FAQs about Artwork

Question: Can I use my own logo or image?
Answer: That depends. Is your image a bitmap image or a vector image?

Question: What is the difference between bitmap (or raster) images and vector images?
Answer: There are two kinds of computer graphics – raster (composed of pixels) and vector (composed of paths). Raster images are more commonly called bitmap images.

A bitmap image uses a grid of individual pixels where each pixel can be a different color or shade. Bitmaps are composed of pixels.

Vector graphics use mathematical relationships between points and the paths connecting them to describe an image. Vector graphics are composed of paths.

Question: Why does it matter if the image is raster or vector?
Answer: The main reason is what happens when you enlarge the image. Many images (clip art et cetera) that you find on the internet are bitmaps and are too small for a t-shirt. The larger you display a bitmap, the more jagged it appears, while a vector image remains smooth at any size.

The image to the left is representative of the difference between a bitmap and a vector graphic. They are shown at 7x magnification to exaggerate the fact that the edges of a bitmap become jagged as it is scaled up.

Question: What type of art files do you accept?
Answer: Vector Artwork (Preferred):

• Adobe Illustrator CS3 or earlier (.AI, EPS, .ART, .WEF, etc)
• CorelDraw Version X5 or earlier (.CDR)
• Other vector formats may be acceptable. Please contact me to check.

* NOTE: Please make sure all text is converted to paths, curves, or outlines, or that all font files used in the artwork are also supplied.

Raster Artwork in High Resolution:

• Adobe Photoshop version CS3 or earlier (.TIF, .BMP. .GIF, .JPG, .PSD, .EPS, .PNG)
• Paint Shop Pro version XL or earlier (.PSP, .PNG, .TIF, etc)
• Other raster formats may be acceptable. Please contact us to check.

* IMPORTANT NOTE: All raster/bitmap artwork should be 300 Dots Per Inch (DPI) and at the size you want it printed. Graphics pulled from the web at screen resolution (72 DPI) do not work well for high quality printing.

Question: What computer programs do you use?
Answer: I am using CorelDraw.

Question: Do you charge for custom artwork?
Answer: No. I will work on the draft image(s) and all changes and modifications until you are satisfied.

However, if you decide not to order through me and would rather take the custom artwork in vector form to another printer, the cost will be $30.

Question: How big can an image be?
Answer: Your final printed image can be as large as 11″ x 14″

FAQs about Ordering

Question: How do you print t-shirts
Answer: Depending on the quantity, complexity and number of colors in the design, I can print your order using indirect screen printing, vinyl, Direct to Garment, or laser. If you have a preference for one, please let me know when you request a quote.

Question: What is indirect screen printing?
Answer: Also called plastisol transfers, these are created with a standard textile screen printer and dryer. Screen printing can be very messy (with the inks) and time-consuming (burning the image, washing the screens, drying the screens, etc.).

With indirect screen printing, the design is printed onto a special kind of transfer paper. The design is then transferred onto the garment by using a heat press, usually set for 320-400 degrees and pressed for 5 – 20 seconds.

Pros:

• Good for 20 – 100+ items.
• Colors are strong.
• Open designs (using the color of the garment as part of the design) are very soft.
• A wide range of effects — puff, glitter, glow-in-the-dark, etc. — are available.

Cons:

• Small quantities (under 10) can be expensive, especially with more colors in the design.
• Since the ink “sits” on the garment, a design that covers a large area (with few or no open areas) can feel stiffer. This is more noticeable on a tee than on a sweatshirt.
• You cannot mix effects (glitter and puff, for instance). The whole design would have to be glow-in-the-dark, for example.

Question: How do you print with vinyl?
Answer: One of my newer purchases is the GCC Expert 24 LX vinyl cutter. After designing the image on my computer, I load a roll of vinyl into the Expert 24 LX and press a button. The vinyl cutter goes to work, feeding the roll back and forth and cutting the design. I then “weed the design,” pulling all the excess vinyl away from the design. I am left with the design on a sticky piece of clear liner. I put the shirt on my heat press, lay the design on the tee, press for the the desired time, temperature, and pressure. When it’s done, I peel the liner away and am left with the finished product.

Pros:

• This technique is good for smaller quantities, from a single item to 30.
• The designs are soft, especially with open desings.
• A wide range of effects — puff, glitter, metallic, gloss, hologram, reflective, etc. — are available.
• You can mix effects to get a really unique design. Adding a small area of puff or glitter can make it stand out.
• Because I am creating and printing the designs in-house, I have a quicker turn-around with this method.

Cons:

• Higher quantities (more than 40 items) can be very labor-intensive.
• Designs have to be solid colors. Shadings or fading cannot be done with vinyl.

Question: What is Direct to Garment?
Answer: When was the last time you printed a color document from your computer? Now, imagine that, instead of printing on a sheet of paper, you printed directly onto a t shirt. That’s Direct to Garment (DTG) — the t-shirt is run through a special printer which prints the ink directly onto the shirt.

DTG typically feels very soft on the shirt and the colors can stay vivid through many washes.

Pros:

• DTG is very soft. The ink becomes part of the tee, rather than having the design “sit” on the tee. You often cannot even feel the design.
• You can get lots of colors, shadings, and fading with DTG. In fact, a design with 20 colors is the same cost to you as a design with 1 color.
• You can get as few as a one item, although there are prices breaks with more.

