Camera Ready Art:
Is high quality black and white artwork that is ready to be
processed and used for printing. No colors please. If the design is
multi-colored, a separate black on white image is required for each
color (plates). As an alternative to numerous plates, we could use
a black on white plate that is a complete outline of the design. We
then would scan the plate into our system and add the respective
colors where indicated by you.
Camera Ready Art is not:
· Any type of photocopy
· Anything Faxed
· Business cards, existing tshirts, or other printed items.
· Dirty artwork - smudges, pencil lines, smudges, marks, etc.
· Tone images - Black and white photos, Color photos.
Files Types:
We need images/designs in a Vector format (corel draw, Adobe
Illustrator, etc) versus a "Bitmap" format (internet images, .gif,
.jpg, .bmp, jpeg, etc). If you are using a "scanned image" it is a
Bitmap. Images from websites and the Internet are not only Bitmaps
but usually only 72 DPI (dots per inch) and very low resolution =
low quality for printing. These look great on your computer monitor
but are not useable for printing.
If you need our opinion on your artwork, or an estimate on how best
to do the design for screen printing, then send us the Bitmap
(.gif, .tiff, jpeg, jpg or .bmp)image via EMAIL and we
can give you an idea how best we can print the design. Remember
however that this is not useable art for printing.
The best file formats to use for screen printing are: .cdr (corel
draw), .eps (encapsulated postscript) or .wmf (windows
metafile).
Emailing your artwork / design:
Yes. Sending your artwork via email is common. We receive many
emails with attached artwork each day. Please be sure and use the
above information and file formats. You can reduce the size of the
artwork to an acceptable level for emailing as we will enlarge or
reduce to fit the smallest garment in any order. After re-doing
your artwork into our graphics system, we will email to you for
your approval.
We suggest that you first "test send" your email with artwork to
yourself, before sending to us. Simply attach your graphics file to
an email addressed to your own email address, then send. Usually,
what you receive (see) is what we will see.
We will scale your design to fit the garment, so no need to
send us a 100% scale.
Mailing your artwork:
Yes you can "snail mail", or UPS your design to us on paper (hard
copy - black ink on white paper only please), or on a disk. We are
PC base so your disk should be a PC disk and your artwork should be
in the desired file format as indicated above. We can accept art
files on 3.5" floppy disks or on CD. Artwork and getting it into a
useable format is the basis of any order for a quality final
product.
Screen Print General Info: (scroll down)
Screenprinting is the process of placing a wet ink on a substrate
(item) - like t-shirts, sweats, aprons, towels, poster board,
vinyl, glass, wood, etc. The wet ink is then cured; in the case of
garments, through a conveyorized heat oven at about 320 degrees. In
"spot color" screen printing each color requires it's own
screen.
Each final design (artwork) is sized according to the SMALLEST size
garment in each order. Example: in an order of 20- youth mediums,
10 adult mediums and 3 adult XXLs, the final design is made to fit
the youth mediums.
You can COMBINE our t-shirt syles, sweatshirt styles and polo shirt styles to reach
any Quantity Price Break (ie: 36, 48, 72, 100, 150, 300) as long as
each garment will get the SAME EXACT imprinting - ink colors, location on garment, etc. Garments cannot
be combined with Aprons, Caps, or Tote Bags since these require
different print tables, different screens and different printing
pocesses.
Usually screen print image sizes are:
Youth sizes: "full size" back or front is about 8" wide. Adult
sizes:about 10-11" wide. "Left-chest" or "right-chest"
imprint sizes are usually 3-4" wide. A sleeve imprint is usually
2-3" wide. We can imprint a "center-chest" from 3 to 6" wide. We
can also imprint a "center-back" from 3" to 6". Height of design is
sized accordingly since a t-shirt limit is it's width - longer than
it is wide.
If you have a specific size for your image imprint please advise -
indicate on your design or via an email. Same for location of
print. If nothing is indicated on our Order Form, or via email, we
will process your order as being a "full-front" or "full-back"
image. If you indicate neither front, nor back well will contact
you.
Remember imprint locations are:
"full-front","full-back","center-chest","center-back",
"left-chest", "right-chest", "left-sleeve", "right-sleeve"- all as
if you were WEARING the garment.
Dark Color Garments versus White or Light Color Garments:
Like painting a house that is dark brown (black, red, navy, forest,
etc.) using white, or light color of paint, it may need two coats
or an underbase. The same holds true for screenprinting any LIGHTER
color of inks on a DARKER color of garment.
When printing on dark colors of garments a separate screen of white
underbase is highly recommended. This underbase keeps the "top"
(viewed) colors from "blending" with the dark background (garment
dye) which produces a muted image color (known as bleeding). If
white ink is not one of your design colors, then you need to ADD
this white screen to the total colors in your design - can increase
your costs. Also the graphics for printing on dark colors are more
"bold" - without fine details since a heavy layer of light colored
ink must be applied in order to cover the dark substrate and
prevent bleeding.
Photographs (black and white, or colored) are not useable for textile printing.
Photos are composed of fine dots which get lost in the screen mesh
and in the course weave (woven, not smooth like paper, vinyl or you
monitor) of the garments. For the same reason avoid shades, blends,
and shadows in your artwork for screen printing on textiles.
Anything composed of dots should be avoided.
The BEST artwork for printing on textiles is: - the bolder, the
less complicated, the more eve-appeal (like reading a highway
billboard - only a quick view to get the message).
Please email us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your artwork,
layouts, imprint sizes / locations, etc. Voice: 1-928-788-2787.
Fax: 1-928-788-3242. Snail Mail: ASAP, 2031 Mullholland Dr Fort
Mohave, Az 86426. The fastest way to reach us is via email.
Money Saving Tips:
· Print fewer ink colors (each color requires a separate
screen)
· Print on fewer locations (like front only instead of front and
back)
· Use White or Ash Grey t-shirts (other colors cost more).
· Order in larger quantities (price breaks at 36, 48, 72, 150, 300,
etc)
