Five Tips For Achieving A Retail Quality Print

Written By Jody Mazade
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  1. choose a Garment

    To achieve a retail quality custom shirt, start with a high-quality blank garment. In the example above, we used a Bella+Canvas acid wash tee. The acid wash detail provides a retro vibe that will catch the eye of shoppers.

  2. great design

    Great custom apparel starts with great artwork. When ordering screen printed heat transfers, vector files will ensure a high-quality final product. Another acceptable format is a high-resolution, color separated bitmap.

    SUBMIT ARTWORK FOR A FREE CUSTOM QUOTE

  3. Choose colors

    Choosing the right colors for your design is the next step in creating high-end, retail inspired custom clothing. In our example, we chose a contrasting Hot Pink color that adds an almost fluorescent “pop” when applied to the muted gray shirt.

    Howard Custom Transfers has over 100 stock ink colors to choose from, lending plenty of creative freedom when designing custom apparel. Find all of our stock ink colors HERE.

    Still need help choosing? Check out our Free Color Test Sample Program. Each 7” x 2.25” sample is printed in our Howard Multi-Purpose formula so that you can test before you make your purchase. This program is limited to 10 color samples per request.

    REQUEST FREE COLOR TEST SAMPLES

  4. Get creative

    One way to add creative interest to your artwork is by using a distressed pattern. This provides a vintage look which pairs well with our acid wash tee and upgrades this retail inspired design.

    DESIGNING WITH DISTRESSED PATTERNS

  5. Choose a Transfer Product

    Choosing the right transfer for your retail quality custom apparel might be the most important decision you make. What look are you trying to achieve? Do you want a thick, textural application? Or a soft, barely-there design?

    In our example, we wanted to create a garment that had a very light hand. Choosing Howard Hot Peel gave us a soft, barely-there feel with no powder adhesive. Please note, this product requires the use of a commercial grade heat press for accurate application.

    BROWSE ALL CUSTOM TRANSFER PRODUCTS

Jody Mazade

Jody is the Marketing Director for Howard Custom Transfers, a leading custom heat transfer manufacturer. In her current role, she uses a multi-channel approach to content creation and digital marketing. With over a decade of experience in the custom apparel industry, Jody helps educate customers by publishing relevant social media, website, email, and video content.

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How To: Design With Patterns