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Embroidery vs Screen-Printing

Are you trying to choose between ‘screen-printing’ or ‘embroidery’? The best options really depends on a variety of factors – your budget, your time frame, and your intended use for the finished product.

Screen-Printing

Screen-printing allows you to create incredibly detailed images in any size you wish. There are two steps to screen-printing: preparation and production.

  1. The desired image is adapted for screen-printing, the different colors separated, and a series of screens made to apply the color. Once preparation is complete, production can begin.
  2. The item to be printed (often a shirt) is laid flat and held steady. The colored emulsion is pressed through the mesh of the screen, and depending on the color of the shirt, may be flash cured before moving on the next color. After drying, the shirt is ready to wear!

The main time investment for screen-printing comes from the prep-work, not the process itself. The artwork and screen preparation take time, but the actual printing process can be very quick, with runs numbering in the hundreds or even thousands possible in a single day.

Embroidery

Embroidery has two steps as well, and can create durable artwork on the item in question. However, it is not suitable for extremely complex, large, or detailed images.

  1. The desired design must be digitized using embroidery software to convert the artwork into a replicable format. The design is then loaded into the embroidery machine and the machine threaded with the correct colors of thread.
  2. The machine then reproduces the image, usually starting working backwards and layering on the colored thread. Most machines have a maximum of 12 colors and can run up to 8 identical reproductions at once.

The main time investment with embroidery varies depending on the complexity of the design and the size of the batch. Complex designs take longer to digitize and reproduce, while simple, one color designs can be rushed into production quickly.

Cost and Benefits

The cost of screen-printing is usually less than that of embroidery (exceptions apply). However, embroidery lasts much longer; standing up to multiple washings and dryings. Screen-printing is a good choice for printed promotional products, while embroidery is generally better for corporate wear.

Not sure whether your project should be completed in Embroidery or Screen-Printing? Talk to one of our experts and find out which is best for your specific circumstance. We can embroider and screen-print almost any type of fabric.

Why Order Custom Screenprinted Shirts?

Do you need some custom printed shirts, but are exactly sure what route to take? If you need a large number of shirts, screen-printing is probably your best option, for several reasons.

Take a look at your needs. You could be wanting a large number of custom printed shirts for a giveaway or promotion. You could be planning to sponsor a youth sports team. You might even be planning to participate in a charity run with all of your employees – or you could be panning to standardize your staff uniform into something comfortable and causal.

Screenprinted shirts are comparatively inexpensive, especially when compared to heavier, more costly golf shirts which are often custom embroidered with individual names for use as an employee uniform. While polo style golf shirts make a great uniform when paired with khakis or slacks, they can be extremely expensive if you have a large number of employees or high staff turnover that requires new shirts to be created continually.

With screenprinting, a large number of tees in different sizes can be created that look identical, and simple pin on name tags or badges on lanyards can be used instead of customizing each employee’s shirts. You can readily afford to pass out the shirts at the rate of a half dozen per employee, and they can be responsible for keeping them clean and pairing them with nice pants in a specified color.

Screen-printing can be done by your local Long Island print shop, using either four-color process printing (best for printing on light colored material) or simulated process printing (best for detailed printing on dark material.) With four-color process printing, almost photographic detail can be achieved. The process entails “color separation” in which the artwork is broken down into the four component colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (this is referred to as CMYK). The entire print is created by mixing and layering varying amounts of each of those 4 colors onto the tee shirt, until the final effect is produced.

Depending on the complexity of your design and the color of shirt you choose, your printer will recommend the best type of printing process. Up to nine colors can be used, but for most tee shirts, a simple design using 2-4 colors is best. Your screen-printer can help you with your design if you don’t have one.

If you choose to go with screen-printed tees for your company uniform, sponsored team or charity effort, make sure you order plenty. Tee shirts can vary in color by the lot, so you have a better chance of the shirts matching if you order them all at once, instead of as needed. Costs are also lower, as there is a set-up process needed, and the more shirts you order, the cheaper per shirt they will be!

Ask your Long Island print shop about screen-printed tees today. The variety and possibilities for promoting your business can be endless!

Custom Printed T-shirts or Embroidered Golf Shirts for Charity

Putting company names and logos on custom printed tees or embroidered golf shirts to sponsor charity events is a long standing tradition! Promotional shirts are an easy and affordable way to increase brand recognition for your company name, products and services – and when you support a good cause, you gain extra respect in the community by becoming a force for good.

