The days of relying on costly advertising campaigns to raise brand awareness are behind us. With quality screen-printed logo clothing, you can take your message with you everywhere you go without breaking the bank.
Whether you need screen-printed merch for your organization, fundraiser, or event — this guide has you covered. In the following paragraphs, you’ll get the inside scoop on how screen-printing works, how to perfect your design, and choosing clothing that maintains its quality over time.
What is Custom Screen Printing?
Custom screen printing is a technique that uses a stencil to print logos and designs onto fabric. A stencil is placed over the fabric, and ink is applied to the stencil. The ink then passes through openings in the stencil, which creates a vibrant, screen-printed design.
Screen printing is often used for basic clothing staples, like hoodies, t-shirts, and long-sleeved shirts. It’s a cost-effective advertising method, as it’s less expensive than embroidery — and the price per unit decreases with bulk orders.
You can also take advantage of specialty inks, including reflective, glow-in-the-dark, and liquid gold varieties. These options lend themselves to creative, eye-catching designs that leave a lasting impression.
Optimize Your Digital Design for Quality Prints
To start, you’ll want to choose an awesome design for your fabric! The better the quality of your artwork file, the better your final product will look. In fact, correctly setting up your design file can be a significant roadblock to achieving a high-quality print.
First, we ensure your artwork file is converted to the optimal format. We always use our discretion based on your unique design, ensuring you get the best result.
Below are some steps we take to clean up and prepare your digital artwork:
Adobe Illustrator / Affinity Designer / Corel Draw
For the three programs listed above, we set your file to the size you want your printed artwork to be. In addition, these tools offer the option to turn raster artwork into a vector, which is ideal. Vector images preserve typography details better and maintain their resolution when printed onto clothing.
Photoshop Designs
For Photoshop images, we set the color mode to ‘RGB Color’ and ensure your artwork is at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). Setting these fields correctly from the beginning allows us to make seamless sizing adjustments later, preventing blurry images and jagged edges.
Transparent Background Function
To isolate whites in color separation, images should be displayed over a transparent background. This provides more control over transitioning printed colors to garment colors as ink is deposited.
Screen-Printed Perfection: Why Ink Matters
A well-made screen-printed design will retain its color, even after repeated washing and wearing. However, lower-quality screen-printed prints will begin to crack, peel, and fade over time.
This is where working with a reputable logo clothingprovider comes in. One thing that determines your garment’s quality is the way the ink is cured and the type of ink used. If the ink is cured too little, it will peel off when you wash your piece. If it’s cured too much, the design will start to crack. The perfect amount of curing allows the design to stretch with the fabric and effectively adhere to it.
Further, the type of fabric you use determines the best type of ink for the job. For example, a 100% cotton t-shirt requires specific ink for it to discharge well and look sharp. In addition, the ink type also impacts color and logo accuracy. For instance, corporate projects that require 100% accuracy require plastisol ink to ensure your color match is spot on.
Ideal Fabrics for Screen-Printed Logo Clothing
While many types of fabric are beautiful and unique, they’re not all ideal for screen printing. If your fabric has a lot of stray fibres, the clarity of your design may be reduced. Below are three popular fabric choices for screen printing:
Polycotton is made of equal parts polyester and cotton. It’s great for producing clear, crisp designs. As an added bonus, it’s also wrinkle-resistant and holds its shape well.
Quality cotton is another popular choice; it’s easy to find, affordable, and hypoallergenic.
Tri-Blend Fabric is a combination of cotton, rayon, and polyester. If you’re looking for a trendy vintage look, the tri-blend fabric is ideal.
Pro Tip: Choosing soft, durable fabrics encourages people to wear your clothing more often and represent your brand!
The Importance of Functional Screen-Printed Clothing
It’s important to consider when and where your screen-printed logo clothing will be worn. This ensures that you create a practical, functional piece. If your team works long hours in the hot sun, you’ll want to select breathable fabric with moisture-wicking properties, like poly-cotton.
Surprisingly, the actual design of your artwork can also impact your clothing’s breathability. Using large blocks of plastisol ink can weigh down your garment and cause it to retain heat. Smaller designs with water-based ink are typically more functional in hot weather, helping people stay cool.
Extending the Life of Your Screen-Printed Pieces
By incorporating a few simple tips, you and your team can extend the life of your screen-printed gear. Check out some simple suggestions you can use below:
- Turn your screen-printed clothing inside-out before washing it to prevent fabrics from rubbing against the print.
- Before washing, pre-treat screen-printed areas with stain remover spray; OxiClean is a great option.
- Use mild detergent with cold water, on a gentle cycle.
- Use non-chlorine bleach.
- If your garment was freshly created, wait 24-48 hours to wash it, so the ink can set in and dry.
Wrap-Up
Today’s marketing landscape is vast and diverse. Quality screen-printed logo clothing is becoming an increasingly popular way for business owners to get their brands noticed.
Whether you are looking to advertise your business, charity, or event, screen-printed clothing serves as a great option. Beautiful, well-made designs will turn heads and boost brand awareness, improving the public’s perception of your company.
If you have any questions about screen-printed clothing or you need a soundboard for your next project – we’re just a click away. Get in touch with us today to explore how we can increase your brand’s visibility!