Screen Printing Tips: Print Do's & Don'ts for Apparel Printing
Why Not To Print Over Seams, Pockets or Zippers
To get the best quality print when screen printing, we need as flat of a surface as possible between the pallet (that the garment lays on) and the screen (that holds your design). The fronts and backs of t-shirts are consistently smooth and the same thickness, which allows us to get a perfect print every time. However, when you print over a seam, pocket or zipper, it creates an inconsistency, because these are thicker portions of the garment. When you print over these portions of the garments, it creates a gap in the print where the ink from the screen does not touch the shirt due to the ridge caused by the seam. Here is an example:
We do our absolute best to give you the highest quality print possible, but when a print goes over the seams, we cannot accept responsibility for any negative effects caused by this issue.
Note: For screen printed hooded sweatshirts, we do have special pallets that have indentations for the zipper and pocket seams but not every sweatshirt is exactly the same.
Why Not To Print On Ribbed Garments
Ribbed garments provide the best form fit of all blank shirts as they stretch to meet the size of the individual wearing them. This is great the for final consumer but makes screen printing on the ribbed shirt a problem. When you pull a ribbed garment onto the press, it is not stretched out, so the ink only goes on the top of the ribs. Then, when the shirt is put on, the ink pulls apart, exposing a gap between the ribs that is not printed. We can apply more pressure on the press to try to force the ink into the gaps, but this limits the amount of detail that is actually shown on the garment. Because of these issues, we strongly suggest that you do not print on ribbed garments. Here is an example:
What Garments Don't De-Tag Well
Most clothing lines remove the manufacturer's tags from shirts to screen print their logo and information into the shirt, branding it as their own. Most manufacturers understand this and make their tags easy to remove. However, some brands have tags that are sewn into the seam, rather than under the seam which makes them difficult to de-tag. If a garment doesn’t have a tear-away tag, and you’d like the original tags removed, then the they will need to be cut (which can result in remnants or holes left behind- see image below). With this in mind, these are garments and brands to be aware of:
- Alternative Apparel Garments
- American Apparel 2408 Tanks
- American Apparel 2456 V-Necks
- Comfort Color Garments
- Fleece Garments
- Tultex 0213
What Shirts Don't Work Well With Jumbo Prints
Jumbo prints account for approximately 50% of all orders placed at our shop. People want as big of a print as possible. With standard unisex or mens tees, this is typically not a problem. However, some shirts have issues when printing Jumbo:
- Tank Tops: Most tank tops are low cut at both the neckline and the sleeves. Printing jumbo prints on these garments can cause print defects from printing over the seams.
- V-Necks: The neck line of the v-neck may cut into the design. Please take this into account when you are designing your shirt.
- Girls Tees: Jumbo pallets are wider than most girls tees. In order to get the girls tee onto the press, it has to be stretched. This can cause several issues: possible ripped shirts, loss of form from stretching past normal means, a distorted image due to stretching the shirt, and the design being cut off the bottom/sides of the shirt.
Note: Any print that goes over a seam will result in imperfections in the print. (Some customers find this effect desirable, but we discourage it and will not be held responsible for misprints).
What Garments Don't Show Detail Well
With advancements in screen printing (including high mesh count screens and specialty presses) we can recreate a level of detail with t-shirts that was previously unattainable just 5-10 years ago. However, due to the way some garments are constructed, they will not work well with detail. The following is a list of those garments:
- Ribbed Garments
- Canvas Material (Aprons, Bags, etc.)
- Burnout Tees
- Pique Polos
These items do not work well with screen printing detail because they are not smooth like standard t-shirts.
Why Isn't Every Garment Perfect
Contrary to popular belief, most t-shirts are not made by giant machines, they're sewn together in facilities by hand. Check out the following video series made by NPR following the creation of a t-shirt:
Due to the human element, not every shirt will be 100% correct. You may have two large shirts that are both the same style but one may have a slightly different cut. Since Threadbird does not make the shirts, we cannot guarantee that every garment will be made correctly. We do our best to catch these issues before sending the shirts to you, but sometimes these defects can slip through our hands. You may find a hole in your t-shirt or you may see a seam that isn't sewn up the way it should be. If you find any items with holes or rips in them, please let us know and we will work with you on refunding you for the defective items. However, we cannot give refunds for any shirts due to their fit.
