RushOrderTees

First Day in the New Office Addition

Rush Order Tees — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:38:05 +0000

For more than ten years we’ve consistently grown at Rush Order Tees, and despite a tough economic climate we continue to do so at present time. Our sales, marketing, and art departments have added fresh new faces, and new workstations have been thrown into the mix. Just recently, we’ve been adding office space to one of our warehouses and have finally moved some of our office force into the new area. After some minor technical issues, the move feels mostly complete and we’re still getting used to the fresh setup. It’s amazing how far a little ceiling room goes in terms of feng shui!

The entire sales department is present in the new space, as well as some of our marketing department and all of our talented interns. The new office will allow us to expand while continuing to offer the highest level of customer service and retention in the industry. Catch some photos of our new digs after the jump.

Vector Graphics: The Best Format For Custom Screen Printing

Rush Order Tees — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:47:35 +0000

If you’ve placed orders for custom t-shirts or other printed products before, you may have heard of vector graphics. What are they and how do they differ from normal digital images? Why are they the best for printing?

Unlike .jpg, .bmp, or other formats that represent graphics with pixels, vector graphics are nothing more than a mathematical equation. By representing images with dots, lines, and shapes defined geometrically rather than with placeholder pixels, the clarity of the image is not compromised regardless of how far in or out one zooms in on it.

For screen printing, precision is extremely important. Films, the transparent items used to “burn” screens using light and photosensitive chemicals, have to be as precise as possible. The best way to ensure clean lines and edges down to even the finest details is to print the films from vector files rather than a pixelated image.

If you’re preparing artwork for printing, vectors are always the best way to go — but our excellent art department will help digitize any image into vectors suitable for screens free of charge. When you order with Rush Order Tees, artwork and other great customer service is always included.

The Ancient Craft of Embroidery

Rush Order Tees — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:38:01 +0000

Decorating a textile or piece of fabric with thread has a rich and extensive history as a master craft. Historians aren’t sure where embroidery started first, but early examples are found in nearly every part of the world. China, Egypt, and Europe all had well developed embroidery traditions and examples by around the Iron Age (1300 BC – 600 BC). From these ancient examples to just before the industrial revolution, embroidery was done exclusively by hand. Master artisans of tailoring and weaving spent vast amounts of time expertly crafting exquisite embroidered textiles of all kinds — the likes of which would not ever be reproduced in terms of quality by hand ever again.

Embroidered cloth, especially those embroidered with fine threads such as silk and even precious metals were popular among royalty in various societies. In the Muslim world, embroidered cloth such as banners, flags, robes, and even belts and other clothing accessories were embroidered to make a statement about socioeconomic status. Royal figures made use of elaborately embroidered garments, requiring the attention of master tailors. Some historical examples of embroidery were to reinforce fabric, focusing on function over aesthetics. The layered stitches reinforced fabric and made garments much more durable than just a single stitching process.

Like most areas of manufacturing and master craftsmanship, the industrial revolution changed embroidery by introducing machinery to produce elaborate embroidered cloths in record time. Mass manufacturing of popular patterns began, and the cost of embroidered cloth dropped dramatically. The machines were so good, the quality began to surpass that of hand made embroidery.

Today, embroidery is done by computer controlled sewing machines that follow precise layouts after digitizing artwork specifically for embroidery. The efficiency, precision, and accuracy offered by computer controlled machines makes embroidering custom logos and other images/text an affordable option for those looking to customize garments. From monogramming golf gear or other business items to making full color logos of companies or organizations looking to add an extra polish to their outward image, embroidery still has that premium and elite status of old. It is extremely good looking, and exudes timelessness, class, and professionalism. Utilize the rich historical context and traditions of embroidery for your next custom garment order today.

Intramural Sports Team T-shirts and Jerseys

Rush Order Tees — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:55:28 +0000

With summer just around the corner, many intramural sports leagues prepare for the busy season. Around the country, many people will participate in leagues for all kinds of activities at all different levels of competition. From team sports like soccer, football, and softball, to more recreational and non-traditional competitive leagues like dodgeball, every team deserves to look as good as they can on the field.

