ESP | PRINT SIZE AND PLACEMENT

OUR STANDARD PRINT SIZES | STANDARD PRINT PLACEMENT POSITIONS

Print SIZE guide

SUGGESTED MINIMUMS.

Each print requires film, screens and time to set up each print on the carousel. Essentially there is an order quantity threshold over which these setup costs become economical. After thousands of print jobs, we have created a basic guide to help calculate the minimum amount of shirts to order. These are our suggested minimums depending on the amount of colours in your design.

ARTWORK REQUIRMENTS

ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS | GUIDELINES

ACCEPTABLE FILE FORMATS

We can accept the artwork in any of the following formats; Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, High-Resolution 300dpi Jpegs or PNG and PDF files.      

+ Artwork Guidelines for Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.  

WE DO NOT ACCEPT ARTWORK IN ANY THE FOLLOWING FORMATS.

Corel Draw, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Paint, Paintbrush, Corel WordPerfect, Powerpoint, Microsoft Publisher.

SENDING US YOUR ARTWORK

You can email your artwork to art@esponline.co.nz  If your file is too large for email, we recommend using the free file transfer service wetransfer.com or drop into our showroom with your art on a USB drive.

SUBMIT YOUR IDEA, WE'LL CREATE THE ART

If you have the idea but need help turning your vision into a graphic that will be noticed, we have our own experienced designers to help. With over 15 years experience of designing for streetwear industry, our team can create original art for your organisation or brand or simply turn your sketch into a print ready design.

low resolution 72DPI INTERNET MAGES.

Most pixel based images from the web are usually 72 dpi and are near impossible to use for screen printing, unless you don’t mind that lo-fi un-readable pixelated look.  300 dpi is the minimum resolution to recreate an image on a shirt, but we just love it when we receive the artwork in a Vector format.

Click HERE to learn more about Pixels vs Vector and why 72dpi is a printers nightmare.

PANTONE® solid coated MATCHING SYSTEM.

To ensure accurate colours we use the Pantone Solid Coated colour matching system. With a library of over 1300 colours and an accurate mixing formula for each, we can provide consistent colour matching to your design. For true accuracy when it comes to choosing your colours we recommend using the official Pantone Solid Coated colour book available from leading graphic supply stores or visit our showroom to confirm your Pantone colours.

You can use this online tool to find your Pantone "C" Colour https://www.pantone.com/color-finder However it is important to note, this chart is to be used as a reference guide only. Pantone colours on computer screens will vary depending on your system.

 A Beginner's Guide to Printing Clothing.

So you want to launch a t-shirt or clothing brand soon?

That's awesome – you've come to the right place.

Whether you're deciding to start a streetwear label, need band merch or a business uniform, we will have a solution to meet your needs. But with so many options, it is hard to know where to start.

So before you start with a quote, it's a good idea to learn about different print techniques, t-shirt fabrics, design specifications, and how many you need to order. It's also important to consider how your customer will use your shirts since some t-shirt printing techniques may produce a longer-lasting product.

With many variables to consider, it may feel overwhelming at first. However, once you understand the basics, you'll be able to design unique graphics that work for your particular requirements, and this will save you money in the long run.

This beginner's guide gives you a quick yet complete rundown of the ins and outs of t-shirt printing. Let's start

What is t-shirt printing?

The is the process of applying a graphic to a t-shirt. It sounds simple, but there are many ways of printing your shirt, but we will focus on the best commercially printed t-shirts for retail sale.

The history of the t-shirt printing industry

While the exact history of t-shirt printing is unclear, screen printing is the oldest (and still the best) print method, and most believe that screen printing has its roots in ancient China. But it wasn't until the 1950s when screen prints started to appear on a popular new shirt style, the T-Shirt.

Since then, printed t-shirts have been the mainstay of almost everyone's wardrobe. Since the adoption by the early hippies, rock bands to high-end fashion and streetwear, printed t-shirts have continued to grow in popularity.

What are the various t-shirt printing techniques available?

There are three primary t-shirt printing techniques available today: screen printing, heat transfers, and direct to garment (or DTG) printing. There is also dye sublimation, but this is more suited to polyester sportswear, so let us focus on the cotton and streetwear options.

While each printing technique has its unique advantages and uses, screen printing is still the most popular and, for most purposes, is still the best option. Screen printing on t-shirts has been around for over 100years with years of research & development that continues to this day.

Before simply deciding if screen printing is suitable for you, let's look at each t-shirt printing technique in detail. You may find that other print methods may work better for you, depending on your specific needs.

1. Screen Printing

Screen printing is easily the most popular and commonly used clothing print method. One of the biggest reasons why screen printing is the most popular t-shirt printing technique is its quality product with accurate colours and various ink options. Inks used in screen printing tend to be more opaque than those used in other printing techniques, which results in a longer-lasting product with more accurate and vibrant colours.

Screen printing offers the best bang for your buck when producing a bulk order and allows the most consistent print quality. If you are only expecting to print a few t-shirts here and there, screen printing is not the way to go.

