If you’re new to t-shirt printing, chances are you’ll have trouble figuring out what to ask. There’s a big knowledge gap between printing services and their customers, where lots of different jargon gets thrown around from time to time. This guide will show you 7 of the best questions to ask t-shirt printing services, and what you can expect as an answer.
Best Questions to Ask T-Shirt Printing Services
Keep in mind that all printing services are different, so different policies are to be expected. While we recommend you chat with your printing service prior, some questions are better asked in person with the materials at hand. Be polite, patient, and persistent–trust us, the printing service wants the best for your brand as well!
Can you provide an estimate for…?
The first of many questions to ask t-shirt printing services is relatively straightforward, but it can be hard to ask for prices without sounding too direct. Estimates are an approximation of how much printing your design will cost, and for how many units. For example, if you’re planning on printing 50 t-shirts with a black-and-white design using screen printing, most t-shirt printing services can usually give you an estimate of their final charge.
Of course, this requires knowing what factors affect the printing and final costs. You can expect the following to increase charges:
- Higher design complexity (i.e. color gradients, small details, etc..)
- Higher quality fabric
- More complex printing methods
- Rush orders and demands
Understand that higher price tags are often necessary for premium-quality printing, especially if you’re running an apparel brand. There are long-term costs to running with cheaper, low-quality fabrics or designs. That being said, work with your budget and be sure to invest in your brand’s growth!
What is your MOQ (minimum order quantity)?
Some t-shirt printing services have no MOQs for a higher price tag, but most will need a minimum quantity order for each printing purchase. This means that your brand needs to request a certain amount of prints before they can process the order.
Usually, this is because printing services and manufacturers cut large amounts of fabric to make one shirt, and not using the rest of the fabric would be wasteful. 40 MOQ is in the low range for printing services catering to brands and businesses, which Shirtual has.
Even with MOQs, though, you can often ask for a sample of your product to get an idea of how it will look or feel. Don’t be shy to ask for this–it’s basically essential for working with both t-shirt printing services and manufacturers.
What sizes do you have to offer?
Good t-shirt printing services will have a ready display of sizes for you to choose from, typically between small to extra large. You can check out our oversized t-shirt sizes as an example. Ideally, you want to know the measurements for the length, chest, shoulder, and sleeve area of any t-shirt.
If you’d like to revise these measurements, some printing services may offer custom sewing and cutting like Shirtual.
What fabrics do you use?
This might be one of those questions to ask t-shirt printing services where you’re better off asking in person. Touching a fabric is a great way to know its quality, after all. If you’re unable to be there in person, however, ask for the type of fabric or blend being used in the t-shirt printing service. Natural blends are ideal for warmer and softer textures, but athletic shirts (i.e. jerseys) may also use synthetic materials like spandex or nylon.
You may also ask for GSM or grams per square meter. This tells you how thick a t-shirt is–and usually, how durable it tends to be. 150 GSM or above is usually quite thick and will last for a while.
What kind of printing methods can you use?
There are a ton of different printing methods–and we mean a ton. However, most printing services will only offer three to four of the most common printing methods. You’ll likely find screen printing, plastisol transfers, direct-to-film, and direct-to-garment printing among others. Occasionally, they may also offer embroidery or more experimental methods like puff printing.
If you want to find out about other printing methods, our prints collection has a much more detailed look at all the different printing possibilities. Want to try an uncommon method? Feel free to consult us!
6. What is your turnaround time?
Turnaround time refers to how long it takes to finish your order from request to finish. Each printing service has a different turnaround time policy, and it can be affected by day-offs. If you put in your work on Friday in a service that has Saturdays off, for example, it may take longer than if you were to put it in on Monday.
Other things can also obviously affect turnaround time, including the size and scale of your order. If you need your order done quickly, look for printing services supporting rush orders. They’ll often charge more based on how quickly you need it, but it’ll work in a pinch.
Is there anything I need to change in my design to work with your printing?
Sometimes you have to ask a question the printing service likely wants to ask you. While most designs are simple enough to execute, some may be more challenging to print with certain methods. For example, if you’re doing a screen-printed shirt, it’ll be very challenging to print a photographic image.
Save your t-shirt printing services some time (and yourself some money) by communicating your needs. This means looking for questions to ask t-shirt printing services like, “What type of printing method would be best for this design?” or “Is the file I’m using for this design ideal, or would it be better to convert it into something else?”
With all these questions to ask t-shirt printing services, you’ll have a good grasp of how to work with your t-shirt printing service in the future. Looking for a merchandising service that can answer all these questions and more? Shirtual’s one-stop solutions provide some of the most flexible design options in the Singaporean merchandising industry. Check out our premium collection for exclusive options for your brand!