As Fall approaches, many cities hold multiple fun-runs, mini-marathons, and golf events aimed at supporting one charity or another. When you sponsor a runner, a golfer or a team, you are showing that your business cares about the community, believes in giving back, and is committed to helping the world change for the better.

Having your brand logo on shirts makes you easily visible to the public, and they are often worn multiple times for months or years after the event. Just one shirt can yield hundreds or even thousands of impressions during its wearable lifetime!

Depending on the event, consider the kind of shirt to use for your sponsorship. For a fun-run, simple colorful tee shirts with the name of the event on the front and your company name and motto on the back is ideal. Use bright colors, and make sure to order enough to sponsor a team. Include yourself and your staff!

For a golf event, an embroidered golf shirt is an even better idea – you can create a high quality shirt with the golfer’s name (or names if you can sponsor a foursome) on the breast and your company logo in a bright color on the sleeve. Consider similar embroidered custom golf caps to match. Again, show up for the event to clap for your competing golfer(s) and wear matching embroidered golf shirts.

A local Long Island embroiderer or custom shirt printing shop can help you decide on a design for the shirts, select the correct shirt sizes and weight of fabric, and choose colors. For a run in a sunny region, where it is still warm in early fall, think about light colors that won’t soak up heat. For golf shirts, colors in neutral tones such as cream, khaki, dark green, navy blue and so on are excellent. A lighter or darker thread can be used for embroidery for contrast.

Ask your Long Island t-shirt printer or embroiderer about specifics like set-up charges, minimum order requirements, return policies and shipping charges. If you use a local print shop, you can save on the latter by picking up the shirts. Ensure that you order enough shirts to pass them around to staff, friends and family members, and make a big turnout at your chosen event.

How Screen Printed T-Shirts Can Boost Your Brand

To remain competitive in today’s market, you have to give people a reason to buy from you and not someone else. That means creating brand visibility in your community – and screen printed design t-shirts can make you and your employees stand out in a crowd. A reputable Long Island screen printer can help you with this!

There is no better way to impress on your customers that your company is willing to go the extra mile than to have your employees dressed for the occasion. Your company image can be firmly established with something as simple as professionally screenprinted shirts as part of a relaxed company uniform. Customers who enter your place of business will immediately know who to speak to obtain help, employees who make house calls can easily be recognized by homeowners.

In addition to quickly identifying your employees to your customers, screenprinted shirts can be used to bring your workforce together. Even something as simple as screen printed tees can provide a sense of team fellowship and help enhance your brand through a tightly bound group of people working together for a common goal.

Screenprinted shirts are also terrific for when you business participates in community events and supports charities. Having your team show up in “uniform” and help out is a great way to build good will in your local area and to show people you care about the community at large. You can also use screenprinted design tees to unify your group and help them be visible at public appearances at fairs, trade shows and other local events.  When your team shows up to participate in a good cause, it reflects well on your business and shows how your company is committed to the community.

Screenprinted tees can be used for team-building internally as well as for brand building externally. You can pass them out for company retreats or picnics, and reqard employees who wear their often – for example, any employee who takes a picture of himself or herself at a club or restaurant wearing the company shirt, could get some sort of small reward, or points in a contest leading up to a nice prize such as a prepaid debit card to the employee who racks up the most ‘official promo shirt wearings’ in a month.

You can also have your employees wear the shirts and be your walking advertisement by taking them outside the workplace.  Offer to take all of your staff who wears their screenprinted tee to work that day out to lunch – a crowd of you showing up at a local community hangout for burgers or BBQ has a terrific visible impact and a good method for rewarding employee participation as well. You could even work a deal with a local pizzeria, bakery or diner to give your employees a discount when they come in wearing their shirts, meaning they get more business and you get more exposure!

Ask your long island screenprinting shop for more ideas on how to make screen printed tee shirts for your employees fun and comfortable to wear. Invest in high quality shirts and you’ll find your workers are more than happy to be your brand boosters!

Boost Business with Custom Printed Totes for Fall

Screenprinted tote bags have become increasingly popular over the past five years as a way for stores to promote ecological responsibility and to advertise their brand! These shopping totes aren’t just environmentally friendly – although they do cut down significantly on the need for plastic bags – but they can also be a valuable form of advertising.

