| Here is a few tips for people looking for fast | | | | and capable in preparing artwork for you for a |
| turnaround screen printed t-shirts. (These advises are | | | | reasonable cost, that could be your best bet in |
| for people looking for fast screen printed t-shirts | | | | making sure you don't waste time going back and |
| instead of digitally printed t-shirts. Digitally printed | | | | forth on artwork format and requirement with your |
| t-shirts are done in a different process than screen | | | | printer. |
| print t-shirts, they have the advantage in speeding up | | | | Do you know the type of shirts you want? There |
| the process since they do not need color separation | | | | are many choices of shirts you can get . Make sure |
| and screen burning process. However screen printed | | | | you did your homework and know what you want |
| t-shirts have better imprint color quality as well as | | | | when placing an order for your custom t-shirts. If |
| better imprint longevity.) | | | | you just want basic t-shirts, it is pretty simple. Even |
| Here is a check list for you to speed up your custom | | | | though there are many brands of basic t-shirts, they |
| t-shirts job. | | | | are normally in 2 classes of fabric weight, 5.6 oz and |
| How ready is your artwork? Artwork can be | | | | 6.1 oz. Then you have pocket and non-pocket t-shirts |
| categorized into 2 groups based on their origins. First | | | | for each weight, as well as long sleeve and short |
| are scanned images and second are computer | | | | sleeve t-shirts. Beside basic t-shirts, you will have |
| generated images. In the first group, paintings, | | | | fashion fitting t-shirts such as American Apparel and |
| photographs, printed materials or the similar are | | | | Tultex, these are slimmer fitting than the basic |
| scanned and save as digital files of your artwork. | | | | t-shirts. They are in ring-spun 30 single fine jersey |
| Quality of your digital artwork has a lot to do with | | | | fabric, meaning softer and finer fabric. Then we have |
| your scanning resolution. Normal requirement is 300 | | | | even more choices for girls and ladies t-shirts such as |
| dpi (dot per inch). However keep in mind that your | | | | cap sleeve, raglan 3/4 sleeve, scoop neck, boys |
| reproductions will not be better than your originals. So | | | | beater tank tops, baby doll spaghetti, ringer t-shirts, |
| no matter how high your scanning resolution is, you | | | | camouflage t-shirts etc... |
| are simply not getting a better reproduction image if | | | | Do you research on t-shirt styles ahead of time will |
| your original is not. So in a nutshell for people using | | | | not only save you time, it will allow you to find the |
| this group of artwork, find the best quality original | | | | best style for your event. |
| you can. Scan it at 300 dpi or better. Save it and | | | | If your custom t-shirts job requires individual names |
| send it to your printer without re-sizing it. The file | | | | or numbers printed (such as team numbers), prepare |
| size of your scanned image will potentially be big. | | | | a list to indicate the names or numbers and their |
| However, supportive printer should be able to | | | | sizes to expedite the process. |
| accommodate your file sending by either increasing | | | | If there is dead line to meet, make sure your printer |
| the mail box size or arrange a FTP transfer for you. | | | | is aware of it as well as taken shipping time into |
| In the second group, computer generated images, | | | | consideration. |
| we have 2 sub-groups which are raster images and | | | | If you are under press of time and without artwork. |
| vector images. Raster images are resolution | | | | Ask if your printer has any kind of ready art library |
| dependant images such formats as tiff, jpg, psd. | | | | that you can pick and ask them to modify to fit your |
| The only requirement for this group is to make sure | | | | requirement. It will be much faster than having |
| they are created in actual imprint size (or close to | | | | yourselves starting from scratch. |
| actual imprint size), and are in 300 dpi as original | | | | Give your printer the Pantone number to indicate |
| resolution (not resample resolution). The file size of | | | | your imprint color when submitting your t-shirts order. |
| this sub-group is potentially big, make sure you talk | | | | This will save some time in communication and help |
| to your printers about the size of your artwork file | | | | speeding up your order. |
| before sending. The second sub-group is called vector | | | | Your printer should provide a paper proof for you to |
| based images such formats as ai, eps. They are | | | | review the accuracy of your custom screen print |
| resizable, non-resolution dependent artwork. Their file | | | | t-shirt order. As soon as you finish your review, get |
| size are usually reasonable. They are very welcome | | | | back to your printer immediately so they can process |
| by most printers due to their non-resolution | | | | your order right away. |
| dependent nature. When you submit vector based | | | | Last but not least, there are shipping options such as |
| images, just make sure you create outlines for your | | | | 3-day select, 2nd day air and next day air to |
| type (so your printer won't run into missing font | | | | accommodate your need in speed. Ask for full price |
| problem when opening your artwork), your image is | | | | quote with different shipping options from your |
| created at actual size or close to actual size. And of | | | | printer. |
| course if you have a printer who is knowledgeable | | | | |