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Our guide to help you choose what method of customisation is best for your garments and logo application.
Embroidered garments are perfect for a number of purposes, the most popular by employers to give their workforce a strong identity and to promote their brand. When adding a logo to your garment a frame is placed onto the garment and backing fabric is applied to the logo area. This ensures that the garment is secure while the logo is stitched. Sometimes this process may leave a mark on the garment but this can be easily rubbed or washed off. The actual embroidery process is carried out by a computerised embroidery machine. Your logo is digitised and submitted to the embroidery machines. We use only the best threads and materials to ensure a high quality design and recommend embroidery on garments that have a weight over 175gsm, thinner garments cannot hold the embroidery as well and can lead to puckering.
Printing is durable and it can create unique and complex designs using bright colours. We use different print methods such as Screen print, Sublimation, DTG or Transfer and can advise on the best method for the choice of garment and design required.
Screen printing is used for multiple garments with the same design. Screen printing uses multi-coloured inks to recreate your design, which are then applied to the garment through screens. The design is separated into different colours for each screen, after each screen the garment will be put under a heat lamp then once each colour has been applied the garment will go through a drying process to ensure the ink does not wear or wash out. This process is great for a range of different garments and is used for orders of 50 or more items.
DTG, or Direct to Garment print, is a method that sees a printer directly apply ink to the garments. A specialist printer is required, along with specialist ink which is absorbed by the fibres of the garment. A fixing agent is also applied to the garments before they go into production to help the colour adhere to the garments. It is recommended to wash the garments before they are worn the first time to take away the slight smell of the fixing agent. This type of customisation is best for complex logos and multiple colours, typically used for one off, full colour jobs needed with a fast turnaround.
Textile transfers are perfect for less complex designs, typically a logo with 1-2 colours would be applied with this method. Textile transfers are suitable for the majority of garments (apart from fleece and wool). This is a straightforward form of printing. A sheet of vinyl is cut into the shape of your logo, and then we use a heat press to heat seal it onto your garment.
For full colour designs a digitally printed transfer can be used it is a lightweight printed material that allows us to apply vibrant full colour designs onto light and dark garments. Both these processes work well for low quantity orders.
Dye sublimation printing, is a printing technique that involves applying a heat to essentially bring ink and fabric together as one. Your design is printed onto special paper and the inks that are used turn into gas when brought under heat. The result is a permanent, full colour image that won’t crack, peel or wash away.
Sublimation printing is only suitable for light coloured garments that include polyester (100% polyester or polyester blend).