Your local Long Island print shop can help you with this branding and advertising project. There are just a few things you need to take into consideration before placing your order!

The first step is to choose your bag. There are several different options here:

  1. The flat tote. This is generally a small square tote with no bottom, suitable for carrying a few books or small items in. These are appropriate for bookstores, libraries, trinket shops, pharmacies and so on. It may have just one handle attached on each side to one of the sides of the bag in a diagonal manner.
  2. The three panel bag. This tote has a flat bottom and it suitable for carrying more and heavier items. It comes in a size comparable to a traditional paper grocery bag, with two handles at the top for ease of carrying. These are probably the most popular type of bag. They may also have a cloth covered cardboard insert to give the bottom substance and stability when open.
  3. The backsack. Not a true backpack, this is another small square tote with springs run down each side so arms can be fitted through for carrying on the back. This is handy for carrying to school, the gym, the beach or the park withy extra clothing, a water bottle, sunscreen, etc.

The quality of material used in the bag should be considered as well. Thin cotton is inexpensive, though it can tear easily if anything with a sharp corner is placed in the bag. A tighter, heavier weave of fabric will stand up to abuse better and take the printing well. Canvas is a common choice if the logo is large and simple (detailed designs are lost to the loose weave.)

The color of your tote should complement or contrast in a pleasing way with your logo colors. Logos with multiple colors should be placed on a white, black, tan or brown bag and you can expect to pay extra for each additional ink color. If you choose to include your company motto or slogan as well, or to have your phone number printed on the opposite side of the bag, it will also cost more – but having contact information readily available could be an added benefit.

Buying in bulk and picking up the bags yourself from Viking will make them cheaper, giving you a discount for a large order and eliminating shipping costs. Once your bags are ready, you can choose to give them away with a purchase, or sell them for a very modest sum. To encourage repeat business, offer a small discount to shoppers who bring their bags in when they visit – this will increase repeat business and lower your cost for regular plastic or paper bags if you train your regular clientele to carry their own shopping bags! 

Custom Printed Products for College Students

It’s one of the busiest times in a young person’s life — that first year or two at college! Whether a young adult opts for state school and stay close to home, or moves across the country to a dorm, there are dozens of things they need. Your business can benefit by branding these items and selling them inexpensively — or even giving them away!

Once college students find a product or service that meets their needs, they’ll usually stick with it. By making your company their first choice, you stand a good chance of making yourself their always choice! A little incentive is often all that is needed to get a college student through your business doors (or onto your website) and firmly in your customer base.

Whether you are a local pizza shop owner or a financial services vendor, hanging out on campus and passing out a little swag, these four off-to-college promotional products can be a great way for you to make contact!

Printed Clothing Items

College students hate doing laundry, right? Having an extra tee or sweatshirt could mean one more day that they can avoid the dreaded laundromat, so hand out tees with abandon. These can be printed with your company name, logo or motto, and serve as free walking advertising for your business. You can even sweeten the deal and offer a discount to students who show up at your establishment wearing your label!

Printed Reusable Water Bottles

Many college campuses are green and getting greener, so promotional aluminum water bottles can be your in. Since they reduce paper and plastic waste, environmentally conscious students are ecstatic to have a nice water bottle to carry around and one printed with your information will keep you at the front of their mind.

Printed Backpacks or Totes

While most students need and already have a traditional backpack, a lighter version is always welcome for trips to the library or gym. A drawstring back or canvas tote can be the perfect answer. Custom printed totes or bags with your log on the front create an instant walking billboard when slung over the shoulder of a college kid!

Customized Lanyards

Finally, giving away promotional custom printed lanyards or badge holders can provide another inexpensive way of getting your company name in front of students Again, translate this into sales by offering a discount for students wearing your bling!

These ideas can help you tap into one of the biggest customer demographics, especially if you live in a college town. Ask your local Long Island print shop about printed products you can use to attract even more attention on and off campus!

Is Custom Printing the Right Move for Your Company?

Some companies depend on an online printer for their products, which locks them into choosing from preset designs, templates and colors. The better choice is a custom print shop that supplies exactly what you and your business needs. A local Long Island custom printer can provide more than just cards and stationery, but also promotional items and customized clothing. Do your research, and you’ll find that local custom printing is the right choice for both your budget and your company.

