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5 Things to Consider When Picking The Perfect T-Shirt for Your Brand

6/25/2019

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Your Brand

In picking the perfect t-shirt for your brand, it's important to know who your targeting. Who's your market? What do they like? What do you like? By doing this, you can narrow down the certain styles of t-shirts.

Shirt/Garment Material and Style

There are various material and styles of t-shirts such as performance, premium, everyday cotton shirts, tri-blends, etc.  If it's within your budget, it is always a good idea to order a couple of samples for the product your considering. That way you can wear, wash and feel them out personally before having them purchased!

​As of lately, the popular picks here at Leo’s Silk Screen Service have been Gildan Softstyle, performance t-shirts, and premium t-shirts with brands such as Bella Canvas, American Apparel, Next Level.
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4.3 oz., 100% combed ringspun cotton, 32 singles Heather Grey is 90/10 cotton/polyester Fabric laundered Set-in 1x1 baby rib collar Hemmed sleeves Side seamed Tear away labelPicture
Next Level - Premium Short Sleeve Crew - 3600
4.2 oz., 100% airlume combed and ringspun cotton, 32 singles Ash is 99/1 airlume combed and ringspun cotton/polyester Unisex sizing Coverstitched collar and sleeves Shoulder-to-shoulder taping Retail fit, side seams Tear-away labelPicture
Bella + Canvas - Unisex Short Sleeve Jersey Tee - 3001

Ink / Method of Printing

The type of ink you plan on using can also play a factor in picking the perfect t-shirt as well as the printing method, such as DTG (direct to garment printing), screen print or vinyl.

​Why can ink play a factor? Sometimes the inks react differently to the garment of shirts. For example, sometimes screen printing neon inks do not react well to polyester blend t-shirts. Some t-shirt blends need to be cured (dried) more than others after screen printing  to prevent the ink from cracking after a few washes.
The method of printing can also play a big factor. Like the inks, the method of printing may need a particular style of t-shirt. We've learned that for screen printing, most garments are O.K. for production, but if you're considering DTG we've learned that, to maximize the print quality, it is better to use 100% cotton on ringspun cotton.

Apparel Fitting

Lastly, and maybe the most important consideration in choosing the perfect t-shirt is---How does the shirt fit?!? This is why it is recommended to order a few samples to wear them around, wash, and see how they react after that.

Does the sleeves shrink? Does the shirt shrink? Does it fit the same? Did the color fade? By ordering samples, you will know exactly what you're selling/what your client is receiving/what your employees, friends or family will be wearing.
There are plenty of factors and steps to choosing "The Perfect T-shirt" for screen printing, direct to garment or vinyl heat press.

​If you take our suggestions into consideration, we are confident it will help you find the perfect t-shirt to represent your vision.
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Don't let picking a t-shirt prevent you from getting your vision to the world!
We will help you from start to finish. 
Click the button below to get started on your project today!
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Everything You Need To Know About Preparing Artwork For Screen Printing

6/19/2019

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Things You Need To Know About Preparing Artwork For Screen Printing

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We would like to simplify the process for our customers and help you out, so please send us an email or give us a call and we can walk you through the process. :)

This post is a guide on some things to think about and the requirements we need from you to prepare artwork files for screen printing at Leo’s Silk Screen Service. Learn how to prepare your artwork files for screen printing! When preparing your custom artwork for printing on apparel, other garments or material, you must take a few things into consideration to ensure it will print properly.

Preparing Your Design

Color Separation
When setting up your file, we ask that you send us your art with each color in its own layer. We use transparent films to burn screens, and these transparencies are black in prints on transparent film. Screen printing colors are printed one color at a time - each color layer is burned onto a single screen.

​We will try our best to match your design colors for your order when they are submitted. However, it’s always best to try to supply your own Pantone colors if you need them to be specific.
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Sample of 4-color process separation (CMYK)
Example of a full-color vector design and color separation:
Layer 1
Layer 3
File Formats
All digital files we use for screen printing end up in vector format in order to print with our setup. Typically, we ask for artwork in PDF or Illustrator (.ai) formats - and NOT just pasted into Illustrator and sent as a .ai file. All files must be at least 300dpi or vector format. We need true vector formats that are smooth shapes/edges that can infinitely be scaled up or down with no image quality loss.

We accept the following File Types:
  • Illustrator (.AI)
  • Vector (.EPS)
  • Photoshop (.PSD)
  • PDF
PictureOutlining text
Convert Your Text to Outlines
If fonts are in your artwork, please be sure to outline the font before sending the file as we may not have the specific file on our computers. Outlining the text prevents this from being an issue.

Sizing Artwork
Send your artwork at the size you want it printed. When opening the file, and it opens at 11" wide, we will know you want it printed at 11" wide.
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Mockup Your Apparel / Material
You may want to mockup your design first so you can get an idea of what it will look like on a shirt. At Leo's Silk Screen, we'll send over a final proof/mockup to make sure you're apparel/project will be printed exactly the way you imagined it to come out!

Download our free t-shirt mockup template!
DOWNLOAD

RECAP

  • Artwork should be in a vector format and fonts are outlined (preferably in .ai or .pdf format)
  • Colors in the design should be in its own layer (color separated)
  • Convert your text to outlines
  • Artwork should be opened at the size it is to be printed or let us know about any specific sizes
  • Mockup your project!

For Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to Leo’s Silk Screen Service’s Terms & Condition for more information.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us to help guide you!


Email
[email protected]

Call us
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(323) 266-2910
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