What Issues Will Arise When Printing Hoodies
Hoodies are one of the more difficult garments to print on, but they are also one of the best selling items during the winter. The following are a few issues to be aware of when printing hoodies:
- Double lined hoodies can only print 1 color ink and no underbase. They slide around on the press so we cannot accurately register multiple colors.
- Pockets on hoods have to be glued down to print over them. Because of this, when you receive your garments, they may still have some of the glue spray in the pockets. This should wash out after one wash.
- Prints on the hood itself vary based on what brand of sweatshirt you are printing on. We may have to heat press the design onto the hood if it is double lined. Only single lined sweatshirts work with hood prints.
- We do have special pallets that have indentations for the zipper and pocket seams, but not every sweatshirt is exactly the same. When you print over these portions of garments, it creates a gap in the print where the ink in the screen does not hit the shirt due to the ridge caused by the seam. For this reason, we do not recommend printing over-the-zipper.
- When you print over the seams, it can throw the registration off. You may see white poking out from under the design.
- Hoodies are made with thick fabric and soak up a lot of ink. The color of the sweatshirt will often times influence the ink colors. To get the highest quality print when going over zippers &/or pockets, we recommend using a 100% cotton or 80/20 blend hoodie and using all discharge colors without an underbase.
- When printing hoodies, we cannot mix them with regular t-shirts on an order because they require a different set of equipment and settings on the printing press. If you would like to order the same design on both t-shirts and hoodies, we will need to set up your order as two separate designs.
What to do Differently on Tri-Blend Tees
Flash units on presses burn the tri-blend material, so tri-blend shirts are not underbased. Please take this into account when you order them. Without an underbase, tri-blend tees will have a faded/vintage look, which is what the shirts were intended for. When printing tri-blends we always recommend using either 100% waterbase ink or a waterbase discharge ink to get the softest print possible. If you don't use waterbase ink, your only real option is plasitsol ink. Threadbird recommends that you only opt for a tri-blend tee if you are looking for a soft shirt with a soft print.
Why to Send Extra Hem Tags or Hang Tags
We do our absolute best to treat every shirt with the utmost care, including any additional items you send us, like hem tags and hang tags. When providing hem tags and hang tags, we strongly recommend that you send at least 10% extra when you place your order. During the process of sewing in the tags, they can rip on the machine and if we don't have extras, we cannot ensure that all shirts will be tagged. Threadbird is not responsible for shirts that are not tagged if extras were not provided. If a tag is misplaced or damaged in the process, Threadbird will send the shirt untagged but will not refund the cost to sew the tag into the shirt that is missing a tag.
Customer Feature: Splash! Hawaii
For this brand, dreams of summer are their everyday reality! Splash! Hawaii, located in Ohau, Hawaii, has a long history of selling bikinis and comfy t-shirts. Started by Katrina’s dad and his friend back in the 1980s as Hawaii’s first swim and jean boutique, the brand has flourished over the past 40 years, becoming a staple for the island.
“It took off. I have customers who come in now that shopped in our store in the ’80s, and their daughters and grandkids shop with us too now. It is very special. My dad and I are now business partners.” – Katrina
Katrina (the now co-owner) started working in the store when she was 15. Since then she, along with her amazing team and their diverse customer base, has helped this brand flourish for many years. T-shirts weren’t always their go-to item, but over the years demand grew. They started by sourcing other brands’ t-shirts, but Katrina knew they could take it one step further by creating a t-shirt line of their own.
And so their first long sleeve pocket t-shirt was born. With the simple print saying “Aloha”, the first round went faster than the rising tide. They keep their designs simple and speak to the Hawaiian lifestyle.
“I am a big believer in simplicity. Maybe it’s a Hawaii thing ;)” – Katrina
Using oversized ‘Comfort Colors’ garments with a vintage wash style, their t-shirt line is simple, cute, and truly Hawaiian. Hawaii itself is what inspires a lot of Splash! Hawaii’s designs.
