I come late to the party so there is no much to add, but here are my humble additions:
I have found that many printers get confused when art uses overprinting, because (apparently) it is not used very often. I always highlight this to them so they are aware that I will be using it. I often set the areas with overprinting to both overprint and multiply, just to make sure is not missed.
Unusual inks can be scary if they are not used correctly. I have seen boxes peeling off because the art was overprinted on a metal flood and it never cured. Highlighting to the printer that you are using the unusual ink and asking for their opinion is always a great idea. Sometimes different printers have different ways of working with the ink. This question might also raise flags that nobody had noticed. Metal inks might need extra curing time, which might move the deadline and/or add to the final cost, for example.
I notice that every time I go to print a project, there are a myriad of new finishes that I did not know existed. I always end up with a new swash book of finishes, which is great. They have sometimes special requirements such as extra curing time or incompatibility with metal inks, so it is always good to ask.
A finish that can be applied inline saves time. Not all finishes come in this style though, and not all printers carry all of them. Sometimes asking this question just allows you to learn that the finish you had selected was an old fashion one that needed for the ink to be 100% cured but they have a new one that can be applied inline and be done with it as opposed to waiting for the curing time.
Not all finishes can be applied in only a spot (area). This depends on the actual finish and on the actual press the provider has.
If either the embossing plates or the whole embossing task are outsourced then there might be different requirements to how you provide the art.
Depending on the type of embossing and how old the provider machinery is they might not be able to assure the embossed area will be 100% registered with the art. It is always good to know so in advance to avoid surprises and adapt the art to their capabilities.
If the trimming is not as straightforward as a rectangle (think a cosmetics box as opposed to a magazine spread) and if their machinery is old, then they might not be able to assure a very tight registration. It is good to know so and to adapt the art for trimming variations.
Certain inks (such as metal inks, for example) render barcodes illegible. Horrible thing to find when the product has already been delivered to the retailer. Most printers I have worked with offer the service of testing the barcode after is printed just to make sure it is readable. They offer this for free, but I often find that if I don't ask for it, they don't do it.
Sometimes finishing, embossing and trimming are outsourced, because they require extra machinery that the printer might not be interested in buying. If you are adding another provider to the process it is always good to know so, particularly if you need to complain or fine tune. If the other provider is hidden behind the printer and your printer is not doing a good job on representing you, then it can get tricky and add time to the deadline.
This sounds like an idiotic question, but sometimes some adventurous printers take liberties and move things around to fix production problems you might have missed or change colours because they think you made a mistake. Highlighting to them that you don't want them to do so is a good idea. There is usually more than one way of overcoming a production problem and their choice of solution might not be the one you might have preferred.
I love press approvals because it is fascinating to see my digital work turned into actual plates and ink; I think offset presses are awesome (as in awe inspiring) and I also learn a lot from press operators. But besides my personal geeky fascinations I find that coming to the a press approval, at least the first run of a project, allows me to catch problems that would have been terrible to catch when the whole thing is already run (like misunderstanding overprinting) and sometimes make last minute decisions (like "OK, overprinting metal is not working, forget about the metal, make it black"). It also allows me to see how careful the printer is. Sometimes they can be sloppy if they are under tight deadlines (hickies much?). Make sure not to micromanage, though, (note to myself) and to trust they know what they are doing.
Using screen printing to create your custom t-shirts and other apparel can be an affordable and effective way to create branded clothing and marketing materials for your business, club, or event.
However, the process isn’t as simple as sending your logo design to a local printer and picking up the finished products from the shop in a few days. To ensure you’re hiring the right screen printing shop for your job, ask these ten questions before signing on the dotted line.
Yes, some screen printing shops offer free estimates. However, because there are many variables that can affect pricing (materials used, location of shop, business type), you should make sure an estimate is personalized and accurately accounts for your individual needs. It’s always good practice to ask for at least two or three quotes when planning your budget.
You can start by searching Google for screen printing near me and choosing a few shops that seem likely matches for your needs and requirements. Then, give them a call and ask about their printing process and how much it costs to print custom t-shirts. From there, you can narrow down a few finalists who look like they might be a good fit for your project.
Next you’ll want get several estimates before making your final decision! Some questions you should try asking during each phone call include: What kind of experience do you have printing custom t-shirts? Can I see some examples of work you’ve done in my industry?
If you’re hiring a screen printing shop, you’ll want to make sure it has experience and an established track record. By asking how long they’ve been in business, you can get some idea of their history and longevity. You don’t want to get involved with someone who is just starting out or has been in business for only a few months!