Pros of Screen Printing:

• Premium Ink Quality. A premium and longer-lasting print result.

• Variety of Ink Options. Soft feel, Bold Colour, Metallic, Discharge are a few of the options we have available.

• For high-volume orders, screen printing makes it easy to produce hundreds of t-shirts in no time.

• Cost-effective for high-volume orders and one colour print can be cost-effective from only 12pcs.

• Screen printing is compatible with most fabrics available on the market.

Cons of screen printing:

• You need to meet a minimum order to be cost-effective.

• Each new design or size requires set-up costs incl film, and screens.

• You need to increase your order size with each additional colour in your design.

• Full-colour designs require a large bulk order of at least 100pcs.

2. Supacolour transfers.

Supacolour transfers are created using a hybrid digital (the colour) screenprint (a white, adhesive base) process to print your design onto a special transfer sheet. Next, we position your heat transfer on your t-shirt and use a heat press to press or "melt" your design onto the t-shirt permanently.

One of the best advantages of Supacolour transfers is the low minimums (12pcs) for a full-colour print. Supacolour prints can also achieve a very high-resolution image. We can also hold your pre-paid transfers to "print on demand."

Pros of Supacolour transfers

• High-quality prints that are very close to screen printing.

• Cost-effective full-colour prints.

• Low Minimums for multicolour designs (starting at 10pcs)

• Minimal set-up costs compared to screen printing.

• Durable: no cracking or fading, even after 50+ washes.

Cons of Supacolour transfers

• Suitable for full-colour prints only.

• You need to order a minimum of 12 transfers.

• The print can feel a little thick compared to a screen print.

• Durable, but not as durable as a screen print.

3. Direct to garment (DTG) printing

Direct to Garment, or DTG, involves modern inkjet technology that allows you to print your design directly onto a t-shirt. These prints are typically high resolution, full CMYK + White colour range and with a soft feel.

DTG is a print-on-demand process with no minimums or set-up costs. Ideal for customers wanting to start a t-shirt brand with minimal start costs. However, the ink is relatively expensive, and each garment needs to be coated with a special pre-treatment solution before we can print, so these prints do not offer the best unit price or suitable for bulk orders.

Pros of direct to garment (DTG) printing:

• Capable of printing incredibly intricate full-colour designs.

• No film or screens required.

• No Minimums.

• Quick Turnaround.

• Best for designs with a lot of shading and detail.

Cons of direct to garment (DTG) printing:

• This method of printing is best suited for cotton only.

• Not great with designs featuring solid vibrant colours. Solid colours tend to look patchy.

• Compared to other methods, DTG prints are not as durable and colours may fade over time.

• It does not have the look and feel of a commercial screen print used by major retailers and fashion brands

WHICH COTTON IS BEST FOR ME?

Cotton is cotton, right? Not so fast, not all T-shirts are the same, and the fabric can affect your print. There are two main fabric types, and you may prefer a super soft fabric or like the old school feel of rough carded cotton.

CARDED COTTON.

Carded open-end is a cheaper way of turning cotton into "open-end" yarn. In this method, fibres are bound by a wrapped fibre that runs perpendicular to the bundle. Up close, you can see that carded open-end fibre is bulky, fuzzy and creates an uneven knit. These are a durable, cost-effective option. These are a popular streetwear option, with Alstyle and Gildan having that traditional American fit and feel.

COMBED RING-SPUN COTTON.

Ring-spun cotton yarn is smoother and longer than open-end yarn. The term "ring spun" means that the yarn goes through an innovative spinning process designed to thoroughly soften and straighten each fibre. Our most popular AS Colour Shirts are combed ring-spun cotton with a fine weave making it ideal for printing – the best in the market and available in various weights. Don't be fooled by the soft feel; 180-220gsm ring-spun t-shirts are our most durable and colourfast T-Shirts.

Finally choosing the correct print method for your brand.

While the decision on which print method is best for your brand is ultimately up to you, it's important to keep your customers in mind as well. As you review the print options above, here are some helpful things to consider.

• Who is your target audience/customer, and do they expect a quality screen print used by all major retail street/surf brands, or will they accept DTG prints for on-demand printing?

• What is your expected order volume? It is always best to underestimate your order volume. You will only save money if you exceed your expectations. Remember, it's better to sell out and need re-order than being stuck with excess old stock.

• Make sure the amount colours in your design will be economical for your order volume. When it comes to full-colour graphics, a small order will always be tricky. You will need to compromise by either reducing the amount colours in your design, increasing your order volume or switch to one of our digital print options.

• What garment styles are you after? We supply AS Colour, Alstyle, Gildan Etc all at competitive wholesale prices.

After reviewing all these options, it should now become clearer what print style will work best for you. For example, if you can meet the minimums, screen printing would be a much better option than DTG or heat transfer printing technique.

We hope this comprehensive guide has been helpful, and we would love to help turn your ideas into reality. Submit a quote request using our online form, and let's get started!

If you have any questions, be sure to contact us via the chat button on this page.