“It is very unique to be surrounded by water, almost spiritual. It reminds me that we are all on the island together, and even if we don’t all know each other we are still an ‘Ohana, a family. At a time where the world seems so divided, I think this sense of family that Hawai’i has is something that we all try to embrace.” – Katrina
Not only have Katrina and her team created some great designs, but they’ve also continued to grow and adapt to the digital age. Splash! Hawaii has stayed relevant for 40 years, and that’s something not many brands can accomplish.
Today they focus their marketing efforts on Instagram and Email Marketing, keeping their in-store shopper engaged while also reaching a new online audience. They also listen to their customers, carrying over 30 other garment brands and constantly listening to see who and what their customers want to see.
Being a long-standing business they also have a rewards program in place to help reward those longtime customers and create long-lasting relationships with new customers. Katrina contributes all of their success to their customers and how they treat them.
“In terms of customers, create an experience. Customer service is key, but not in a pushy way. Create a customer loyalty list or program. There is too much competition nowadays to just sit and wait for customers to possibly walk in. We need to bring them in and keep them coming.” – Katrina
Splash! Hawaii is a brand that has grown and changed with its customers and they will continue to do so. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next and how their t-shirt line expands. They show that simple designs are eye-catching in the easiest way
“Remember that sometimes less is more”
Check out Splash! Hawaii here!
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
Getting Comfy With Women's Loungewear
Your latest weekend activities might include hanging with your dog, watching ‘Tiger King’ on Netflix, or sipping on a hot cup of tea with an early bedtime. Life is slowing down temporarily for you and your customers – which means we’re all getting a little bit more comfortable. Here are more of our favorite stay at home custom products:
Drinkware (Ceramic Camping Coffee Mug)
Expanding your product offerings means going beyond your customer’s closet. Whether you like coffee, tea, or a hot toddy, custom mugs with messages are an inexpensive addition to your brand.
Since pet owners are spending more quality time with their furry friends, this is a great chance to add dog products to your line. Choose from a variety of custom dog products including collars, leashes, toys, and more!
These high-quality dog products brand well and will make tails wag. Made from high-quality nylon with steel fixtures these collars are meant for all dogs from the most playful pup to the couch hog.
In addition to branded products, we’ve lined up some of our favorite new women’s products (with a focus on cozy). Featuring crop tops from Alternative Apparel and tie-dye from Dynemoite, we picked out garments that mix comfort and style.
Alternative Apparel
Slinky Jersey Muscle Tank Top, Alternative Apparel (03095B)
With a looser fit, this tank pairs perfectly with leggings to enjoy during your daily walk outside and can take you from exercising to your couch with ease. (featured in Navy and Army Green)
Kimber Slinky Jersey T-Shirt, Alternative Apparel (02620B)
The Kimber Slinky Jersey t-shirt can be worn to bed, the gym, the office, out shopping…literally anywhere! This loose-fitting t-shirt features a scoop neck that’s low enough to be fashionable and comfortable. (featured in Stonewash Blue and Rose Bloom)
Eco-Fleece Joggers, Alternative Apparel (31082F)
Alternative’s eco-fleece joggers contain organic and recycled materials so they not only feel great, you’ll feel socially responsible when wearing them too. (featured in Eco-Black)
Long Weekend Burnout French Terry Pants, Alternative Apparel (08632F)
French Terry has grown in popularity again this year. These french terry pants are loose-fitting but feature a long cuff to create some extra style. The pocket details are something rarely seen on a blank garment. (featured in Washed Black)
Challenger Washed Terry Pullover Hoodie, Alternative Apparel (09595C)
Made up of french terry material, this long and loose-fitting pullover is a great unisex garment that everyone will love. Its rich gem tone colors make it perfect for fall or spring. (featured in Dark Teal)
Champ Washed Terry Sweatshirt, Alternative Apparel (09575CT)
A complimentary garment to the Challenger, the Champ is another French Terry lightweight essential. (featured in Stay Gold)
Lazy Day Burnout French Terry Pullover, Alternative Apparel (08626)
Have your outfit match the “mute” button on your conference call. This sweatshirt features a unique burnout fabric with a raw edge at the bottom for a fashionable worn-in look. It’s loose-fitting while still being cute and comfy. (featured in Ivory and Rose Bloom)
Headliner Printed Eco-Jersey Cropped T-shirt, Alternative Apparel (05114E)
Patterned fabric can give your design a whole different look. Not only is this crop top the perfect cropped length, it’s made from recycled and organic materials for all those eco-friendly babes! (featured in Stars, Camo, Vintage Pine, and Vintage Faded Pink)
Independent Trading Co.
