5 Tips for Designing Custom Screen Printed T-Shirts

1. Start with High-Quality Artwork

The single biggest factor in a great screen print is great artwork. Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) give us clean, scalable lines at any size. If you only have a JPEG or PNG, make sure it's at least 300 DPI at the final print size. Blurry or pixelated logos will print exactly as they look on screen — so invest in clean artwork upfront.

Don't have a print-ready file? No problem. Our in-house design team can recreate your logo as a vector or build a brand-new design from scratch.

2. Keep Your Color Count in Check

Screen printing uses a separate screen for each ink color, so more colors means more setup and higher cost. For most projects, 1–3 colors hit the sweet spot between visual impact and budget. A well-designed one-color print can look just as sharp as a full-color design — sometimes sharper.

If you need a photographic or full-color image, ask us about direct-to-garment (DTG) or heat transfer options as alternatives.

3. Choose the Right Fabric and Garment

Not all t-shirts are created equal. A 100% cotton tee gives you the softest hand feel and the most vibrant ink colors. Cotton-poly blends are more durable and resist shrinking, but may require special ink formulations. Ring-spun cotton offers a premium feel without a premium price.

Tell us how the shirts will be used — uniforms, giveaways, retail — and we'll recommend the right blank for the job.

4. Plan Your Quantities

Screen printing has a setup cost per color, so larger orders bring the per-unit price down significantly. If you know you'll need more shirts later (for new hires, future events, restocks), it's almost always cheaper to print them all at once.

Our minimums typically start at 12–24 pieces depending on the number of colors and print locations. We'll give you a clear price breakdown at every quantity tier so you can make the right call.

5. Build in Enough Lead Time

Rush jobs are possible, but planning ahead gives you more options — more garment choices, time for a design revision, and lower shipping costs. Our standard turnaround is 7–14 business days from artwork approval. For events or deadlines, let us know the date upfront and we'll work backward from there.

Ready to start your project? Contact us for a free quote — we'll walk you through every step.