Printing Project Management
How we process and manage a printed clothing order from enquiry through to delivery.
The below information has been produced to give you an idea of how JKL Clothing manages your order for printed garments, how we deal with each stage of the process and what information we need to deliver a printed clothing order that meets the exact demands of our clients;
The Printed Clothing Process
Printing onto clothing can be achieved in a number of different ways. Each printing method has its own merits and dependent on the specific requirements of the order, JKL will advise on the best method of printing to use.
Our main printing method is screen printing. Screen printing involves producing mesh screens for each colour of the logo or design and then squeezing ink through the screen directly onto the garment. The machine used in this method is often referred to as a print carousel and depending on the number of beds on the carousel a large number of garments can be printed relatively quickly.
Once the garment has been printed it is then put through a dryer to dry the ink. Screen printing achieves quality, long lasting results and a print that often will outlast the garment itself. JKL will recommend screen printing as a preferred print option for large order volumes and logos with few colours in them
The other printing type that JKL provides is transfer printing. Transfer prints use vinyl that is cut to the logo shape, size and colour and then applied to the garment using a heat press. The cost for transfer printing is based on the size of the logo or print and the quantity of printed garments required. Ideal for short runs or prints with a number of colours in them, transfer printing has come a long way in recent years and we no longer have any issues around the quality or longevity of the print.
The other printing type that JKL provides is transfer printing. Transfer prints use vinyl that is cut to the logo shape, size and colour and then applied to the garment using a heat press. The cost for transfer printing is based on the size of the logo or print and the quantity of printed garments required. Ideal for short runs or prints with a number of colours in them, transfer printing has come a long way in recent years and we no longer have any issues around the quality or longevity of the print.
Confirmation of approval from the emailed digital proof will then lead to your order going into production. Your chosen garments are picked, checked and placed into the line for printing. Quality control is important at this stage of the production process as any mistakes cannot be rectified once the print has been applied to the garment.
We will then place the garment onto the printing carousel or heat press depending on the chosen method of print. This is an important part of the process. The garment needs to be square and inline so that the print is applied in the correct place. It is also important that all the garments are positioned in the exact same place on each occasion so that the run of prints look the same and provides a uniform finished printed item. Following the application of the print the garment is put through a dryer to dry the ink and prevent any smudging. Once dry, your item(s) will be ready for dispatch.
The finished printed product is finally complete. The garment is individually checked, folded and put through our final quality control check.
Client Information
Our aim is to make ordering printed clothing as easy as possible. We have developed a state of the art website to try and achieve this for our customers. We welcome any feedback on the printed garment ordering process to improve our service.
However, as easy as the automated ordering process can be we have found that the personal touch is still required and that you simply cannot beat speaking to a real person when ordering printed clothing.
There are, however, some basics that can help the process to run as smoothly as possible and provide the best printed outcome:
- Logo Artwork - We can help you with the artwork for your printed clothing, but the better the artwork we receive from you the better the final printed garment. We can work with a number of digital formats which are listed in our printed artwork guide. Believe it or not we can also work with drawings on a piece of paper, but please bear in mind that originating the digital version will incur extra charges.
- Clothing Choice - Once the item is printed with your design we cannot accept it back from you unless it is faulty in any way. Obviously a garment with your individual and unique logo printed on it cannot be worn or used by anyone else, so returns of a printed order are not accepted. If you are unsure of the colour, size or fabric of a garment then we advise you order plain samples via our website which can then be returned to us for a full refund.
- Communication - As pointed out above it is vital, each printed order is unique and bespoke and therefore requires individual attention in order to get it right. We have sales account managers to contact you about your order from start to finish. This single point of contact is by far the best way to ensure the order is processed quickly and to spec, meaning you receive your printed garments to time and as ordered.
What can you expect from our printed garments?
Fabric printing has come a long way in recent times. The two printing methods used by JKL offer products that are detailed with good image quality and robust to last wash after wash. Detailed logo’s can now be printed with ease and this detail will stand out on the garment. We advise you from the start if we think there will be any problems with the print and will recommend the best print option to achieve the best results. As mentioned above a digital sample is always sent for your approval prior to printing.
We have produced a further guide on the garment types that are best suited to printing. On our website we have chosen specific clothing that can easily be printed but some fabrics are better than others at accepting a print. For example a garment with a high polyester content cannot be subject to the temperatures required to dry the ink following screen printing or from the heat press for transfer printing. Again we can advise you on this. Waterproof garments may also be problematic in that the waterproof membrane does not allow the ink to penetrate the fabric or seal to it in the case of a transfer. Many of our garments have internal access points so we can insert them onto a screen bed of heat press. Any problems with the garments you have chosen will be highlighted to you prior to printing them. We have put together in groups some of our most popular printed clothing products such as printed hoodies
The above information has been produced to help you with purchasing printed clothing from JKL, but please remember we are only a phone call away or can be contacted by email if you prefer. Please contact one of our sales team on 0114 239 8000, or via email sales@jklclothing.co.uk. Our offices are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.