ANDREA SMITH & BRIAN STOTTLEMYER Vernon Graphic Solutions
GET YOUR BRAND ON : APPAREL
As one of the top-selling promo product
categories , it would seem that most people already know that incorporating apparel into your promotions is an effective way to get your message across . From trendy new products to high-tech gadgets to tried-and-true merchandise like caps and t-shirts , no doubt there is an apparel item that meets your needs and budget . And while selecting the item may seem like a no-brainer , it ’ s also worthwhile to understand that there are several options for decorating apparel that can greatly impact the effectiveness of your promotion . THE BASICS Screen-printing The vast majority of t-shirts are screen-printed ( also known as silk screening ). This is a method of printing graphics that uses thick inks that lay on top of the shirt rather than ones that soak into the garment . The most popular ink used in the garment printing industry is plastisol ink , because it is easy to print , will not dry in the screen , and it adheres to most fabrics . But in addition to traditional inks , soft-hand and water-based inks are perfect for vintage-look t-shirts or lightweight material . Screen-printed garments tend to last longer , however , due to the colors needed for the design , set-up costs may be higher than with other imprinting techniques and generally , there is a minimum number of items required to place an order . Heat Transfer In this method , the design is first printed on heatsensitive material and then that material is applied to the garment using a heat press , which is great for finely detailed de-signs or small text . Heat transfer can also be used to recreate full-color designs on garments that cannot be screen-printed because of the type of material ( nylon , silk , satin , etc ). With heat transfers , the drawbacks are that each garment may cost a bit more , plus the design will eventually fade over time and may crack or shrink if put in a dryer . Direct to Garment Printing DTG printing is inkjet technology ( similar to an inkjet
printer ). This technique uses water-based ink that is absorbed into the fibers of the material , which allows for greater de-tail than screen printing , giving the finished product a polished , professional look . This method preserves the soft-ness of the garment and is great when only printing small quantities . Plus there ’ s no limit to the number of colors you can use . Embroidery Embroidery is ideal for classic , corporate-style apparel , like woven shirts , jackets , hats , and sweaters . But just like screen printing , there are new options available . Techniques like puff embroidery and sequin embroidery can add a little something extra to your design . If the item needs to be decorated in an area that is difficult to reach ( like the bill of a baseball cap ) it ’ s often to embroider on a woven patch , then affix that to the fabric . Unfortunately , embroidery is not suited for small details or tiny text . Debossing This is where a custom metal-engraved die is heat pressed into the material , creating a tone-on-tone 3D effect that won ’ t fade or wash away . It ’ s a richer and more subtle than traditional decoration methods and works on practically any color garment . It ’ s best on thicker fabrics , like outerwear and performance or polar fleece , but can also be used on cotton , polyester , leather , and faux leather . And unlike embroidery , it won ’ t create holes in water-proof fabrics . Note that similar to debossing is the process of embossing . This is when the areas surrounding the logo or design is pressed into the garment . Here , the logo or design becomes a “ negative ” element of the design . Laser Etching Laser etching ( or laser engraving ) uses a laser to burn your design into the top layer of the fabric . The remaining image has a glossy , tone-on-tone look that is the same color but several shades darker than the original fabric color . It ’ s ideal for decorating unusual areas , like along seams or zippers , and is perfect for polar fleece and most polyester fabrics . Although it will be subtle on any color garment , it works best on medium colors and isn ’ t recommended for white or pastel colors .
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