print styles

Sublimation Printing is our favorite way to print!  Sublimation is a unique process that allows us to print UNLIMITED amounts of color and detail on a garment without additional screens or setup costs.  This is also the softest print available.  It does not leave a raised texture on the garment nor will it crack or peel after years of wash and wear.

How does it work?   Your design is sized & sent to our state of the art sublimation printer that uses a specialty ink & paper designed for high temp transfer.  The mirrored print is then transferred to the shirt, patch, onsie, etc with our high temp heat press.  During the process, the heat turns the sublimation ink to a gas dying the fibers of the garment rather than melting to the top.  This is why with eyes closed you cannot feel the print. Cool right?

When does it work?  Sublimation requires the garment be at LEAST 50% polyester. This is because the fibers must contain polyester to grab and hold the sublimation dye.  Prints on cotton rich materials will fade and wash out over time.

We suggest a 65 poly / 35 cotton blend.  (See "Our Favorites" Tab for garment suggestions)

Also, the garment MUST be lighter than the design printed.  White, light gray, and light colors will work best.  You are able to use darker garments like charcoal or royal blue; however, your print would need to be black or navy.  You can think of this much like a home printer - if you were to print a rainbow on a black piece of paper, you may see the rainbow in just the right light, but the black paper will absorb the colors.  This is because there is no white ink or bleaching agent within sublimation printing.

Summary:

50% Polyester or More

No Dark or Black Garments

Unlimited Color & Detail

Sublimation is perfect for those soft "vintage style" tees, bold colorful designs otherwise very expensive to print, and high detail art - like your dad's face on his 60th birthday koozies!  It is also ideal for lower quantity orders.

Screen Printing is probably the print style you are most familiar with.  Using plastisol or soft hand discharge ink, we can print nearly any design on just about anything! This is going to be the best (and only) print style if you are looking for 100% cotton or black garments.

How does it work?   Your design is sized & burned into a "screen".  The screens will work much like a stencil layering your design by color onto the garment.  Each pass lays a new ink color over a new screen.  We can also create gradients and blends through tiny half tone dots within the screens.  Once all ink colors are layered onto the garment, it is then passed through a heater to cure.

When does it work?  Screen printing can be done on most any garment of any color.  Some delicate materials cannot withstand the heat; however, most all standard t-shirts, hoodies, & jackets work great! 

A few things to note:

-Screens are $18 each

- More colors in the artwork = More screens = More $$$

- Black garments may require an extra base layer for the colors to pop

- More color also means more layers, so sometimes a colorful design will feel a little heavy on a lightweight, blended tee.

Example:  An American Flag printed on the front of a gray t-shirt will require 3 screens (red, white, & blue).  You will have $54 in screen costs whether you print 48 or 400.  So, the more you print, the less each shirt costs and the setup/screen charge is spread over more shirts.

Summary:

Screen Printing is ideal for 100% cotton, dark garments, low color artwork, & high quantity orders.  This is a great option for your simple designs printed on a tee front and/or back. If you are wanting multiple print locations (front, back, sleeve logo, etc) with more than a few colors, we highly suggest sublimation to be most cost effective.

Sublimation is great for colorful designs, high detail, and/or lower quantities.  These are the most cost effective patch option with the fastest turnaround (typically 5-7 business days).

Sublimation patches are limited to stock shapes and sizes - rectangles, ovals and circles, and border color.

These patches have a heat seal backing to be sewn or heat pressed to your hat, garment, backpack, etc.

Woven patches have the look of an embroidered patch, but allow for more precise detail.  These are quality patches that keep your design clean and legible.

100 pcs minimum custom shapes & sizes

2-3 week turnaround

These patches have a heat seal backing to be sewn or heat pressed to your hat, garment, backpack, etc.

Embroidered patches are most popular of our fabric patches.  The raised texture makes your designs pop off the patch.

100 pcs minimum custom shapes & sizes

2-3 week turnaround

These patches have a heat seal backing to be sewn or heat pressed to your hat, garment, backpack, etc.

Leather Patches are our number 1 seller!

Bands and businesses alike are flying through these leather patches on hats!  Nearly every order is followed by a reorder.  Promote your brand with these clean, versatile, high quality patches.

Custom shapes and sizes with a quick 7-10 day turnaround.