California Wave Wash Jogger (ITC PRM20PNT) & California Wave Wash Pullover Hoodie (ITC PRM2500)
The sweatsuit is becoming the new go-to for work from home ladies as it takes over the pantsuit. These items feature single dyed and heavy washed fleece to achieve the perfect lightweight fleece. It’s light, comfortable, and so high-quality your customers will be begging for more. Featuring raw edge hems, DTG strings, and heavy-duty ribbing – you’re gonna want both! (featured in Shadow and Sage)
Dyenomite
This tri-blend women’s t-shirt is the perfect shade of blue and made up of a soft poly/cotton blend. (featured in Turquoise)
Multi Spiral Tee, Dyenomite 200MS
Tie-dye is back from the ’90s. Everyone needs a classic tie-dye t-shirt whether you’re a deadhead or a tech bro. (featured in Classic Rainbow)
Tie-Dye Long Sleeve Hoodie, Dyenomite 430VR
This form-fitting t-shirt/hoodie combo is available in bright colors that will remind you of a coastal sunset. A hoodie light enough for a summer night with a look that will have you wishing you were at the beach. (featured in Aerial)
Mineral Wash Tee, Dyenomite 200MW
Mineral Washed shirts give your basic tee a vintage feel. The fabric has the look of a tee that has been worn and loved. The wash makes the fabric extra soft and can be a great alternative to the bright colors of traditional tie-dye. (featured in Black)
Tultex
Unisex Heavyweight Long Sleeve T-shirt, Tultex 291
Heavyweight tees are a big part of the look found in streetwear apparel. Tultex created a long sleeve t-shirt that can transcend into the cooler months. Add cool sleeve printing for a unique design placement. (featured in Neo-Mint)
Tultex is throwing it back to the ’70s with vibrant retro colors. These soft crop tops feature a rolled sleeve cuff and sewn raw edge for a vintage look and feel. (featured in Mellow Yellow, Cantaloupe, Cassis)
Whether you’re releasing a women’s loungewear collection or just creating your spring line, we hope these options stand out to you as comfortable and high quality with features your customers will love. Why use boring blanks when you can make it fashion?
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 12+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise.
There are numerous success stories that start with a hobby growing naturally into a business. Many aspire to follow a similar path, just like this cowgirl from Texas. Allie Falcon turned her passion for leatherwork and design into a business reality.
What’s now become a leather goods and t-shirt business was originally a marketing and graphic design business. Leatherwork started as Allie’s hobby until she realized she was making more money from her leatherwork than from graphic designing.
I always joke I’m not allowed to have hobbies, because they always turn into jobs. :)
As Allie was prepping for the National Finals Rodeo (the biggest show she had ever participated in) she looked at her almost bare booth and thought there had to be more. Driving home one night, Allie’s husband suggested making t-shirts. Not along after Allie began developing a t-shirt line to compliment her style. Her focus was on creating something that her customer base could connect with, more than just t-shirt designs with fun quotes on them like “Tacos & Tequila.”
I just didn’t see anything in the western market that was art on its own. There were quotes on everything. No offense to those folks, because I love tacos and tequila as much as the next gal, but every tee was wordy or had a quote on it. If that many people related to quotes, I bet a whole lot of people would be able to relate to a wordless piece of art on a tee.
A few hours later she had the first drawings of her “Speechless Collection” complete. Allie wanted her collection to represent every western woman. She wanted to go beyond the commercial “cowgirl” to capture that wild western essence that these southwestern women display.
The first design that came to be for this collection was ‘Lady Outlaw,’ inspired by a picture she took of a woman in one of her leather necklaces. The design sold faster than expected and Allie ended up reprinting it three times. Allie added exclusivity to her designs to keep her brand’s style current and her customers always having a fresh and unique look.
