SHARPRINT BLOG

Pantone colors have become the universal language for color. You may already know the basics of Pantone colors when it comes to screenprinting, but despite the exact nature of Pantone colors, what you see is not always what you will get. Find out what you need to know about screen printing Pantones on textiles, along with which standard colors to call out when you're printing on an underbase.

Soft-hand is a relative term when it comes to screen printed t-shirts. When you ask for soft-hand printing on two different orders, the finished print for one order can be much softer than the finished print on the other. How soft can you expect a soft-hand print to be? More importantly, how soft does your client expect the print to be?

You don’t need to be a graphic artist to know if the file your client sent is good to use for apparel decoration. You don’t need Photoshop either. Fact is, anyone with a computer can check the quality of a digital file for screenprint, embroidery, or DTG printing.

Looking at client art files is easy using our step-by-step instructions. This article will provide the basic things you need to know about file types, getting set-up to view them, and how to know if they are a good quality for use.

In 1955, James Dean donned a plain white tee in Rebel Without A Cause making t shirts a fashion staple. To say t-shirts have come a long way since then is an understatement. Now a staple of the promotional products industry, t-shirts have exploded in terms of styles available is even more complicated by the number of different fabrics on the market. In this article, we break down the differences between t shirt fabric options available today. Understanding the quality, cost, and important decoration aspects of each fabric can help you guide your client in selecting the perfect tshirt for the order.

All Over Prints (AOP) are some of the most exciting in the t-shirt screen printing world. And just like standard screen printing, a great all over print starts with great artwork. That said, the process for all over printing is different than the process for standard screen printing, so the kind of art that works is different too. In this article you'll learn how the processes differ and discover the 3 best art approaches for stunning all over prints. 

Most promotional product distributors understand that some amount of product can be damaged during the decoration process. Knowing how much to expect, how to communicate with your client and how to order exact quantities can take some extra finesse. In this article, we define spoilage, talk through spoilage allowances, and explore various order scenarios involving spoilage. By understanding the guidelines, you can communicate with your client as needed to be sure their expectations are met.

Whether you are ordering screen print, embroidery or direct-to-garment printing, you will need one of two file types: a high resolution raster file or a vector art file. These file types work with images differently and have different guidelines for what can be used. While you don't need to be a graphic artist to order custom printed tshirts or embroidered uniforms, developing an understanding of the different file types will enable you to discuss artwork and art related issues more clearly with your client.

Direct-to-garment (also called DTG or digital) revolutionized printing full-color images on low-quantity t-shirt orders. Most folks in the promotional products industry are familiar with the process, but many aren’t sure when or why to order DTG prints. By the end, you will be able to confidently advise your clients and know when to consult with your decorator first. Be sure to check out the video to see DTG in action. You can download a reference guide on how to size artwork for direct-to-garment printing.