Ordering custom t-shirts for an intramural sports league is typically very economical compared with other types of custom t-shirts. With some exceptions, many teams opt for a one-color print on one side, with perhaps vinyl lettering and numbers to identify all of their star players. One print on a budget garment is one of the easiest ways to make sure the team is feeling like one come the first game of the season.

Many intramural sports leagues also offer social events, and the custom t-shirt will help break the ice. Identify yourself with your team, and mingle with other teams in the league. If your nickname or number is printed on your jersey, offer up a story behind your name or favorite number. Some leagues also require custom shirts for the referrees, officials, and staff involved with administrating the league.

When ordering custom t-shirts for your next IM sports commitment, make sure you order in plenty of time to keep costs down and collect a list of sizes, names, and numbers before you place your order. We can’t promise that the jerseys will make your players perform any better, but they will surely feel like they did!

CMYK Screen Printing: Full Color Printing Using Four Inks

Rush Order Tees — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:44:18 +0000

Many of our customers have heard of or inquire about CMYK screen printing. What is it, and who would want it?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). Using only these four colors, any shade of other color can be attained by mixing them in the right proportions. But it’s not as easy as mixing them as one would on a palette. There is another layer to the magic at work here.

Half tones revolutionized the newspaper industry, and are hard at work in screen printing (not only on t-shirts) literally all over the place. Halftones create breathtaking full color representations by making use of colored dots and dashes all angled correctly to come together and emulate a color at a distance. Using computer programs, graphic artists can use subtractive color modeling and halftones in combination to recreate full color images using only four colors, or in the real world, screens.

Not all CMYK preparations are equal, either. Expertise and experience performing CMYK separations leads to cleaner, crisper images with more vibrant colors than somebody just learning the ropes. Trust a professional to do your CMYK preparations! If you’ve never prepared files for screen printing before, chances are somebody will have to modify your files to make sure your artwork prints just the way you want it to.

Tips for Washing and Drying Screen Printed T-shirts

Rush Order Tees — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:59:10 +0000

There is no doubt that if you’ve owned a printed t-shirt, you’ve seen the effects of repeated washing and drying on the printed ink. Many people’s favorite t-shirts are faded and cracked from overuse and years of wear, washing, and drying. Here are some tips to make sure your t-shirt lasts as long as possible:

Turn the t-shirt inside out when washing and drying. By turning the garment inside out, the printed ink rubs against less material when tumbling in the washer or dryer. This simple step can really elongate the life of a printed t-shirt.
Don’t use a setting that is too high for the intended wash effect. Remember to respect appropriate water temperature for dark and colored shirts.
Order custom printed t-shirts from a top quality vendor. If you order from a shoddy screen printing shop, you could run into ink washout. This is when the ink on the shirt is not cured all of the way through and did not cure to the correct temperature. Fibrillation is another sign of low quality printing. This is when the actual fabric fibers break free from the ink film. The ink will begin to look broken up, and the texture of the material will overcome the texture of the print. Turning garments inside out, as mentioned earlier, is the easiest and best way to prevent fibrillation.

Plastisol Inks: Made to Last

Rush Order Tees — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:44:04 +0000

Plastisol inks are extremely popular in the screen printing industry, especially when it comes to garments like custom t-shirts. Compared to other inks, plastisol ink is easier to manipulate when printing. High viscosity allows for quite a bit of forgiveness when positioning ink on the press compared to older ink types.

Plastisol inks will not dry up in the screens. Requiring a high heat to cure (around 300 degrees Fahrenheit), the enormous amount of energy that goes into dissolving the chemical agents ensures that the mechanical bond to the fabric layer is extremely strong. In fact, plastisol ink will bond to any porous substance that will allow the ink to penetrate. When screen printing is done on smooth surfaces, a bonding agent is used.

For a custom printed garment that will last for years to come, plastisol ink is a solid choice. It performs extraordinarily well for its price point. Plastisol inks can be mixed to create any color for printing.