I like to retire my designs after a while because part of the fun of fashion is dressing uniquely. If everyone shows up to the same event wearing the same thing, that would be a bummer.
Allie’s t-shirt business stemmed from her passion for leatherwork. Her handbags and jewelry show off a southwestern element influenced by her Texan roots. Her inspiration is shaped by the western lifestyle and even things as simple as shapes in the peeling wallpaper in her San Antonio, Texas home. Allie’s designs are her essence in its purest form.
To this day Allie is at home with her ranch lifestyle. “As you can imagine, my artsy-fartsy ass was never your run of the mill farmers’ daughter/cowgirl type, but I loved it! Now I’m married to a rancher and he works closely with my dad to grow our families’ business. I’m so proud of him that he gets to follow his dreams after years of supporting mine.”
Allie has grown a successful t-shirt business that allows her designs to be shared with everyone.
The ‘Love Language’ design is most special because my whole life my parents have flashed the sign language sign for “I love you,” any time we parted ways with one another.
Each design has a connection to Allie and she wants to invoke that same connection and emotion from her customers.
When it comes to choosing blank garments, Allie is a Bella + Canvas fan. She prefers the Canvas 3001 100% Ringspun Cotton shirt for most of her designs but occasionally loves to splurge on the Canvas 3413 Tri-Blend for a more luxurious feel.
Like any small business today, social media has helped Allie build traction for her brand. Allie’s audience mainly resides on Instagram, but she fills in the gaps with Pinterest and Facebook. However, Allie doesn’t just limit her brand to social media alone. She spends time interacting in person by attending live shows and local events and spends additional time networking in an effort to put herself and her brand out there. Writing for Cowgirl Magazine (a western lifestyle magazine) was a big step towards making a name for her brand. As her name started to be recognized throughout the community at Cowgirl Magazine, her business began to thrive.
Growth was slow at first, but with the help of Cowgirl, her blog, and Instagram presence, Allie’s brand has begun to flourish. “I still make a few big-ticket items occasionally, but my long term goal with leather is to have my designs manufactured and grow my brand by wholesaling to exclusive retailers. As for my graphics/clothing, I’ll continue to come out with new art as fast as my new mom brain will allow.” Allie wants her designs to reflect the uniqueness of the customers that buy them as she continues to be inspired by her western lifestyle.
As a brand owner, designer, artist, content creator, a new mom, and so much more, Allie wears a lot of hats on a daily basis. She offers this advice to others looking to start their brand:
Be yourself. Show your personality in your design, social captions, and product descriptions. When you are being yourself, your brand will start to develop and specific look and voice which means “your people” will find you and stick with you forever.
And...
Be your biggest advocate. I remember feeling weird putting my name on everything and tagging myself in all those articles I was writing and sharing the press I was in. It can feel a little like, “Hey, look what I did! See how cool I am?” But honey, ain’t no one going to do that stuff for you in the beginning! LOL!
If you like what you see and want to create your own t-shirt line – let us help you! Click here to get started with Threadbird.
Merchandising
Custom Merch For Your Brand, Event or Band
Create custom merchandise to help create a lasting experience and build a community around your brand.
Create a Diverse Merch Store
Whether you’re an influencer or a touring artist we can help you develop a custom merch collection that will sell out in no time. Create custom hats & scarfs, unique drinkware options, custom t-shirts and hoodies, and even custom pet products. Have an idea in mind for custom merch? Email us and let’s get the conversation started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a quick question? Check out our most commonly asked Custom Merch Solutions questions below.
T-shirts, hats, hoodies, stickers, pins, and more. If you can brand it, Threadbird can likely help produce and fulfill it.
Yes! The in-house art team can help refine or create artwork that prints well and matches your brand aesthetic.
Absolutely. Threadbird provides warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment directly to your customers.
With low minimums, on-brand merch options, and fulfillment built for growth, Threadbird is ideal for creators at any stage.
Screen printing is perfect for bold designs, while embroidery or woven labels work great for premium branded touches.
Brand Your Customers Today!
Choose from our extensive range of products, inks and finishing options and develop a beautiful product that is perfect for your customers.
Get Inspired
Look through examples from the Threadbird sample store and our customers. Find new ideas, new techniques, and get inspired for your next launch!
