FAQ

FAQ: Custom Apparel Printing Guidelines

Section 1: General Printing Methods

What do DTF, UV, DTG, and Screen Printing stand for?

DTF (Direct-to-Film): Designs print onto a special film and heat-transfer to fabric.
DTG (Direct-to-Garment): A digital printer sprays ink directly onto the clothing.
Screen Printing: Traditional method pushing ink through woven screens onto fabric.
UV Printing: Ultraviolet curing. Ink dries instantly under UV light, mostly for hard surfaces.

Which method is best for my order?

DTG: Best for complex, multi-color designs in small quantities (1-10 items).
Screen Printing: Best for simple designs in large bulk orders (20+ items).
DTF: Best for vibrant designs on synthetic, dark, or unusual fabric placements.
UV Printing: Best for hard promotional items like mugs, phone cases, and pens.

Section 2: Garment Colors & Print Quality

Can you print bright designs on dark or black shirts?

DTG & DTF: Yes. We apply a white ink underbase first so colors pop vibrantly on dark fabrics.
Screen Printing: Yes. Dark shirts require an extra flash-cure layer of white ink underneath your design.
UV Printing: Includes a white ink layer to ensure opacity on dark promotional items.

Do colors look different on colored shirts versus white shirts?

White shirts allow digital inks to blend directly into the fibers for a soft feel.
Colored shirts require a white underbase, which makes the print feel slightly thicker.
Exact color vibrancy may vary slightly depending on the underlying fabric dye.

Are there shirt colors that do not work well with certain printing methods?

DTG: Avoid neon or heavily heathered polyester shirts, as the ink will not bond properly.
DTF & Screen Printing: Work perfectly on all garment colors, including neons, darks, and pastels.

Section 3: Sizing & Design Placement

Does the print size change depending on the shirt size?

Standard printing uses one artwork size across all garment sizes in an order.
A design may look large on a Small shirt but smaller on a 3XL shirt.
We can create separate, scaled artwork files for different size runs for an extra setup fee.

What is the maximum print size available?

DTG: Maximum print area is typically 14" x 16".
DTF: Continuous roll printing allows for oversized graphics up to 22" wide.
Screen Printing: Standard maximum size is 15" x 17", with jumbo options available.

Do you offer plus sizes or youth sizes?

We stock standard adult garments from size XS up to 4XL or 5XL.
Infant, toddler, and youth sizes are available for most styles.
DTF is the best choice for tiny youth garments or awkward print locations like sleeves.

Section 4: Fabric & Durability

Can I print on any fabric type?

DTG: Requires 100% cotton or high-cotton blends for the best ink absorption.
DTF & Screen Printing: Works flawlessly on cotton, polyester, nylon, and blends.
UV Printing: Not used for flexible apparel; strictly for rigid accessories.

How long will the custom print last?

How should I wash my custom apparel?

Section 5: Artwork & Design

What file formats do you accept?

We require high-resolution vector files like AI, EPS, or PDF.
Raster files like PNG and PSD are accepted if they are at least 300 DPI.
Ensure your design has a transparent background unless the background is part of the print.

Can you print exact Pantone color matches?

Screen Printing: Yes, we mix inks to match exact Pantone color codes.
DTG & DTF: No, they use CMYK digital printing, which approximates colors closely but cannot guarantee a 100% exact Pantone match.

Section 6: Orders & Turnaround

Do you have minimum order quantities (MOQ)?

DTG & DTF: No minimums; you can order a single custom shirt.
Screen Printing: Minimum of 24 pieces per design due to intensive machine setup.

What is the standard turnaround time?