Resources
Decoration Methods
How your logo and artwork gets onto the product matters. Different methods suit different items, quantities, and artwork types. Here is everything you need to know to make the right call.
Apparel decoration
Apparel
Screen Printing
The industry standard for custom apparel. Vibrant, durable prints for orders of 24 and up.
- •Orders of 24 or more pieces
- •1 to 6 solid spot colors
- •Tees, hoodies, and flat-fabric garments
Apparel
Embroidery
Thread stitched directly into the fabric. The standard for structured items and premium branded apparel.
- •Structured hats, caps, and headwear
- •Polos, jackets, and outerwear
- •Logos with clean edges and defined shapes
Apparel
Direct-to-Film (DTF)
Full-color transfers applied with heat. The right call for runs as small as 6 pieces and detailed artwork screen printing cannot reach.
- •Orders as small as 6 pieces
- •Full-color or photographic artwork
- •Dark garments where DTG underbase would compromise the print
Apparel
Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
Full-color photographic prints. No screen setup, no minimum. The right call for complex artwork and small runs.
- •Low quantities (1 to 23 pieces)
- •Full-color, photographic, or gradient artwork
- •One-off or individually personalized items
Apparel
Heat Transfer
Heat-bonded decoration for athletic apparel, polyester, and specialty finishes.
- •Athletic jerseys with per-item name and number customization
- •Performance and polyester fabrics not suited for DTG
- •Specialty finishes: metallic, glitter, puff effects
Hard goods decoration
Hard goods
Silkscreen Printing
The standard decoration method for branded hard goods. Clean, cost-effective color on drinkware, accessories, and pens.
- •Branded drinkware: tumblers, bottles, and mugs
- •Pens and writing instruments at volume
- •Accessories with flat or cylindrical print surfaces
Hard goods
Pad Printing
Precise ink transfer for small surfaces and irregular shapes. The standard for branded pens and compact accessories.
- •Pens and writing instruments
- •Caps of bottles and small cylindrical items
- •Logos on curved or irregular surfaces
Hard goods
Laser Engraving
A laser burns your logo permanently into the material. No ink, no fading. The premium choice for metal, wood, and leather goods.
- •Metal drinkware: tumblers, flasks, and insulated bottles
- •Wood and bamboo accessories
- •Leather and leatherette portfolios and notebooks
Hard goods
Full-Color Digital
Photo-quality printing on hard goods. Use when the design has gradients, photography, or more than four colors.
- •Full-color logos or artwork on drinkware and accessories
- •Photographic imagery and gradients on promotional items
- •Designs that require more than four spot colors
Hard goods
Debossing
Your logo pressed into the material surface. A tactile, lasting finish for notebooks, leather goods, and structured accessories.
- •Notebooks, journals, and leather covers
- •Structured bags and portfolios
- •Logos where a subtle, tone-on-tone impression is appropriate
Which method for which scenario?
Common use cases and the decoration method best suited to each.
Team of 50, tees for an event
Screen Printing
Volume and cost efficiency
Onboarding kit hoodies, chest logo
Screen Printing or Embroidery
Screen for large fill, embroidery for small structured logo
Structured hats with embroidered logo
Embroidery
Standard for headwear, durable and premium
Custom jersey with player names
Heat Transfer
Name and number customization at low per-piece cost
Limited-run tee, photographic artwork
Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
Full-color detail, no screen setup, no minimum
Executive gifts, polos with small logo
Embroidery
Refined finish appropriate for a business context
Branded tumblers for team gifting
Laser Engraving
Permanent, premium finish on metal drinkware
Branded pens for a conference
Pad Printing
Standard for small cylindrical surfaces at volume
Notebooks for corporate gifts
Debossing
Tactile, premium impression on leather and paper covers
Drinkware with full-color gradient logo
Full-Color Digital
Gradient and multi-color artwork without spot-color limits
Not sure which method is right for your order?
We match your artwork and quantity to the right decoration method as part of every order. Reach out with your details and we will give you a straight answer.
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