Cons:

• I contract through a Print on Demand company for my DTG shirts; this way, I can offer you no minimum orders. Direct to Garment tees are more expensive than shirts that are screen printed.
• There are no special effects (glitter, gloss, etc.) possible with DTG.
• The design should use darker colors than the color of the tee. Because the ink gets in the fibers, there is a lot less opacity. A yellow design on a blue tee with appear green.
• Printing on black tees and sweats is possible. Be aware that printing Direct to Garment on dark clothing is a little more expensive than printing on white or light-colored clothing. When you print DTG on a dark shirt, a layer of white ink has to go underneath the artwork, which allows for bright vibrant colors even on black shirts.

Question: What about Direct to Film (DTF)?
Answer: One of the newest techniques is called Direct to Film (DTF). DTF is a process that transfers prints onto fabric or other substrates using a heat-press mechanism. Unlike the DTG method, which only works on cotton fabrics, the Printer DTF method can work on cotton and poly blends.

DTF printing involves printing a design onto a piece of PET film (a special film with a coating that helps transfer designs) using water-based inks and a special adhesive powder. Then, the design on the PET film is heat-transferred to fabric using a heat press machine.

Pros:

• No limitation to fabrics. These designs work well on both cotton and polyester.
• Vibrant colors. The white ink base allows for vibrant color reproduction and ensures that designs are crisp and clear. This makes it ideal for printing complex designs with intricate details and multiple colors.
• Stable and durable: DTF prints are highly stable and durable. The white ink is used as a layer of background color, and the colored ink is on it, and then pasted on the fabric through an adhesive material, which makes it less likely to peel or fade after multiple washes.

Cons:

• Breathability and feel: Another disadvantage of DTF printing is that it can affect the breathability and feel of the t-shirt. The ink can make the fabric feel stiffer, which may be uncomfortable for some customers. This can be a critical factor to consider when designing t-shirts for everyday wear. This is especially true for a large design with no open spots in the design.
• Pricing is based on the size of the design. Most printers charge per square inch by the image so larger images are more expensive.

Question: Do you have a minimum order?
Answer: The minimum order for screen printed items is 10; this can be a combination of tees and sweats but it has to be the same design on all items.

If your design can be made using vinyl or if you are interested in DTG or DTF, there is no minimum; you can order a single item.

Question: What is your turnaround time?
Answer: I can generally get your order shipped to you within 10 – 14 days. Since I only do custom work, I order my supplies after you have approved your order. I usually get my supplies within 3 – 5 days.

Question: Do you only sell t-shirts?
Answer: No. I primarily print tees, sweatshirts and sweatpants but I can print anything that can fit in my commercial heat press. I have made rally towels and can print tote bags, swim towels, hoodies, zippered sweatshirts, and lots of other garments.

Through my on-line Direct to Garment shop, I can print tees, sweats, cotton hats, coffee mugs, steins, can coolers, aluminum water bottles, bbq aprons, cork bottom coasters, mousepads, laptop sleeves, iPad sleeves and cutting boards.

Question: What brand(s) of tees (or sweats or sports shirts or…) do you use?
Answer: I prefer Port and Company apparel for their price and softness. I have also used Gildan, Fruit of the Loom and Sport-Tek products.

However, if you have a brand that you want me to use and you can find it in my apparel catalog, let me know.

Question: How will I get my order of tees?
Answer: I primarily serve Southern Maryland (Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties). If you are inside a 20 mile radius of me, I will hand-deliver your order, free of charge.

If you are further away, I will mail your order to you, using your preference for the USPS, UPS or FedEx. Shipping charges will apply.

FAQs about Payment

Question: How much will my order cost?
Answer: Your cost depends mostly on 4 things:

1. The color of your garment (white tees cost less than colored tees)
2. How many items you order (I offer price breaks for more items)
3. The number of colors in your design (a 1-color design costs less than a 4-color design)
4. Front vs. Front and Back (printing a full design on the front of a shirt costs less than printing a full on the front and back or front and sleeve)

Question: Do you require a deposit?
Answer: New orders may require a deposit of 50% before I can start printing. After you submit your quote request, I will e-mail you a .pdf with the artwork information and your quote. You may need to approve it and pay 50% of the balance through PayPal or through an emailed invoice from Square. PayPal and Square accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and debit cards.

When the shirts are ready to be shipped (usually 10 – 14 days after your approval and 50% deposit), I will again e-mail you with the remaining balance and link to to your online invoice.

Returning customers in good standing are not required to pay a deposit. However, the full payment is due on delivery. Schools (or school sports and school activities) in Southern Maryland are also not required to pay a 50% deposit.

Terms (Net 30) are available to return customers in good standing upon request.

Question: Do you accept checks?
Answer: I do — if I know you or if you’re in Southern Maryland. I also (gladly) accept cash.

If you are not local to Southern Maryland, I accept payments via Pay Pal or Square online invoices.

PayPal and Square accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and debit cards. Pay Pal and Square both use the industry’s most secure data encryption technologies and physically secure servers that aren’t connected directly to the Internet.

Please note that if your check is returned to me by my bank for any reason (insufficient funds, etc.), you will be charged $30 and I may choose to not accept your checks in the future.

FAQs about Returns

Question: What is your return policy?
Answer: Before I print your order, I will send you a .pdf proof. You are asked to check your design for spelling and content errors.

Every order from Team Spirit Tees is printed-to-order just for you. Since every product is custom made, returned items can’t be resold on my website. However, I understand that mistakes are made.

So here’s my assurance:

• If I make a mistake, I will send you a replacement or refund your money.
• If you make a mistake with your order, email me and I will see what I can do fairly to help you get the shirt you want. I want you to be happy with your order.
• Since bulk orders receive a substantial discount, I can only provide exchanges or returns for those items that are materially different than the original order or defective in some way
• I may not choose to not accept a return or exchange at my discretion.
• If you would like to return an item, please email me within 30 days of placing the order and describe the problem. Include your order number (if you have it) in the correspondence.