help Save Your Budget, So Consider the Following:
(example: 2 color front print + 1 color back print = 3 Colors)
1-2 Colors | 12 pieces
3-4 Colors | 36 pieces
5-6 Colors | 72 pieces
7-10 Colors | 144 pieces
11+ Colors | 200+ pieces
You can include many various garment types and colors which can all receive the same combined print layouts for your order! Keep in mind: The less overall colors used to print + the less overall changes to your print layouts = MORE YOU SAVE.
DESIGN | QUANTITY | FABRIC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SIMPLE (1-4 Colors) | COMPLEX (3-12 Colors) | COMPLEX (Full Color) | LOW (1 to 36) | MID (36 to 72) | BULK (72+) | THIN (light weight / soft) | MID (more thick / rigid) | HEAVY (thick fleece, etc.) |
| | | | | | | | |
Embroidery is an application of threads, patches or combination of cut fabrics using needles. On our automated machines, we often run 6 or 8 items with the SAME DESIGN at the SAME time. This method of embellishment for your apparel and other promotional products always looks sharp and professional. You’ll need GREAT artwork and layouts before any of this process can begin, and we’ll assume you’ve already approved your graphics with the Creative Team in order to begin production.
As in the workflow, in order to embroider a design, the artwork must first be “digitized”. Our Creative Department technician (also called a “digitizer”) creates a sequence of stitches as a program for the embroidery machines. Every thread in the artwork has its own place in the digitized arrangement. The digitized file is “sewn out” to assure that the design will retain the highest standards of quality.
Sizing for embroidery is a common point of discussion with all of the variables at hand. The keys to great embroidery are knowing when you’ve got to make concessions to accommodate for the size of threads, and how they will be optimally arranged so that designs and fonts are legible. A very common problem is with the small text: Often, logo taglines will need to be removed or made much larger due to limitations of threads.
Fabric considerations are often about 2 main points: the comfort of the worn garment and the rigidity of the fabric to hold the stitching together without skewing or warping the design. Comfort is an issue primarily when the back of the stitches are in a place that has immediate or close contact with the skin – very irritating! In addition to this, we don’t want to pull our shirt out of the dryer and see a shrunken chunk on our shirt where our logo once was. To avoid these issues, we suggest working with midweight fabrics that are worn with undergarments that have a rigid texture to hold your sewing.
Embroidery has many applications- the common denominator is a clean and professional presentation. We know this is the power-apparel that can make or break a first impression. This is why our team makes sure YOUR team looks its best.
PRIOR TO PRODUCTION, Your Art, Graphics or Layouts MUST BE:
Your logo or design can be prepared by you or your artist. Supplied designs must be sent in a clean, legible file format. Vector files are preferred, but not required (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .cdr, .svg). If your file is not a vector, please confirm it is at least 150 dpi and legible.
Our in-house Creative Department is able to connect your ideas to your ideal solutions. When ordering in bulk, the cost of the best t-shirt artwork for your job will seem like an obvious choice!
DESIGN | QUANTITY | FABRIC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SIMPLE (1-4 Colors) | COMPLEX (3-12 Colors) | COMPLEX (Full Color) | LOW (1 to 36) | MID (36 to 72) | BULK (72+) | COTTON (100%) | BLENDS (variations) | POLY (100% Polyester & Performance) |
| | | | | | | | |
For the past 10 years, the custom t-shirt industry has been able to rapidly grow with “on-demand” methods that do not require long and painful setup times or materials (and since time is money – a LOT has been saved). One of the greatest machines for print-on-demand (POD) is the DTG – a single piece, full-color digital print solution that can be utilized on light or dark garments. You’ll need GREAT artwork and layouts before any of this process can begin, and we’ll assume you’ve already approved your graphics with the Creative Team in order to begin production.
Like many things that cut through industry barriers, there are limitations to taking advantage of the on-demand full-color printing. The primary variables in considering DTG reduce to 3 components: 1. The fabric of the garment; 2. The use or need for white ink (printing on darks); 3. The overall quantity of the print run.
By now, it’s quite obvious the benefits of full-color printing and prints on-demand/single piece orders. We love to set up our DTG with fun and creative layouts – just another benefit to not having any color restrictions. Send us the craziest and most colorful art you can come up with! Or, better still, challenge our Creative Department with the task!
PRIOR TO PRODUCTION, Your Art, Graphics or Layouts MUST BE:
Your logo or design can be prepared by you or your artist. For best results, supplied designs must be sent in a clean, legible file format. Vector files are preferred, but not required (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .cdr, .svg). If your file is not a vector, please confirm it is at least 150 dpi, preferably in RGB color settings.
Our in-house Creative Department is able to connect your ideas to your ideal solutions. When ordering in bulk, the cost of the best t-shirt artwork for your job will seem like an obvious choice!
Follow This Link To See Our Group and Team Stores. Don't Miss Order Deadlines!