Screen Printing - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1-800-237-1917


So, you're thinking about having some screen printing done, are you? That's great! There are a lot of variables involved in printing t-shirts, caps, and other textiles but if you know what they are before you start, you can save yourself a lot of time, frustration, and most of all, money and have fun in the process. Let's go over some of those variables now in a question/answer format.
If I need a few, say... t-shirts, is screen printing my best option?
It isn't your best option if all you need is a handful of shirts, say, less than a dozen. Screen printing is at it's best on larger numbers of items. It varies from screen print shop to screen print shop, but we recommend at least 24 items to make screen printing financially feasible for the customer. Because of the large amount of prep work on art, screens, and labor, the cost per shirt would be too hight to make screen printing the best option. If all you need is a small number of shirts, air brushing is a good way to go. They will not look exactly alike, but the cost would be substantially less. You may even want to consider embroidery for just a few items, especially if you are wanting a left chest design. (click here to go to embroidery section)
How do I find a good screen printer?
Get a reference list from the printer you are considering. We supply an extensive list of satisfied customers to call if you so choose. This gives you a better idea if the printer you are considering has a history of happy customers. Also, certain shops are set up better for different types of printing. Some specialize in small jobs like little league teams that need hot stamp team numbers applied. Others focus on huge contract printing work of the 20,000 piece variety, and others can accomodate average size runs of 24 to several hundred pieces using hand presses. And some shops, like ours, have both hand and automatic presses that can handle nearly any size job. (click here for reference list)
When I am ready to have my shirts screen printed, what will I need to get started?
First, you will need an idea of what you want on the shirts. It isn't usually necessary to have any great piece of art work because most screen printdrs will have an art department to put together what you want, but just a quick sketch would be helpful for the basic layout of the design. Black and white sketches work great. From there, you can talk to us about color arrangements. If you have computer art work on disc, then you will need to ask the printer what kind of program file he will need in order to work with it.
Second, you'll need to know the breakdown of sizeds for the shirts you are printing and the quantities of each.
Third, you will normally need a deposit for us to begin work. Deposits vary between printers, but 50% is the general rule.
What kind of variables will there be for my print job and how do they affect the price?
There are many variables and knowing about them is the best way for you to keep the price down on your shirts. These are the main ones to keep in mind.

  1. The number of shirts you want to print. The more you do, the less your cost per shirt, because art work and screen charges are divide over a larger amount of items. Also, there are price breaks for the print at different volume levels. We also have other incentives you can take advantage of as the number of your shirts increases.
  2. The type of shirt you choose. In t-shirts, 100% cotton usually cost more than 50%-50% cotton/polyester. White shirts are the least expensive and the darker the shirt, the more expensive. So, you can save by going with a lighter shirt.
  3. The number of sides on the garment you want to print. You can print the front, sides, sleeves, back, pocket, etc. But each time you add a location to be printed, it costs more. To save money, print of fewer places.
  4. The number of colors you print. For every color, there are additional charges associated with it. So, to save money, keep down the number of colors you use.
If money is no object, then you can do what you like and come out with a fantastic product. But, you can still get a great shirt by making certain informed choices and still stay within your budget. Remember, ask questions. There may be ways of doing things on your particular job to save you money that we have not covered here.

How long will it take to print my shirts?
Much depends on our work load. On average, give us 10 working days turn around time, but depending on the season, it could take longer. If you have an event coming up in the future, make arrangements early with us so we can schedule it ahead of other jobs. Printing is usually scheduled on a first come - first serve basis. Letting us know early will secure you a print date so you will have no worries about getting your items in time.

This information is by no means all inclusive but, hopefully, it will give you a better idea of your choices when it comes time for you to have screen printing work done. Give us a call and we will be glad to give you a clearer picture of how much it will cost to screen print your particular job. You may be surprised by how affordable it can be.


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