Tag: tee shirt printing

Screen Print Placement & Sizing Guide: How to Perfect Your Custom Prints with Pork Chop Screen Printing

Posted on by Pork Chop Screen Printing

Screen Print Placement & Sizing: A Guide from Pork Chop Screen Printing

When submitting artwork for screen printing, understanding how your design will fit on a garment is essential. At Pork Chop Screen Printing, we print everything in-house and ensure that your designs are sized and placed correctly for the best results. Whether you’re printing on t-shirts, hoodies, totes, or specialty items, this guide will help you determine the ideal print size and placement. If you have specific size requirements or are simply curious about standard sizing, read on!

If you’re designing your artwork and need a visual reference, a great tip is to cut a piece of paper to your desired size and place it on a similar garment. This will help you visualize how large your print will appear on a real shirt. To further assist, we provide digital mock-ups with every order to ensure your design is properly aligned and sized before printing.

 

Understanding Print Size Limitations

The maximum print size is determined by the platen size and the smallest garment in your order that will receive the same design. Different platen shapes and sizes accommodate various garments. For example:

  • Standard T-Shirt Platen: 15″ wide x 18″ tall
  • Sleeve Platen: 3.5″ wide x 17″ tall

Key Factors to Consider for Screen Print Placement

  • Print Size vs. Garment Size: A large design on a small shirt may look oversized, while the same design on a 2XL shirt may appear too small. We take this into account when you place your order, sizing your design to fit the mid-range of the garments being printed.
  • Seams and Zippers: We avoid printing over seams and zippers as this can interfere with print quality.
  • Print Margins: We leave at least a 1-inch margin on all sides of the platen for optimal results.

Quick Reference Guide for Print Dimensions

Here’s a breakdown of standard print sizes for different placements:

  • Left Chest: 2.5″-5″ wide and tall
  • Center Chest: 6″-10″ wide, 6″-8″ tall
  • Full Front: 12″ wide, 10″-14″ tall
  • Oversized Front: 12″-15″ wide, 14.5″-17.5″ tall
  • Upper Back: 10″-14″ wide, 1″-6″ tall
  • Full Back: 10″-14″ wide, 6″-15″ tall
  • Sleeve: 1″-4″ wide and tall (up to 17″ for long sleeves)

Print Placements and Best Practices

Front Prints

T-Shirts & Tank Tops:
  • For centered prints, the 3” rule (placing the print 3 inches below the collar) generally works well.
  • Tank tops sit lower on the body, so the print should be about 1” from the top hem to ensure proper placement.
Left (and Right) Chest Prints:
  • Keep the print under 4 inches, with 3”-3.5” being ideal.
  • Position it about 3.5” from the center of the shirt.

Back Prints

  • Standard full-back prints should sit 6 inches below the collar for hoodies and 3 inches for tees, depending on the design’s size and shape.

Sleeve & Leg Prints

  • Keep designs under 3 inches wide to fit within the platen.
  • Long sleeve prints can extend up to 17 inches for optimal coverage.

Additional Print Placements

  • Koozies: Typically 3”x3”, but always measure first.
  • Tote Bags: Usually around 10” wide, but vary based on bag size.
  • Neck Labels: Keep within 3”-3.5” wide to fit inside the collar area. These can be printed directly or applied as plastisol transfers.

Final Notes

At Pork Chop Screen Printing, we ensure every print is properly placed and sized before production. If you have any questions about how your artwork will appear, let us know! We’re happy to adjust sizes and placements to ensure your design looks perfect on every garment. Contact us today to get started on your custom screen printing order– GET A QUOTE TODAY!!

 

Print area for hoodies

Print area for toddler shirts

Stay Stylish and Cool This Summer With The Right Fabric

Posted on by 561media

One of the most affordable and versatile ways to express yourself is to create a custom screen print shirt. Whether it’s for a family reunion, a senior class vacation, volunteering in the community, taking part in a weekend beer league, putting together a workplace team for fundraising, starting a fan club for your favorite local band, or just because your buddy created a great design, it’s easy to get started on printing custom t-shirts.

First thing’s first — since it’s summertime, you should think about the sort of fabric your t-shirts will be made from. Not only is the material essential to the printing process in terms of the crispness of the design and the brightness of the colors, but the breathability and wearability are also important. No one wants to wear an itchy, sticky, sweaty shirt, no matter how awesome the design is.

For spot color screen printing, which is the most common fabric print method, cotton is an ideal material. Cotton, as a natural cloth, will readily absorb the ink, helping to ensure a vibrant print. Also, the outside surface of a cotton t-shirt is typically smooth, which assists in transferring over crisp, clean lines and sharp details.

Cotton is known as a breathable fabric. The fibers wick away moisture and also release odors much more readily than an oil-based material like polyester (which is synthetic). Wearing cotton during the hot summer months means that you not only will stay cooler, but you will smell better in the long run. Also, cotton is soft and lightweight, so it feels good to wear!

REQUEST A QUOTE TODAY!