RESOURCES

Common Print Placements

Standard Ink Colors

Printing FAQ

  • Custom printed shirt pricing varies greatly and largely depends on a few things... How many? (we have price breaks by qty) Do you have a brand/style preference? (some shirts cost more than others) Do you have camera ready art or do we need to create something for you? (see “if i have my own art” below) How many colors is your design? (we can print up to 6 colors) Is the printing front only or are there other placements? i.e. back, sleeve etc... (the more placements, the more cost)

  • New digitization of artwork takes approx 3 business days once the 100% deposit on the order is made. Embroidery production is then approx 15-20 business days after final size breakdown is given, art is approved and a 100% deposit is made or approved purchase order is given. Availability and location of goods ordered can vary and may affect turnaround times.

  • We prefer to receive all files in vector format (.eps, .ai, and .pdf) with all fonts created into outlines. You can also submit artwork as a Photoshop file (.psd) that has been prepared in layers at 300dpi and scaled for print. Art provided in these “approved” formats will not incur any art fees. Anything outside of these constraints, will require some prep time to get ready for press. An art fee could apply, even if you supply your own art. (30 minute minimum)

  • While we prefer to print on shirts we order, you may provide your own shirts. However, there is a $2.00 ea. upcharge on customer provided shirts and we assume absolutely NO liability for any print or curing errors on such garments. If the material blend is questionable by us or difficult to print on there may be additional up-charges as well as additional upcharges on varying materials/blends within the same order. Please also be sure to remove any tags and/or stickers before dropping off your order. We will not start printing until the complete order has been supplied. We reserve the right to refuse to print on any garments we feel are unacceptable or don’t feel comfortable with or confident in.

  • Our standard “maximum” print size for adult shirts is 12.5” wide x 15” tall and the average adult size print can often accommodate shirt sizes as small as youth medium. Anything larger than 12.5”x15” is considered “oversize” and will cost more and take longer. Our “maximum” print size for our youth pallets is 9.5” wide by 12” tall. Youth pallets are usually needed for shirt sizes youth small and smaller.

  • Yes. We would love to re-print more of your order if you need. However, the turnaround time starts over on a new order and pricing will be based on the quantity of garments/products ordered at that time. So, a smaller re-print order could cost more per piece than the original order and a larger re-print order can cost less per piece than the original order etc... Due to the likelihood of having to re-burn or clean screens, screen charges will apply to all re-print orders. If art has not changed, there will be no new art fees charged to re-print orders.

  • Accuracy is very important to us and we make serious efforts to ensure your order is complete and accurate. In fact there are usually 3 stages of checking the order during the process including a final double check on the count when printing is complete. You are welcome to (and we encourage you) to count and verify the accuracy of your order before you leave our shop. However, if you decline to double count before you leave, you waive Print This of all liability and discrepancies of your order.

  • Item desCustom artwork takes approximately 3 business days once the 100% deposit on the order is made. Print production averages 5-10 business days after final size breakdown is given, art is approved and a 100% deposit is made or approved purchase order is given. Availability and location of goods ordered can vary and may affect turnaround times.cription

  • Custom artwork takes approx 3 business days once the 100% deposit on the order is made. Then, average turnaround time ranges between 5-10 business days (before shipping) depending on the product or service ordered. Since production of some of these items is supplied by our vendors, we cannot be liable for any inconsistencies in production time or delivery.

  • Screen printing, heat pressing and foiling can be delicate decorative processes. It is not uncommon for them to fade or distress over time but is largely dependent on how the garments are laundered. Because of this, we recommend washing all decorated garments in low temperatures as well as inside out. The better your printed garment is cared for, the longer it lasts.

  • If you need help creating clean, print-quality art, it will extend your printing turnaround time by approximately 3 days. However, this duration depends largely on the amount of time needed to properly create the art and the amount of edits and time it takes for necessary changes requested by the customer to reach final approval.

