Selling t shirts can be a satisfying and lucrative exercise  but you need to prepare well or things will go wrong.  Here are a few points to remember when getting your design to print:

1. Design the artwork in the correct format.

When designing for screen printing one has to consider the end result of what the print will look like or what you want to achieve. Communicate with your printer for guidance before you start designing or you will end up paying  more or having to redesign. Screen printing is not like digital printing as it is done in stages, thus the artwork needs to be prepared differently. More info can be found in this post of which software to use.

2. Convert all fonts to curves.

If your design includes fonts and you’re using a vector program, always covert to curves. This will ensure that the artwork will look exactly like you intend it to. Please note that this will prevent later editing so it is best to save a copy that is not converted to curves as well.

3. Do a print out or computer mock .

Get a set of t shirt models/ drawings and place your designs before doing your positives.  You will get an idea of what your end result will be. Use it for scaling and positioning your artwork. If you have a physical sample of the t shirt, do a print out and position it on the actual t shirt. You can send either of these to your printer as a reference. More guidance = better results.

4. Provide your artwork in the correct size.

Do not expect the printer to be your desktop designer and scale things for you. Ensure that you scale the artwork yourself and state that the scale provided is as is.

5. Work with Pantone Colours.

Invest in a pantone colour chart and always design in pantone colours (if not working with photo images) so that you know what the colour will look like before it’s printed.  This will ensure that if you need to do reprints that the colours will be the same as before. It also allows you to have your goods printed at various printers and achieve the same results. Never use the colours on screen as a reference because the printer’s screen may have a different setting/ calibration.

6. Ask for 2 physical sample prints of the t shirt.

You will be charged for setting up and positive costs but it’s always better to do 2 samples. Don’t let the excitement of doing a run make you cut corners. Print 2 samples and if you are happy with both of them, let the printer keep one and you the other. Sign an agreement that the samples is as the run should be.

The Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup is a great launch period for all you aspiring designers. We will have tourists that are eager to get great gifts for family and friends back home.  Be sure to use anything and everything about South Africa in your designs but of course sticking to the rules regarding Fifa trademarks.

Its a bit late, but rather late……

In order of events; happy Hanukkah, Muharram , Christmas and New Year to each and everyone. May the new year be the best we’ve had in a long time Insha-Allah. May all of us prosper spiritually (whatever our faith or beliefs) and may we put our health and inner peace above wealth and what “Beyonce” and “Kanye” tells us is important. Last year was rough on many (financially) but I believe that it gave us some perspective and made us innovative and appreciative for what we have. Earn fairly and honestly and make it your new years resolution to help people whenever they need it.. especially children, orphans and Seniors.

Anyway, the holiday was humble but great because it was spent with familia!

Here are some scenery snapshots taken on drives during the holidays:

Enjoy the festive season !

We are currently working on this 3 colour screen print for Sasko and here is the artwork compared to the actual print.

My last post included a video which demonstrated how manual screen printing is done. The actual print in that video had a halftone element in it and used process printing to form the logo.

Process printing is when one uses the colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black and sometimes white ink to form the finished print. These colours (which are halftoned) are printed one after the other and the actual blending of these overprints creates the actual image/ colours required.

The print below used the white as a base. Then the yellow was printed. The magenta (pink) is added to form the red and orange sections in the print.

So how does screen printing  done?

Here’s a short video of how we do it in Cape Town. This is a manual method that uses a custom-built table and customised screens. This is the only method that allows one to print as many colours as is needed and it’s also the cheapest way to grow your business as you don’t have to purchase expensive machinery when your workload increases. Other more expensive methods to screen print are automated printing machines and carousel machines.

We are currently doing some research to find the recipe for creating the best t shirt in the world which we will be selling in our brand new wholesale store (IA). Our online research has come up with very little info thus far as everyone talks about the printing (designs) and not the actual t shirts.

Please help us out to make the t shirts in South Africa something to be proud of and better than what is currently being sold by wholesalers and as a reward you could win a 5 day holiday for 4 people (accomodation only) to the magical Wilderness Dunes.

Just fill in the form below to win this prize valued at R7500.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

• Competition ends 20 December 2009
• One entry per person
• Holiday may be reserved from February 2010 to September 2010..

This is the first of many combo specials that we are launching and the aim is to make the ordering of standard printed t shirts much easier. The pricing is ridiculously low and it includes the t shirt, print, set-up charges and national delivery. The first price release is for the white 145 gram crew neck t shirt and is the perfect option for promotional freebies. We will be releasing prices for the colour 145 gram t shirt, white165 gram, colour 165 gram within the coming week. Also watch out for the upgrade option where you can upgrade your t shirt from the 165 gram to  a range of various upmarket t shirts ready for retail ( including special make-ups and slim-fit or fitted t shirts).