FAQs
How do I place an order?
You can place your print order online. When requesting a quote, Choose the garment style that you would like. You can choose your garment color(s), specify the size breakdown that you would like, choose a method of garment decoration and upload your artwork. Position your artwork as you would like, confirm all the details and make payment. This works well for the majority of orders but not everything falls into this category. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
How long is the production process?
The production time varies for different processes and if multiple processes are required. Once an order has been approved and paid for, the blank garments are ordered. If the order is for 25 prints or more of the same design on the same garment, a PDF proof will be created. Following payment, the order will go into our production schedule at the next available position (unless otherwise agreed). Turnaround is usually 5-15 working days from receipt of final artwork and payment but can vary a lot, depending on our workload at the time and delivery times from our suppliers. Click the Turnaround link in our website footer to learn about our current turnaround time. Please bear in mind that all turnaround times are approximate and, although we will do everything in our power to get your order to you within the expected timeframe, some things are outside of our control.
Do you do a sample print/garment to check the quality/style of print and color on the garment?
We do not provide physical samples, but we can provide a sample digitally printed. For all print runs of 25+ prints of the same design on the same garment, we always send a PDF proof before going to print, to confirm print size and positioning. For print runs of fewer than 25 prints per design, we work with the mock up you've created online.
SCREEN PRINTING
How much does screen printing cost?
The cost of screen printing can be calculated by adding together the price of the garment and the print cost (multiplied by the number of garments that you are ordering) plus the screen prep cost. A screen needs to be prepared for every color of every design at a cost of $ per screen. The printing cost is dependent on the number of colors in the design (more colors = higher cost) and the number of garments in the print run (more garments = lower cost).
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)? Is the MOQ based across a range of size sets?
The minimum order quantity for screen printing is 12 per design and price per print goes down at 48, and 72. You can order lower quantities but these would be digitally printed using DTG (also great quality, eco, water based inks).
How do you match colors to the artwork?
For screen printing, we match to Pantone Matching System (PMS) references, if you are able to supply one. Or we can find the PMS reference that's closest to the color in your artwork (using color matching software). This means we can reproduce the same color again for repeat order print runs.
How does screen printing work?
A screen is created for every color of each print. The image is first separated into its individual color elements (usually using Photoshop). Once separated, each color element of the design is changed to black and printed out onto separate sheets of clear film at actual print size.
Each screen comprises mesh stretched over a aluminum frame. The mesh is coated with a UV-sensitive emulsion and left overnight in the dark to dry.
The film is then taped to the front of a screen and the screen placed face-down onto a vacuum UV light box. The screen is then exposed to UV light for a short time. After exposure the screen is washed and the non-exposed emulsion washes away, leaving a stencil of the design behind.
For textile printing, the screens are attached to the arms of our printing carousel and garments are attached to the platen boards underneath. A multi color design requires multiple screens (one for each color). A squeegee is then used to press ink through the mesh stencil onto the fabric. Prior to printing and after each color the T-shirt must be heated under a heater to cure the ink to the fabric.
How many colors can I have in my design?
It is possible to screen print up to 4 colors on white/light garments but we tend to print only 2-3 colors onto dark colored garments. For multicolor or full color designs, DTG printing is generally the best option for small to medium sized print runs. For larger print runs it's probably preferable to have your design remade as four color process print so that it can be recreated in four colors (CMYK) and screen printed.
Do you use environmentally friendly inks in all your orders?
Yes, we only use eco-friendly printing methods (both screen printing and DTG (digital) printing).
Do you do inside or outside neck prints?
Yes we can print inside or outside neck. For inside neck prints we often use light grey (Pantone Matching System grey 3C), which will show up on a print run of most colors (e.g. it will show up on black tees as well as white tees)). It's important to use light colors for inside neck prints on white or light colored T-shirts otherwise the print can show through to the outside.
DIRECT-TO-GARMENT PRINTING
What is DTG printing?
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing is a digital process using high quality inkjet printers that print directly onto the garment, the set up time is minimal, making it ideal for sampling and small print runs. There is no MOQ for DTG printing and we use this printing method for quantities of 1-24. We might also suggest DTG for larger print runs if the design has lots of colors, has highly detailed or shaded areas or is to be printed onto a textured fabric or over a pocket or seam.
Can you match colors exactly?
No, the design is printed as it is and usually the colors are pretty accurate but we cannot match to a Pantone Matching System or guarantee that an exact color will be reproduced. If the color match is very important to you, we recommend that you have a sample printed first. It is possible that we can adjust ink levels, to increase or decrease saturation/brightness in color accuracy.
THE GARMENTS
Are all the garments you use environmentally friendly?