  • Yes. We are human though and mistakes and oversights can happen so customers are responsible for proofing of all content, spelling, colors, etc... on all artwork sent for approval. Every reasonable effort will be made to match colors and print proportions as close as possible but note that colors may look slightly different from monitor to monitor (especially on mobile devices) and from computer screen to ink and final print and our mockups are not to exact scale. Also, interpretations of many ink colors can vary from person to person, so please be specific on color requests. All work in progress is intellectual property of Print This, LLC, until project is paid in full.

  • There are couple of ways you may receive a discount on your order. One way is by allowing us to print our logo on your shirts. Our logo printed within the same print area of your design will receive a 10% discount. Our logo printed in a separate location will receive a 5% discount. Discounts are only eligible on full price orders. Combining discounts is at our discretion.

  • As with all garments, the final fit of our products depends on the material blend and the care you take when washing them. In general, 100% cotton shirts tend to shrink some when washed, while 100% polyester, synthetic dri-fit, or poly-cotton blends tend to stay more true to size. Of course, this differs from one brand/style to the next. We always recommend washing printed garments inside out, on cold and gentle settings and keep out of dryer as much as possible.

  • Minimums are determined by the design, we now offer “breakless” pricing, where instead of arbitrary price breaks at set quantities, your cost is determined by the specific quantity of your order. Every shirt you add to the order reduces your cost, so you can order exactly what you need, and the more you order the more you'll save. Orders less than 12 shirts are typically cost prohibitive to produce.

Art Submission Tips

  • Digital art files are saved in one of two categories, known as Vector, and Raster. Most of the images you see on the internet are Raster files, and usually end in .JPG, .GIF, or .PNG. When you zoom in on a Raster image, you can see individual pixels and image quality will be distorted. For this reason, working from a raster image may require additional art time to optimize your artwork.

  • All copy or other materials submitted for production to Print This, LLC will be accepted as fully compliant with all applicable laws regarding trademark, service mark, copyright, right of privacy or patent. We reserve the right to require a release for any logos, taglines, etc that we deem require a more formal assent.

  • Printing photographs is possible through CMYK Process printing. Any time you can provide us with the original photograph to scan directly, we can usually get a much better quality final print. Also keep in mind that if you want to print a full color image on any colored shirt besides white, we need to also include a base-coat of white ink before we print the full image.

  • Before we move forward with printing your order, we will send you a digital proof to review for accuracy. Occasionally, we are asked to provide a printed sample, but to do so would typically be extremely expensive, as our pricing structure benefits orders of at least 12 pieces. As a compromise, if you're uneasy about the print and wish to schedule a press check, we can work with you to schedule a time for you to drop by our shop in Zorn to review every detail before we move forward. Of course, if your order is needed quickly, we cannot begin without your approval, so please be aware of your deadline.

  • We strongly prefer Vector format, which would be a file ending in .AI, .EPS, .SVG, or .PDF. If your design includes any wording, please expand all text to paths, or include the Font file, ending in .TTF or .OTF with your art submission.We use Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, but there are free resources online if you’d like to create your own artwork. Please note any artwork submitted in Corel Draw, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel (it’s happened…) must be converted to a .PDF file before we can open it. Here’s another free resource to convert documents into a .PDF convert documents into .PDF files.

  • When you provide us with everything vector artwork, and we don’t need to clean up or re-draw any elements of your artwork, congratulations, you’ve got Camera Ready artwork. There is no art fee when you provide Camera Ready files, so it’s a great way to lower your overhead. Here’s what we’re looking for: - vector file .AI, .EPS, .SVG, or .PDF - all fonts expanded to paths - all strokes expanded to solid shapes - where possible, separate each color to a different layer

  • Frequently, projects require the addition of sponsor logos into the design. It’s a top priority to ensure you and your sponsors look as crisp as possible. When possible, sponsor supplies a Vector format AI, .EPS, .SVG, or .PDF file. An image taken directly from the internet or phone screenshot may appear blurry on the shirt. And if nothing else, we can recreate their logo as accurately as possible, pending access to any special fonts used, at an additional art fee.