The “right” printing company is different for every business owner, and finding a printing company that caters to your specific needs is vital. The quality of all printed stationery, including brochures, flyers and business cards is important to the appearance of your company, so the priority should be to get it done well. A Long Island paper printer will not only offers printing on many different types of products, but also provides for any other need you may have to promote the growth of your company.

Have a business card idea or a brochure layout in mind? One important factor to search for in a print shop is the option to design and fit together your products exactly how you want them. A company that will truly cater to you will have all the options in order to make your business card exactly how you imagined it. Generic online sources do not always provide this, so going with a Long Island printer is probably your better option if you need real custom work.

Every penny you save could turn into a dollar going back into your company, and price is another thing to factor into your decision for a paper printing company.  Some companies offer discounts when you buy in bulk, which is handy for flyers and stationery sets.  Choosing a printer that will offer this discount will help you in the long run, and help you not break the bank while trying to order custom printed items.

Bundling all of your purchases with one print shop is always wise, it will all arrive together and there is no worry over separate purchases. So if you are in the market for printed promotional items and custom printed shirts for uniforms, a shop that offers all of these is best.

The bane of every online purchaser’s existence is shipping, which adds up astronomically even if the product is cheap. You can eliminate these charges by buying from a local print shop. A Long Island paper printer like us can allow you to pick up your purchase locally, without the wait and hassle of shipping and handling. Spending a few minutes at the print shop is surely much less stress than waiting for a troublesome package.

Professional customization, a reasonable price range, and local locations are just three reason you should use a local Long Island printer; others include the availability of embroidery, screen printing, and promotional product printing. It’s a one stop solution for all your custom printing needs!

It’s a Cool, Cool Summer: Six Ways to Promote With Printed Items

The time for fun in the sun means that it is time to not only whip out the beach towels and sunscreen, but to promote your business in ways others never thought of!

Promotional items and business giveaways not only build brand loyalty, but also spread the name of your company far and wide, from the beach to the pool. Advertising to the entirety of the beach party crowd not only drags in business, but builds your logo up into one that people remember having seen. Choosing a collection of items to advertise with is just the first step, and getting them printed by your reliable Long Island printer and into the hands of customers is another.

Selecting items that your customers will use and enjoy should be a key factor you look for in the process of choosing products to advertise on. Beach towels and umbrellas are great for displaying your logo, and they are also good to sell at the beach or just hand out over the course of the day.

Good items are plentiful, so here is some examples to get you on the path towards your decision:

Ÿ      “Beach day” items: towels, sunscreen, and ice coolers.

Ÿ      “Stay Cool” items: umbrellas, reusable water bottles and cool visors.

Ÿ      “Fun in the Sun” items: blow up beach balls, Frisbees, and other popular beach toys.

Ÿ      “Remember the Kids” items: Buckets and shovels, rubber duckies, and crayons are always options.

Ÿ      “Useful” items (these can never be overdone): Cup cozies, bottle openers, and pens with a pad of paper.

Ÿ      “Wear it!” items (also always good): Tank tops, hats, rubber bracelets, and flip flops.

No-one says you have to give these things away! You can sell them at reasonable dollar range prices at the location of your choice, and make a buck back if all else fails. Cheap alternatives to an overpriced purchase can drag in customers quickly. While putting your logo in front of a large collection of people, it will also give your brand a good name for being quality and easy to afford.

After your game plan is finished, it is important to find a good printer that will understand your ideas and help you make them a reality. Make sure you check your local Long Island printer before anything else and save yourself the hassle of long distance shipping and handling. Local printers can keep you from breaking the bank with bulk purchase discounts and quality, personalized service that few other big chains can match.

Harness the power of summer in your advertising ploy and help drag in customers with creative marketing ideas. No matter if you choose to sell the items or simply give them away, both options will create a buzz about your business and help pave a path to success.

Targeted Marketing with Custom Printed Shirts

Custom printed company and promotional shirts are a quick, efficient way to increase brand recognition for your company name, products and services!

Adding your company logo on a shirt makes your business instantly visible to the public, and just one shirt can generate literally hundreds or even thousands of impressions! If your staff and customers wear custom printed shirts with embroidered logos in your company colors, you are getting extra advertising with every person they come in contact with.

To maximize the effectiveness of custom printed shirts, you have to identify your goals. Logo shirts and other printed or embroidered merchandise should always have a small but dedicated budget – it may be a small part of your overall marketing campaign, but it‘s going to be one with some of the best ROI out there compared to traditional forms of advertising!

