General
Will the colors in my design be precisely the same when printed?
Our printers use CMYK colors, whereas typically designs are created in RGB. We do our best to ensure our colors and transparencies are as accurate as possible.
There are certain colors, in particular neon colors, that cannot be achieved as they require special ink.
Can you print metallic or neon colors, or puff prints?
Unfortunately, we don't have this kind of ink available.
Can I start a business selling my own t-shirt designs?
Yes! We know how difficult and daunting it is to start a business. The good news is you won't have to keep boxes of unsold inventory at home. Order from us only when you get an order, and make freshly pressed products for your customers.
Get in touch with us to discuss special pricing for business owners.
DTF Transfers
What is DTF?
DTF stands for Direct-To-Film, a printing process where ink is printed onto film. The film with the printed images, called transfers, can be pressed onto textiles with heat and pressure using a heat press.
How do I use DTF transfers?
A heat press capable of medium to high pressure is required to transfer prints from film to fabric.
Summary:
Pre-press. Press for 5 seconds at 284°F and medium-high (50 PSI) pressure. Peel hot. Post-press.
Long version:
- Set the heat press to 284°F.
- Press the blank garment for 10 seconds.
- Position the DTF transfer on the garment.
- Press the transfer onto the garment for 5 seconds at medium-high (50 PSI) pressure.
- Peel the film off the garment while it's still hot. Otherwise, peel the film once it's completely cool.
- Press the printed garment again for 10-13 seconds.
Which heat press should I get?
You can find smaller and more affordable heat presses on Amazon, or you can get a commercial heat press from specialty printing suppliers.
We would recommend no smaller than 15"x15" and one that has a good reputation for even pressure and accurate temperatures. A good standard size is 16"x20".
It also needs to be capable of applying medium-high pressure (around 50 PSI), or your prints might wrinkle and eventually peel.
Why did my transfer rip when peeling?
There are a few potential causes:
- Pressing at an incorrect temperature.
- Pressing for too long.
- Not enough pressure on the heat press.
- Peeling when warm. You should peel only when hot or cold, not in between.
Why is my print fading or wrinkling or peeling after only a few washes?
If the customer has been following care instructions (cold wash, cold tumble dry), then the print should not be changing so quickly.
If the print is wrinkly or peeling, the most likely cause is that the heat press didn't apply enough pressure. This might also happen if you didn't press your item before and after applying the transfer.
If the color is faded, please let us know so we can replace your transfers.
Can I order sheets longer than 120 inches (10 feet)?
You can add multiple sheets of 120" to an order.
We limit the length of any single sheet so that we can perform regular quality checks and minimize waste if the prints aren't up to standard. DTF printing requires a specific environment and even small changes can cause issues, such as dry nozzles which lead to banding (stripes in the printed colors).
Can you color match?
Due to the nature of DTF printing, we do not do color matching. Every printer uses different inks and equipment, which means that every provider will have slight variations in colors.
Tweaking colors isn't a simple process. Adjusting a single color will alter the whole spectrum, so accurate color matching is difficult to achieve and will affect all colors in a print.
Apparel and Accessories
What brand of apparel/accessories do you use?
We proudly stock AS Colour products! Of all the brands we've tried, their products have the best feel and longevity.
What are the care instructions for my product?
Turn the item inside out and wash in cold water. Use cold tumble dry or hang dry.
If you wash/dry with heat, the print on your item might crack, fade, or even wrinkle due to shrinking.
Can I see the product in person?
Of course! We have a physical location in Escondido in San Diego county. Make an appointment with us so that we can ensure we have what you're looking for.
Our supplier, AS Colour, has showrooms in Carson, CA and Charlotte, NC. (Please note they won't be able to tell you much about our printing.)
Why do the size guides refer to the width of the shirt and not waist size?
The shirts are standard US sizes but are also intended for being printed on. Knowing the width of the shirt helps designers resize their images accordingly.