| Daycare centers and preschools often order custom | | | | ink. However, since each color in the image has to be |
| apparel for their staff and students. It can be | | | | screened individually, the more colors, the higher the |
| confusing to know what type of printing and designs | | | | cost as opposed to garment printing which is using a |
| to order. Instead of just taking a sample to a printer, | | | | printer to print the image with unlimited colors. |
| it helps if you can talk to a knowledgeable apparel | | | | Because there is a one-time screen fee to set up the |
| company employee about your product options and | | | | art work for screen printing, the price per item will be |
| budget. You may choose a different style of printing | | | | lower if more shirts are ordered. For example, say |
| depending on the number of items you intend to | | | | the apparel company charges a $15-20 screen fee |
| order and how the products will be used. | | | | and then a set price per shirt. That $15-20 fee will |
| Daycare centers most often order tee shirts for their | | | | NOT be cost prohibitive if you are ordering 100 shirts, |
| students, especially for field trips or a uniform polo | | | | raising the cost of each shirt only 15 to 20 cents. But |
| shirt, employee shirts, tote bags, soft-side lunch | | | | it may be cost prohibitive if you only want to order |
| boxes, or book bags. Some schools will offer more | | | | 5, since that would effectively raise your shirt price |
| upscale items, like a diaper bag, for new clients or as | | | | by $3 or $4. |
| a reward. All these items can be made with your | | | | Embroidery is actual stitching of a logo or name with |
| school logo or a message about a special event your | | | | an industrial sewing machine. Some basic artwork can |
| school is hosting. The sky is the limit on your | | | | be done with embroidery, since the machines are |
| creativity! | | | | programmed with a computer. It is a very |
| Generally speaking, there are 3 types of apparel | | | | sophisticated, professional look. Some daycare |
| designs: garment printing, screen printing, and | | | | centers prefer embroidery for their staff members |
| embroidery. There are advantages and disadvantages | | | | polo shirts that are part of their uniform, since that |
| with each. | | | | gives a very professional look. It is also a good |
| Garment printing uses a digital garment printer, which | | | | choice if you are putting your school name on a book |
| is a computer controlled large format ink jet printer. | | | | bag or tote. Multiple thread colors can be used and |
| This prints directly on the garment. The advantage of | | | | any color shirt. It is generally a bit more expensive |
| this style is that there are no minimum orders or | | | | than the print options, but the final cost is often |
| reorders and it is the lowest cost of the three | | | | determined by a number of factors, including detail of |
| methods. There can be good detail on logos or | | | | design and number of products ordered. |
| artwork and there is no extra charge for multi-color | | | | Now that you are informed about the different |
| art. They can be printed with unlimited colors. | | | | types of apparel design, you are ready to get |
| Garment printing is not used with white ink, however. | | | | creative! Many apparel companies offer some design |
| Screen printing is similar to a stencil where the art | | | | services but all can take your artwork or logo and |
| stencil is adhered to a fine screen for support. Ink is | | | | reproduce it. Before you order, make sure you are |
| then pushed through the screen onto the shirt. This | | | | clear about the format they will need for your |
| style printing is also referred to as "silk screen" or | | | | artwork. Or have them help you design something |
| "serigraphy." Screen printing can be done on any color | | | | fun for that next field trip or special day tee-shirt! |
| shirt and can use multiple colors of ink, including white | | | | |