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Apparel
The
Guide
When it comes to selecting your ideal shirt, a few things to know ahead are: How many? What's the design? and what type of shirt are you looking for? Style, color, fabric and print type can all be a factor in which option is best for you.
Here is a quick breakdown of the most common fabrics for most apparel:
100% Cotton
A shirt that you have probably felt more than any others. Cotton is known to shrink if put in a dryer but is available for those who like a heavier shirt. It is a popular choice for cost and durability. When it comes to color choices, these generally have the widest range of options to choose from.
100% Polyester
When it comes to performance gear, this is typically what you think of. Minimal shrinkage in the wash, soft and silky with quick-dry properties and popular for those who want a shirt that will withstand many elements and activities during it's life. These also come in a wide variety of colors but they do include some brighter colors that you cannot get with the cotton.
Poly/Cotton Blends
When you can't decide between a polyester shirt or a cotton shirt, sometimes a mix between the 2 is the best option. There are a handful of mix ratios between the 2 fabrics and each one carries a different feel, cost and color pallet available. These are commonly more "fitted" than standard tees and offer a much softer feel and some unique color options.
Tri-Blend
Probably the softest touch of all the mentioned fabrics, these are becoming more common among clothing brands and even businesses that want to keep their employees dressed comfortably. These will contain 3 different fabrics that vary between brands. Other common fabrics in this category are suede and spandex.
PRINT METHODS
Plastisol Ink.
This is your traditional method of printing apparel that most are familiar with. Ink is pressed through a silk screen and then cured with heat for a long lasting design.
Heat Transfer Vinyl.
Vinyl used to have a bad reputation for its longevity on apparel but the industry leaders that we order our materials from have come a long way in producing vinyls that not only feel great on the shirt, but last way longer. A large variety of 1-2 color tshirt orders are made this way and the difference between ink and vinyl is rarely noticeable.
Sublimation.
Sublimation comes with a certain set of requirements when printing, but if those check out for you, you are left with a stunning image on your apparel that cannot be felt and lasts longer than the shirt itself. This ink requires 100% light-colored polyester and is typically one of your more expensive prints.
Embroidery.
A common and well-known method of stitching logos and text on hats, shirts, bags, etc. Embroidery does require a .DST file of your design, which we can supply. This is a one-time set up that allows your image to be stitched to anything you wish. You can also request embroidered patches instead of stitching directly to the fabric.
CHOOSE YOUR CUT AND FIT
Standard Tee
Long Sleeve
Polo
Sleeveless
Quarter Sleeves
Hoodie or Jacket
Racerback Tank
IT'S ALMOST TIME TO PRINT, BUT WHERE IS IT GOING?
Selecting where your print is going is just as important as how it is being printed. Is your design 1 color, 2 colors, 3 colors or a full color image? When deciding your order, remember that the more colors you have, the more expensive it will be. Another tip, if you are looking for a print that is not very heavy on the shirt, this is also a reason to keep colors to a minimum.
AND FINALLY, LET'S TALK PRINT COLORS
In a perfect world, everyone will have multiple copies of their logo/design in solid color and full color, as a vector.....but that's not always the case. If you only have one version and need it altered to save on print cost, we have you covered. Simply email what you have and we can set up a consultation to figure out what we need to do to make it work for your apparel order.
One Color
Two Color
Three Color
Full Color
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