Step One: Evaluate your marketing and promotional goals. Are you planning on having your employees wear the shirts when on the sales floor or are you sponsoring a local youth team for outside exposure? What should the focal point of your shirt’s message be? Customer service? Best product available? Reasonable pricing?

Step Two: Find the shirts you need. Your local Long Island Printer probably has stock or at least a vendor on hand to supply you,  but you’ll need to factor in the intended wear on the shirt – company shirts in some industries may be damaged or stained, indicating a need for cheaper shirts, while shirts for customer promotions should be high quality to encourage the owners to wear them frequently.  Climate may also be a consideration – heavier knit polo shirts or even long sleeved tees or Henleys may be best for Northern locations, while the deep South will dictate the need for light weight, breathable fabrics and short sleeves.

Step Three: Decide how many shirts you need. Discounts are usually available for larger orders (check with your Long Island custom print shop for batch pricing). If you are giving the shirts away, consider demand, and if you are purchasing for employee use consider specific sizing and replacement needs.

If you are giving away shirts for a one time event, your best bet may be purchase a single lot of value-priced shirts in a light-weight fabric and have a simple screen print done on the front. For nicer staff shirts, consider a heavier-weight shirt with embroidery instead. Sports teams will have their own specifications, and you can work that out with the coach for the team your company is sponsoring.

Don’t forget that your shirt represents your brand! Make them comfortable and durable, and people will wear them often. You might even offer a trade in policy for people who bring in their worn out shirt and give them a new one to continue spreading the word about your business!

Targeted Marketing with Custom Printed Shirts

Custom printed company and promotional shirts are a quick, efficient way to increase brand recognition for your company name, products and services!

Adding your company logo on a shirt makes your business instantly visible to the public, and just one shirt can generate literally hundreds or even thousands of impressions! If your staff and customers wear custom printed shirts with embroidered logos in your company colors, you are getting extra advertising with every person they come in contact with.

To maximize the effectiveness of custom printed shirts, you have to identify your goals. Logo shirts and other printed or embroidered merchandise should always have a small but dedicated budget – it may be a small part of your overall marketing campaign, but it‘s going to be one with some of the best ROI out there compared to traditional forms of advertising!

Step One: Evaluate your marketing and promotional goals. Are you planning on having your employees wear the shirts when on the sales floor or are you sponsoring a local youth team for outside exposure? What should the focal point of your shirt’s message be? Customer service? Best product available? Reasonable pricing?

Step Two: Find the shirts you need. Your local Long Island Printer probably has stock or at least a vendor on hand to supply you,  but you’ll need to factor in the intended wear on the shirt – company shirts in some industries may be damaged or stained, indicating a need for cheaper shirts, while shirts for customer promotions should be high quality to encourage the owners to wear them frequently.  Climate may also be a consideration – heavier knit polo shirts or even long sleeved tees or Henleys may be best for Northern locations, while the deep South will dictate the need for light weight, breathable fabrics and short sleeves.

Step Three: Decide how many shirts you need. Discounts are usually available for larger orders (check with your Long Island custom print shop for batch pricing). If you are giving the shirts away, consider demand, and if you are purchasing for employee use consider specific sizing and replacement needs.

If you are giving away shirts for a one time event, your best bet may be purchase a single lot of value-priced shirts in a light-weight fabric and have a simple screen print done on the front. For nicer staff shirts, consider a heavier-weight shirt with embroidery instead. Sports teams will have their own specifications, and you can work that out with the coach for the team your company is sponsoring.

Don’t forget that your shirt represents your brand! Make them comfortable and durable, and people will wear them often. You might even offer a trade in policy for people who bring in their worn out shirt and give them a new one to continue spreading the word about your business!

  • EMBROIDERY

    Custom Embroidery offers a superior look and feel for branded apparel. We offer high-quality custom embroidery that will enhance your golf shirts, t-shirts, and more.

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  • SCREENPRINTING

    Screenprinting allows for beautiful art to be applied to virtually anything! Screenprinting is the best method for reproducing images in a true-to-life form.

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  • PAPER PRINTING

    Viking understands what it takes to consistently produce paper printed brochures, catalogs, flyers, business cards and much more to meet our customer's high quality standards.

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