  • Do you have an idea, but need just help creating the visuals? The majority of our staff has Fine Arts Degrees, so you’re in good hands. We would love to sit down in person, or talk over the phone to hear more about your idea!

Glossary of Terms

  • Bitmaps are made up of pixels in a grid. Pixels are picture elements; tiny dots of individual color that make up what you see on your screen. All these tiny dots of color come together to form the images you see. Most computer monitors display approximately 70 to 100 pixels per inch--the actual number depends on your monitor and screen settings. As these images are scaled up, the quality decreases. For screen printing purposes, these types of images need to be generated at or as close as possible to final print size and at 300 dpi in order to achieve acceptable print quality. These are usually generated in “paint” software such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter.

  • Rather than “applying” ink onto your shirt, the discharge process “bleaches” or removes the pigment of the tee and leaves it with the original raw color of the shirt as well as the softest finish possible....just the shirt. Although very often a waterbased product, Our plastisol version can also be blended with most colors to “re-dye” the garment to the desired color/s still leaving only the feel of the shirt once washed. Discharge technically only works fully on 100% cotton but surprisingly vibrant results can at times be obtained on 50/50 blends. If you want a more subtle / vintage look, they can also be a great choice on triblends.

  • The use of dots in varying in size and shape, to achieve a gradation of tone or value. Anything that isn't one solid print color must be created using halftones. Halftones are often used to achieve the tonal variances in photos or photo realistic images. It can also be used to achieve multiple tonal values in the same ink color.

  • Vector images are made up of many individual, scalable objects. These objects are defined by mathematical equations rather than pixels, so they always render at the highest quality. Objects may consist of lines, curves, and shapes with editable attributes such as color, fill, and outline. Acceptable file extensions for vector art are .ai, .eps, and .pdf. These are usually generated in high quality “illustration” software such as Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw.

  • Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. In screen printing, CMYK refers to a specific set of transparent based inks that reproduce the full color spectrum. This is accomplished through a color separated set of halftone dots that when printed together blend to make all the colors in your image.

  • Dye migration in screen printing usually refer to when the color of the garment “bleeds” through the print color. The dyes used in polyester fabrics are given a chemical bond that’s heat-sealed on. The temperatures used to heat seal the dye onto the polyester fibers range from 230º to 260º Fahrenheit. Most plastisol inks need to hit 320º Fahrenheit for up to 1 minute to fully cure. So when the plastisol is on its journey through the dryer and the heat passes the 260º F threshold, the polyester dyes will often get released from the thread and they will sublimate, which basically means they turn into a gas and migrate up through the ink causing it to change in color. This typically is only a problem with lighter colored inks on darker or “richly” pigmented garment colors. In order to combat this, a “low bleed” or poly specific ink that cures at a lower temperature is needed. However, it is still no guarantee that no bleed or migration will occur, but can severely reduce or minimize the effects.

  • Our most common type of ink used. Plastisol ink is a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) based system that essentially contains no solvent at all. Plastisol is a thermoplastic ink in that it is necessary to heat the printed ink film to a temperature high enough to cause the molecules of PVC resin and plasticizer to cross-link and thereby solidify, or cure. The temperature at which most plastisol for textile printing cures at is in the range of 300 °F to 330°F).

  • A more “eco-friendly” printing method because of it’s water soluble properties. Water-based ink utilizes either dyes or pigments in a suspension with water as the solvent. The evaporation of the water is necessary to set or cure the ink. The main advantage to water-based printing is a result that is soft and breathable. One disadvantage is that it can tend to lack vibrancy of color especially over time compared to plastisol..

Preferred Vendors

sanmar.jpg
alphabroder.jpg
ssactivewear.jpg
otto.png
allmade.png
bic.png
outdoorcap.png
idproductsource.png