Choosing A Print And Decoration Method
Screen print, embroidery and transfer each fail in a different way. Choosing by artwork instead of by habit is what keeps the finished bag looking like the design.
Where Orders Go Wrong And What Is Done About It
Flat Colour Artwork
The problem. A one or two colour logo printed by the wrong method looks thin and costs more than it should.
How it is handled. Flat colour goes to screen printing on flat panels before assembly. Printing before the bag is sewn keeps a large front design square and avoids distortion across a seam.
Photographic And Gradient Artwork
The problem. Screen printing cannot hold a photograph or a smooth gradient.
How it is handled. Photographic and gradient designs are handled by transfer or digital printing. The hand feel is different from a screen print, so a sample matters more here than anywhere else.
Logos On Caps And Aprons
The problem. A printed logo on a thick cap panel or a hot-washed apron rarely survives.
How it is handled. Caps, apron chests and bag patches are embroidered. The logo is digitised once and that file is reused for every item and every reorder, which is what keeps a mixed uniform order consistent.
All-Over Designs
The problem. A design that runs across the whole bag body cannot be added after assembly.
How it is handled. All-over designs are printed on the fabric or the cut panel before sewing. It has to be planned at the specification stage, because it changes cutting and fabric consumption.
Durability Check
The problem. Decoration is judged on a shelf but lives in a washing machine.
How it is handled. If washing matters, it is stated before sampling and the method and cure are chosen for it. A rub and wash check on the sample is far cheaper than finding out in the market.
Items This Route Is Most Often Used For
Full-Colour Printed Canvas Shopper
Canvas shopper carrying a full-colour pop-art design edge to edge
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Olive Trucker Cap With Mesh Back
Olive front panels with a light mesh back and a compact front logo
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Navy Marble Print Cotton Tote
High-contrast navy and white marbled pattern across the full body
View ProductChoosing A Print And Decoration Method Questions
Which is cheaper, screen printing or embroidery?
For a small flat logo on a cotton bag, screen printing is normally cheaper per piece. For caps, and for logos on hot-washed aprons, embroidery is usually both more durable and more appropriate.
How large can a print be?
Print area is limited by the panel size and the frame, not by the bag itself. Because panels are printed flat before assembly, the usable area is larger than on a finished, already-sewn bag.
Can you print on both sides?
Yes. Each side is a separate set-up and a separate colour run, so a two-sided design costs more in set-up than a one-sided design of the same size.
Start The Specification Rather Than The Price
Send artwork, finished size, quantity and required arrival date. Everything else follows from those four lines.