Sublimation
Sublimated Apparel
Create high quality custom sublimated apparel with a unique all over print. Utilize high color-count designs, large patterns, or even unique pictures to cover an entire garment with custom apparel sublimation.
What is Sublimation?
Sublimation is a decoration method in which full-color artwork is transferred to a polyester garment with no limitation on coverage area. Sublimation allows you to create a fully-printed garment utilizing a larger design or all-over pattern.
Explore Apparel Offerings
Use our garment templates to create unique sublimated
goods that won't be recreated by your competitors.
Custom Pocket Tee
Create a sublimated pocket stitched onto a premium t-shirt.
Production time 3-4 weeks
Explore Apparel Offerings
Use our garment templates to create unique sublimated goods that won't be recreated by your competitors.
Classic Tee
Starting @ $12.00 for 1,000
Ringspun Tee
Starting @ $12.00 for 1,000
Tri-Blend
Starting @ $15.00 for 1,000
Women's Ringspun
Starting @ $15.50 for 1,000
Brand Your Customers Today!
Choose from our extensive range of products, inks and finishing options and develop a beautiful product that is perfect for your customers.
Landing Page (Sample)
This is a Landing Page Showing Content Blocks
This page has been created as a Sample Page to show all of the available Content Blocks that can be added to a page - with names and descriptions.
Flex card sections can have 3, 4 or 5 cards per row. There are currently four
types of cards. 1. Content Cards = Image and Text. 2. Content Card w/ Button = Image, Text & Button.
3. Vertical Card w/ Icon = Icon, Heading & Text. 4. Card Text Collapsing = FAQ Style Card that Collapses
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
This Flex Card Section is nested inside a Full Container,
which allows us to use the Blue Wave Background.
Flex Cards x4
This Flex Card section is nestled inside a Full Container like the 3x Card.
Custom Pocket Tee
Create a sublimated pocket stitched onto a premium t-shirt.
Production time 3-4 weeks
What is Sublimation?
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Title Here
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Testing
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Turnaround & Shipping FAQs
When can I expect my order?
| Order Type |
Finishings |
Production |
Shipping Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed Apparel | No | 10-15 Business Days | 1-5 Business Days, depending on shipping destination. Expedited shipping options are available! |
| Printed Apparel | Yes | 15-20 Business Days | 1-5 Business Days, depending on shipping destination. Expedited shipping options are available! |
Standard screen printing turnaround time for production is 7-10 business days (this is for STANDARD ORDERS ONLY). *Please note - orders with any of the following specs may take longer: finishings, higher color counts, multiple print locations, process print, and speciality inks.
What are my shipping options?
If you’d like to expedite your order, alternate shipping options are available on a case-by-case basis. Free order pickup is available at our Orlando, FL headquarters - with this option, you will not be charged for shipping.
*Production time excludes shipping time & is dependent on quick mock approval from the customer.
How will my order be shipped?
Your screen print order will be shipped via FedEx Ground.* Once your order is shipped, we will e-mail you a tracking number - don’t forget to check your spam folder for this one!
*FedEx Ground is used for all orders with standard turnaround time. 2 Day, 3 Day, Overnight & other rush options may be available on a case-by-case basis as determined by your Customer Account Specialist.
How can I check the status of my order?
You can login to your Customer Account for updates on your order anytime. You can also give us a call or send your Customer Account Specialist an e-mail to receive the status of your order! Once your order is shipped, you will also be e-mailed a tracking number.
What can affect/delay order turnaround time?
The following items will be subject to a longer turnaround time past our standard turnaround terms:
- Printed tags
- Hang tags
- Hem tags
- Folding & bagging
- Process prints
- Delayed mock approval
Your order turnaround time will begin once we have all of the following (and not before that!)
- Screenprint-ready artwork as confirmed by your Customer Account Specialist
- Approved mock of your design(s)
- Invoice payment
File Prep for Screen Printing
Prepare Your Art
All files must be at least 300 ppi or Vector Format for screen printing. If your file is not 300 ppi, you cannot just increase the resolution of the file. This is called "upsampling" and will result in a blurry image. If you are creating your file in Adobe Illustrator or another Vector-based software, just size your image to the size you want it to print.
