10 Things You Should Ask Your T-Shirt Printing Company
Choosing the right t-shirt printing company can make the difference between merchandise people wear for years and garments that never leave the cupboard. Print quality, turnaround times, artwork support and pricing all influence the final result, so it’s worth asking the right questions before placing an order.
Whether you’re ordering branded workwear, promotional merchandise or launching your own clothing brand, these are ten questions every customer should ask before committing to a print partner.
10 Questions Every T-Shirt Printing Company Should Answer
A reliable printing company should be transparent about its processes, pricing and capabilities. Here are ten questions that will help you compare suppliers and avoid unexpected surprises.
1. What Are Your Maximum Print Dimensions?
You’ll need to find out the maximum print dimensions for the print method you have in mind. For example, our standard direct to garment printing and screen printing dimensions are 350mm wide x 450mm high. This area will vary depending on the printing company, as most can not go overly close to seems or hems. We also have oversized screens and “all-over” printing available.
2. What are your turnaround times?
Some places can pop a few t-shirts out in a day, others need a few days to process your order. If you’re pushed for time, then this will be a top priority question for you. Here, most jobs are turned around in 4 to 7 working days, but we’re also able to work to an express turnaround that comes at a slightly higher charge.
3. Do you have a minimum order?
This will vary depending on what print process you’re after. T-shirt screen printing will always come with a minimum order quantity, due to the screen set up. Our minimum order for screen printing is 20 items, and for all other print processes (direct to garment, embroidery and transfer printing) our minimum order is 10 units of the same design. We are able to print a direct to garment sample, this sample cost is then refunded once you place a higher order.
Learn more about how different printing methods affect minimum order quantities in our blog “Top Techniques for High Quality Custom Apparel Printing“.
4. Are there any hidden fees?
Be aware of illusive set-up charges. Screen Printing will always come with set-up cost – which we are very honest about right from the beginning. However, the great thing about direct to garment t-shirt printing, is that there are no set up costs. Another thing to watch out for, are charges that apply to tweaks made to your artwork file. We don’t charge for a slight amend to your artwork file, but some print companies will charge for anything from a text font change to a digital logo colour amendment.
5. Do you offer an artworking service?
Most print places offer an artworking service. What you get for your money for the work carried out can vary quite considerably. Some places will charge £50 an hour to work on your file – so watch out, you may get stung. We don’t charge for small changes – the only time we do charge is when a digital file is created from scratch, for which we charge a flat-rate of £14.95.
6. Do I get a visual proof of my order before my job goes to print?
Before you place your order, check to see if you get a visual proof or “mock-up” of your design on a t-shirt template, so you can double check print proportions and placement. Some places may charge for this service, we don’t however.
7. What digital file types do you accept?
This is an important one! Printers can often accept most file types as long as they are a decent size and hi-resolution, so 300dpi. We prefer .png files for Direct to Garment (DTG) printing, and vector based artwork for t shirt screen printing and polo shirt embroidery.
Read our guide to “Photoshop vs Illustrator: Which Program Is Best for T-Shirt Design?” for more artwork preparation tips.
8. What are your delivery costs?
Our standard delivery UK wide is £9.95. You will need to inquire if you require your printed garments to be sent overseas. Extra costs will occur if you require express or next day delivery. We are able to deliver pre-9am, pre-12 and also on Saturdays.
9. Are you able to match specific colours?
With digital Direct to Garment (DTG) printing we are not able to match colours exactly. However, we are able to do so with screen printing, so if you have a specific PANTONE colour in mind, do let us know. Most professional screen printers can match Pantone colours accurately, making this an important question if colour consistency is essential for your brand.
10. How do I care for my printed garments?
If you have any queries regarding care of your garments remember to double check with the printers. Each different print technique requires slightly different wash and iron care. The most durable print type is screen printing, the least durable is DTF printing, so bare this in mind.
You may also find our blog “How to Print T-Shirts: The Professional T-Shirt Printing Process Explained” helpful if you’re new to garment printing.
Choose a Printing Partner You Can Trust
If you’re looking for the best online t-shirt printing UK has to offer, asking the right questions before placing your order will help you choose a printing partner that delivers consistent quality, clear communication and reliable turnaround times. At ICON Printing, we’re always happy to explain the process, recommend the best printing method and make sure your artwork is production-ready before printing begins.
Get a Quick Quote online or speak to our team at sales@iconprinting.com about your next project.