How many employees do you have? Depending on what type of job your screen printer has given you, you may be better off working with a smaller shop that specializes in one aspect (such as screen printing, direct-to-garment printing, or sublimation).
A larger business could end up assigning your order to an employee who doesn’t have experience with your specific needs or project.
Another good question to ask: How big is your staff?
Obviously, you want your designs to be created on high-quality printing equipment. You also want them printed on high-quality garments.
If your screen printer doesn’t or can’t answer these questions in detail, they might not be using high-quality equipment, screen printing materials, or premium quality apparel.
Here are some specific questions you should ask:
These details can help you ensure that your final product will look as professional as possible and make sure your order comes out great!
Samples give you an idea of what your design will look like in real life. If possible, look at their samples in person before you hire them—it’s important that they match your vision and expectations. If they don’t have samples, check out their portfolio online.
Talk with other people who have worked with screen printers; ask about their experience working with the shop. You can also read reviews from other customers to see how others feel about it. Your search should lead you to three or four shops that seem promising; then it’s time for some due diligence.
Ask them if you get to pick my own colors? Colors are often one of your biggest design considerations when choosing screen printing. The shop may be able to provide color inspiration based on past projects (and include photos), but if you know exactly what color you want and need advice on whether they offer that exact shade, ask! Be aware though, shops may charge extra fees if certain special colors are needed.
If you’re ordering custom apparel and merchandise, you want to be sure that what you see is what you get. If possible, ask your screen printing shop for swatches in advance of placing your order so that you can get an idea of their printing quality. When possible, it’s also a good idea to ask them if they print on different materials; some shops may only offer one or two options while others can produce on all kinds of fabrics.
It’s important to ask how quickly you can get your order. It might seem obvious, but faster is better. However, be sure to ask if there will be extra costs associated with getting your order processed and shipped more quickly than usual. If so, it might not be worth paying extra money just for expedited service.
In other words, maybe it makes sense to pay a little more per item—but only if overnight delivery guarantees that your product gets from point A to point B in time for events occurring during business hours on October 31st and November 1st when costumes are most likely in demand by teens.
You don’t want to lose money because orders got stuck in transit on their way to retail shops due to inclement weather—and neither do online shoppers who are expecting their purchase within 24 hours after placing an order online. Make sure vendors promise quick turnaround times without charging excessive fees.
One of the most important questions you can ask your prospective screen printer is what their turnaround time will be. If you’re ordering custom t-shirts, hoodies, or other apparel for an event in a week, it’s not very useful to find out that your screen printer takes six weeks.
If they are so booked up they won’t even consider taking on another job, it doesn’t matter how great their work is. And if they know they have enough work to keep them busy for six months? Well… either way you don’t want them if you’re in a pinch and need something fast.
The best thing to do is ask if there’s a minimum order quantity. The reason is because you don’t want to spend your time working with a shop that can’t handle your small order. On top of that, most shops won’t give you much of a discount on one shirt, so it would make sense not to work with them in general.
What kind of quality will I get? A good screen printing shop should be able to walk you through their process, from start-to-finish and explain what materials they use. The last thing you want is for your custom t-shirts or other branded apparel for your business or event come out looking like crap! How does pricing work?: What are all my options?
First, ask if they’re located near you. If not, what are your options for freight shipping? Will it be sent through an overnight delivery service or will it be regular ground shipping? What days can you expect your shipment on?
If possible, try and work around their schedule as much as possible (you don’t want to have your orders sitting in some warehouse for a day before being shipped). Also, check with your preferred carrier. In many cases, we found that cheaper is not always better when it comes to shipping. Just because something costs less doesn’t mean it gets there faster! We learned that the hard way.
So make sure you compare apples-to-apples: look at price per unit of weight vs transit time; comparing cost/weight/transit time may be more beneficial than just looking at price alone!
Customers are your best resource for getting information about whether or not a company does quality work. Asking current customers will help you make sure that you’re picking someone who can be trusted with your t-shirt design and print order.
Use these questions to find out how professional and helpful past customers found their experience in working with your shop of choice. You can ask them if they feel like they got good value for money, or if there’s anything that could have been done better. Additionally, you should also ask if they would recommend using them again in future!
Screen printing is a great way to get your business noticed by creating custom, memorable t-shirts and hoodies. When you’re shopping around for screen printers, be sure to ask these questions so you can find one that checks all of your boxes.
Even if they don’t have all 10 answers prepared, they should know how and where they would source that information if necessary. You should have no problem finding an affordable shop with excellent customer service.
Have you used any of these techniques in the past? Drop a comment below to let us know what worked for you
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