Please Note: 3 or more color changes is no longer considered the same design!
Half Tones: Please allow us to halftone the images for you. If we do not control the halftones, we cannot guarantee the quality of the print. We do understand that some designs are complex and will require separation fees, as a client you may be inclined to try to separate or halftone the image yourself to try to keep your cost as low as possible. Unfortunately this does not work. Our computers in the art department are calibrated to set the halftones specifically for the films and screens that we use for printing. Often times if you try to separate or halftone the image yourself it may cause more art charges than you would have originally incurred.
Accepted File Types
We accept the following File Types for Screen Printing:
- Illustrator (.AI)
- Vector (.EPS)
- Photoshop (.PSD)
- JPEG
- TIFF
We prefer .AI or .EPS files first because Vector images can be scaled without affecting quality. We prefer .PSD or .PDF second & .JPG or .TIFF last. Check out our blog 'How to Prep & Quality Check Your Artwork' to learn more about file prep!
Size Your Design
Your screen print logo or design should be sized to the size it should be printed. If you want your print to be 10" wide, please be sure the actual design within the file is 10" wide, not just the background of your design file. Go to the T-Shirt Templates Page, download the appropriate template and place your design on the template to the size you would like it to appear on the shirt.
Convert Your Text to Outlines
If you are creating your file in Adobe Illustrator, you will need to choose "Create Outlines" on all your text. This allows us to open the file without requiring the font.
Use Our Templates
Use one of Threadbird's screen print design templates to submit your final design. Go to the Templates Page. (For Apparel Printing Threadbird Templates are not required but recommended.)
Working with Canva Templates
If you don’t have the Adobe programs or you’re looking for some templates to inspire you, Canva can be a helpful place to start. In order to get the best outcome for your print-ready designs, it's super important to know how to set up your Canva template properly.
One beneficial feature of the platform is the built-in design and printing service (for Direct to Garment Printing only) called Smartmockups. Once you have created your design, this tool allows you to visualize how your design will look on a t-shirt. You may need to resize your design to fit the shirt. **It's important to note, some capabilities within Canva require users to have the paid version of Canva. These include:
- Resizing the artboard with your designs. The artboards in Canva are auto set to 14” x 18”.
- Exporting PNG files with a transparent background.
When you're ready to export your designs, hit the ‘Share’ button > Downloads > PDF Print. Doing this will export the file with the necessary DPI resolution of 300 required for printing. For text based designs, we also recommend saving them as a PDF file.
Threadbird Screen Sizes
- Standard Screens - 14" x 17"
- Jumbo Screens - 18" x 23"
Printed/Sewn In Tag Information
It is required by the US Government that the following information be included in all garments:
- Size
- % of Material
- Country of Origin (for the garment, not your brand)
- Care Instructions
Please feel free to use one of our custom tag templates to help create your tag files: Download Tag Template here.
These are non-negotiable. We cannot list "Printed in the US" or "Processed in the US" instead of listing what country the shirt is manufactured in, it *must* have the country information on the garment. If you are unaware of the information needed for the shirts you are ordering, please leave your tag files editable and add place holders for the information. When you submit your artwork, please submit the editable tag file (PSD or AI) as well as the fonts used to create the tag. The fonts are very important as we cannot edit fonts we don't have.
To find out more about these rules, please visit this resource called: Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements Under the Textile and Wool Acts
Picking PMS Colors
We will provide free pantone color matching for your garments when your orders are submitted. However, there is an issue with pantone matching, and that is that not every color looks the same on every monitor. A certain red on your screen may appear to be a different red on ours. There is no universal color calibration for computers. It is always best to try to supply your own pantone colors if possible. The best way to do this, and the most accurate way, is to purchase a Pantone Plus Series Solid Coated Formula Guide. This can be purchased as part of the set (Coated and Uncoated) through Amazon. The reason why it's best to buy the book, once again, is the pantone guide on your version of photoshop is still using your color calibration, and will not necessarily be accurate.
Max Imprints
Please note that not all shirts will be sewn exactly the same; these dimensions are to be used for reference as a "safe" zone to avoid printing on any seams or edges. Be sure to check the specific product page for "Size Specs" specific to that garment. NOTE: Any print that goes over a seam can result in imperfections in the print. (Which can be very cool-looking, if you're into that.)