We source and print eco-friendly/sustainable garments - usually organic cotton but sometimes bamboo, modal, tencel, recycled polyester etc.
Do the garments come with any branding/labelling regarding being ethical?
Yes, some but not all of the garments have a label on the inside left hand seam with details of their eco credentials.
Is it possible for me to see a sample of the garment before I order?
You can order a blank sample of the garment to check quality, color and sizing but we do charge for this (non-refundable).
Will the garments shrink in the wash?
The garments comply with the general performance standards in the clothing retail industry. Some shrinkage and twisting may occur after washing but will stay within the acceptable limits for dimensional stability performance. To minimize shrinking and twisting, it is recommended that the wash temperature does not exceed 30°C in a standard or delicate washing cycle, and the garments are reshaped before drying on a line or flat. Hot washes and tumble drying is likely to affect the dimensional stability of the garments and may also cause fading of colour.
For the environment, we recommend that you wash at 30°C or below, do not tumble dry, line dry and only iron when necessary.
Can I supply my own garments?
No, we no longer print onto own-garment supplied as it's difficult to ensure high print quality on garments that we aren't used to working with, as different fabrics can be more or less absorbent and/or have a rougher or smoother print surface. Usually we order spares in, in case of misprints, and it's difficult to allow for misprints if the garments have been supplied by a customer. Even with garments that we are used to, we like to order them ourselves in order to have full control over timings and to reduce time picking and packing.
THE INKS
What are water based inks?
Water based inks are inks that use water as their main solvent; not all water based inks are equally eco-friendly though. We try to use inks that go above the industry standard in order to provide the best for you, the customer and our community.
What type of fabric printing inks do you use?
We predominantly use the Permaset Aqua fabric inks, made by Colormaker Industries. They’re formulated to be eco-friendly and don’t contain harmful ingredients contained in plastisol inks and discharge inks. They’re more eco-friendly than other water based inks too, as many water based inks contain white spirit. We also use Green Galaxy inks, as well as Matsui.
How durable are the inks? Can my garment be washed?
The inks that we use are high quality and durable. The inks wash fine at 40°C and should last the lifetime of the garment, with no significant fading. We recommend that any ironing should be from the other side only and hang dry over tumble dry.
So why doesn’t everyone use water-based inks?
Water based inks can be difficult to use. They air dry and can clog up the screen during printing. It takes a bit of getting used to but it’s worth it. Traditionally water based inks were not as hard-wearing and durable as plastisol inks and weren’t as opaque – but things are different now.
THE ARTWORK
How should I provide my artwork?
Please email your artwork to us. If it's a very large file you may like to send it by wetransfer . There are more artwork guidelines and information on the file type under the Resources section at the bottom of the page under ARTWORK GUIDELINES.
What is color separation?
For screen printing, every color is printed separately. The artwork has to be split into its constituent colors so that a screen can be made for each color. Each ink color is then pressed through its screen.
How can I perform color separation?
We would usually do this for you. If there are a lot of similar tones, it may be easier if you can send a layered file, so that it’s easy to distinguish between the colors.
How many colors can I have in my design?
For screen printing we use a four-station carousel and can print up 3-4 colors. Digital printing can be full color but not fluoro or metallic.
Is it possible to print over seams?
We can print over seams but we prefer not to, as print quality is affected if the print area is not completely flat. We don’t generally print right up to seams or hems for the same reason.
Is it possible to screen print a photographic image?
Absolutely, digital printing is perfect for this and is usually the best way to recreate photographic imagery. Some people prefer their work to be screen printed and we can also screen print photographic images using process colours, recreating the image as a series of dots in CMYK. Some images work better than others so it’s best to email us the image for further advice.
Can you screen print images with a gradient?
For screen printing we can only print one colour per screen. However, a gradient can be recreated as a halftone (a series of dots like old newspaper prints). This works well for high contrast images but not so well for subtle shades and large areas of one shade. If you have an image and you’d like us to advise as to whether it would be suitable for printing in this way, please email us.
Digital printing is particularly well suited to this.
How can an image that has shaded areas be altered for screen printing?
The image has to be bitmapped and a half tone created. This is generally done in Photoshop. We can offer advice, or do this for you.
How do I specify what color I want?
If there’s specific colors that you’d like us to match please specify a Pantone reference or send a hard copy. Alternatively, we can match the ink color to your artwork on the computer screen using the closest Pantone match, but this will not be an exact match.
TURNAROUND TIME
How long will my order take?
Turnaround is usually 15 working days from receipt of final artwork and payment but can vary a lot, depending on our workload at the time. Click the Turnaround link in our website footer to learn about our current turnaround time. Please bear in mind that all turnaround times are approximate and, although we will do everything in our power to get your order to you within the expected timeframe, some things are outside of our control.