Best Summertime T-shirt Styles

Rush Order Tees — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:54:15 +0000

With temperatures on the rise in the United States, summer is just around the corner. When the heat is on, t-shirts are the go to garment for staying cool and fashionably (not to mention legally!) acceptable. What are the best t-shirt styles for summer time use? Check out some of these styles and you can’t go wrong ordering custom garments for your summertime event:

Gildan G200 - A classic, tried and true. No summer can pass without including this crowd pleasing and cost effective option.
Augusta Sportswear 790 - This moisture wicking tee will help anyone beat the heat, especially if participating in sports or other activities involving physical exertion.
Canvas 3005 - Up the fashion ante a bit with this lightweight v-neck. V-necks can allow more heat to vent from a person’s torso than traditional crew neck variants.
Anvil 815 - Tank tops are quite popular among women during the hot months of the year. This affordable tank top is cute to boot.
Gildan G270 – Not only popular among basketball enthusiasts, sleeveless men’s styles are perfect for the bbq, beach, or wiffleball game.
Champion 3393 – These active mesh shorts for women will vent heat in even the hottest summer situations.

This summer, don’t sweat it. Order an appropriate garment for your custom printing project and make sure your recipients are comfortable.

What’s In a Proof

Rush Order Tees — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:16:17 +0000

For many of our first time customers, the process of receiving a “proof” and approving art work can seem like a puzzling mystery. However, there’s really nothing cryptic about it.

A proof is a digital rendering of what your t-shirt will look like. It’s drawn up to scale with the exact colors, placement, text, and graphics that will be used to physically prepare your screens for printing. Whatever’s on the proof will be transferred exactly to your project. When placing an order, many customers only have an idea of what they want things to look like. After we send you your proof, it’s not set in stone.

At this point, it’s up to you if approve of the overall look. Need to change a thing or two, or even go in a new direction? This is the best time to take care of these decisions. We’ll keep sending out proofs until things are exactly as you need them. Once approved, we prepare your screens and print your order according to exacting standards.

On a rush order, it is especially important you be aware that you need to approve proofs. One of the most common things that delays an order from printing or shipping is customers not approving their proofs in a timely manner. Don’t make this rookie mistake and everything about your order will be smooth sailing.

Read more of What’s In a Proof at RushOrderTees

Some Great Font Resources for Custom Screen Printing

Rush Order Tees — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:37:51 +0000

Most designs for custom t-shirts include a text element of some kind. For the best typographical results, font selection is probably the most important factor to consider. Here are some resources from around the internet for your perusal to help steer you in the right direction. Use this codex of web resources to maximize the effectiveness of text on your next order of custom printed apparel.

Information About Fonts

What Font Should I Use?
This great article from Smashing Magazine is a great start for those brainstorming about choosing a font. A sound approach, some basics of how different font families effect the overall feel and appearance of a custom design are touched upon in this read.

A List Apart
The entire A List Apart website is rife with all kinds of knowledge regarding web development, but it’s also rife with information about typography. For some of the most relevant typographical related news and tips, it’s really a must-see. Drawing inspiration for your next custom printed design is not difficult after perusing some of their articles.

Typeface
If you’re looking to expand your knowledge on typefaces, fonts, and typography, the Wikipedia article on the topic is a great place to start. Did you know that “typeface” and “font” are not interchangeable, and actually refer to two different parts of printed text? Check it out and learn a thing or two about fonts and where they came from.

Places to Download Free Fonts

Dafont
Nearly everybody in the design community is familiar with dafont. In the case of fonts, sometimes the best in life truly are free. Though it’s rather hit-or-miss, the density of truly high quality fonts is healthier than one might imagine. For design ideas, try sorting their repository by theme. Choose one appropriate for your custom printing project and see what they have to offer.

Urban Fonts
This website offers both free and commercial fonts, and their collection is not quite as large as dafont‘s. Despite not being as large or as popular, there are still high quality fonts that could potentially work quite well with your project available for download under their Free Font section.

Smashing Magazine’s Best Free Fonts 2012
The latest iteration of this editorial list of free fonts released every year by Smashing Magazine is a great place to find a list of all high quality fonts. The editors at Smashing Magazine put together great lists — it’s worth searching for more if they could help improve your design project.

Design Modo – 50 Fresh Fonts
Here’s another edited list of fonts from experienced designers to inspire your selection. The fonts mentioned here won’t let you down when it comes to laying out text for your design.

Hopefully that’s enough to get you going on laying out text for your next custom printed design project. Whether it’s a logo, messaging, names, or a phrase/quote, the font you choose makes a big difference on how your text will be received.