Unisex/Mens
- X-Small - 12" x 20"
- Small - 13" x 22"
- Medium - 15" x 23"
- Large - 17" x 24"
Womens/Juniors
- Small - 11" x 18"
- Medium - 12" x 19"
- Large - 12" x 20"
- X-Large - 12" x 21"
Youth
- Small - 13" x 13"
- Medium - 13" x 16"
- Large - 14" x 19"
5 Ways to Elevate Your Brand with Threadbird
With Threadbird, you can mold ordinary products into spectacular, extraordinary ambassadors to market your brand. From quality blanks and custom embroidery to unique finishing & branding touches, our teams got your needs taken of!
Whether you're a startup or an established business, here are five simple ways you can take your brand to new heights:
1. Choosing Quality Blank Garments
Creating great merchandise is rooted in the quality of the blank garments you choose to decorate. As you start the process, ask yourself - are you looking to create cheap give-away merch or quality garments that speak to the quality and longevity of your brand?
Threadbird offers a wide selection of premium blanks, and our specialist works closely with you to ensure that your artwork is showcased on the best canvas possible. When you select blank garments made from high-quality fabrics, you can provide your customers with apparel that not only looks great, but is also comfortable to wear (a win-win!) This can certainly impact your customers' brand loyalty and likelihood to come back for more. Remember, the garment sets the stage for your brand's success, so investing in quality upfront is key!
2. Embroidery Decoration: Products for the Best Results
Want your logo design to really pop? Well, say hello to embroidery decoration! Embroidery adds a touch of dimension and sophistication & durability to your brand merchandise. When discerning which products to get for embroidery decoration, consider the size and complexity of your artwork (number of colors, shape & font). These components will dictate the type of fabric that will work best for your designs.
3. Add Finishing Touches like Custom Tags
When it comes to business, brand identity is everything. Your style, image, and quality of products is not only what defines you but also what distinguishes your brand apart from competitors.
Pay attention to the finishing touches! Custom clothing tags are a subtle yet powerful way to reinforce your brand identity. Whether you opt for woven labels, printed tags, or heat-pressed labels, Threadbird can bring your logo to life with precision and flair. These finishing touches add a layer of professionalism to your merchandise, leaving a lasting impression on your customers.
4. Unique Decoration Styles like Puff & Process Ink
Want to make a statement? Explore unique decoration options like patches, puff ink, and process print ink. Custom patches add texture and dimension to your designs, creating eye-catching accents that demand attention. Puff ink offers a raised, tactile finish that stands out from the crowd. Process print ink allows for intricate, full-color designs that pop off the fabric. Chainstitch embroidery uses slightly thicker thread stitch compared to standard embroidery, which produces a bolder line of embroidery. With Threadbird's diverse range of decoration techniques, the sky's the limit for your creativity.
5. Ordering Products in Bulk: Benefits & Payoff
Ordering brand merchandise in bulk not only saves you time and money but also maximizes the impact of your brand. The more products you order, the cheaper the products will become, per unit. For instance, if you're ordering 24-50 screen printed shirts at a time, you'll ultimately spend more on each shirt, for fewer shirts in total. Versus if you were to print 300 shirts, you will spend less on each shirt, for 5-6x the amount of inventory.
Threadbird's competitive pricing and fast turnaround times makes ordering in bulk easier than ever! Plus, having plenty of merchandise on hand ensures that you're always ready to meet demand and seize opportunities for growth. Whether you need to stock up for a big event or replenishing inventory, bulk ordering is a smart strategy for long-term success.
Your brand deserves to shine, and Threadbird's decoration services are here to help you make it happen. By selecting quality garments, choosing the best decoration techniques, and investing in custom branding finishings, you can elevate your merchandise to new heights. With our expert team by your side, the possibilities are endless. Ready to make your mark? Let's create something unforgettable together.
Hey, It's Threadbird, here to be your expert guide with printing, apparel, and merch. Our brand has been in the custom merch game for 14+ years. We know the ins and outs of all of your favorite products. We are here to help your brand fly high with our knowledge and expertise!