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Custom Printing Insights

Expert guides, industry tips, and practical advice for your custom apparel projects.

How to Choose a Print Method: 5 Options Compared
October 2, 20268 min min read

How to Choose a Print Method: 5 Options Compared

Screen print, DTG, DTF, embroidery or vinyl? Compare all five by quantity, colors, fabric, feel and budget, with quick picks for common custom orders.

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How to Print on Polyester and Performance Wear
October 2, 20268 min min read

How to Print on Polyester and Performance Wear

What works on polyester, moisture-wicking and spandex: DTF, low-bleed screen printing, embroidery and vinyl, plus honest limits on all-over prints.

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How to Screen Print on Polyester Without Bleeding
October 2, 20268 min min read

How to Screen Print on Polyester Without Bleeding

How we screen print polyester without dye migration: low-bleed ink, gray blocker bases, lower cure heat, test prints, and when DTF is the safer call.

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Custom Team Jerseys: How to Order Them Right
October 2, 20268 min min read

Custom Team Jerseys: How to Order Them Right

How to order custom team jerseys: pick the blank, choose screen print, DTF or vinyl numbers, build a clean roster, approve the proof and get them on time.

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What Is HTV? A Heat Transfer Vinyl Guide
October 2, 20268 min min read

What Is HTV? A Heat Transfer Vinyl Guide

How heat transfer vinyl is cut, weeded and pressed, the vinyl types worth knowing, where HTV beats DTF or screen print, and how to make it last.

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DTF vs Screen Printing for Polyester Jerseys
October 2, 20267 min min read

DTF vs Screen Printing for Polyester Jerseys

DTF or screen printing for polyester team jerseys? Compare minimums, color count, dye migration, stretch and names and numbers, side by side.

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Custom Shirt Minimums by Print Method (2026)
October 2, 20267 min min read

Custom Shirt Minimums by Print Method (2026)

Minimums for every print method: screen print 36 per design, embroidery and hats 24, DTF 12, vinyl 6, DTG none. How mixed orders and price tiers work.

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Rush Custom Apparel: What Speeds Up an Order
October 2, 20268 min min read

Rush Custom Apparel: What Speeds Up an Order

What actually makes a custom apparel order fast or slow, what to send on day one, and how to ask a print shop for a rush the right way.

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Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella 3001 vs Gildan 5000
August 20, 20265 min min read

Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella 3001 vs Gildan 5000

Comfort Colors 1717 vs Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Gildan 5000: weight, fit, feel and how each blank takes a print, so you pick the right tee.

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Company Store for Employee Merch: How Do Budgets and Credits Work?
August 20, 20265 min min read

Company Store for Employee Merch: How Do Budgets and Credits Work?

How company store budgets, employee credits, and approval workflows work, what new hire kits include, and how production minimums apply to employee merch.

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Is DTG Printing Good Quality? We Wash-Tested It
August 20, 20265 min min read

Is DTG Printing Good Quality? We Wash-Tested It

How durable DTG printing really is: our wash-test results, how long prints last, why they crack or fade, and the fabrics that hold color best.

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Merch Fulfillment Services: What's Included & Cost
August 20, 20265 min min read

Merch Fulfillment Services: What's Included & Cost

What merch fulfillment covers: warehousing, pick-pack-ship, returns, and how pricing is built from product, handling and postage. When to outsource.

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Screen Printing Minimum Order: Why It's 36 Pieces
August 18, 20266 min min read

Screen Printing Minimum Order: Why It's 36 Pieces

Why screen printing carries a 36-piece-per-design minimum, how screen setup drives it, and the no-minimum option for smaller runs: DTG, with no setup fee.

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How Do Schools Order Custom Spirit Wear? A Fall 2026 Guide
August 17, 20265 min read

How Do Schools Order Custom Spirit Wear? A Fall 2026 Guide

How schools order custom spirit wear for fall 2026: bulk vs online stores, minimums, production timelines and when to order for homecoming.

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Custom Apparel FAQ: Everything to Know Before You Order
June 17, 20263 min read

Custom Apparel FAQ: Everything to Know Before You Order

Straight answers on custom apparel: minimums, pricing, turnaround, file types, print methods and how to order, from French Press Custom.

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DTG vs DTF: The Real Difference, Side by Side
February 24, 20268 min min read

DTG vs DTF: The Real Difference, Side by Side

DTG vs DTF in one table: hand feel, durability, wash tests, fabrics, minimums and cost per shirt, from a shop that runs both every day.

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Bulk T-Shirt Ordering: How to Save Money on Large Custom Orders
February 24, 20266 min read

Bulk T-Shirt Ordering: How to Save Money on Large Custom Orders

Does bulk ordering custom t-shirts really save money per unit? The quantity tiers that change the price, how many shirts to order for an event, how wholesale pricing works, and the blank, color, and timing choices that cut cost.

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The Beginner's Guide to Custom Embroidery: Stitches, Fabrics, and Design Tips
February 24, 20266 min read

The Beginner's Guide to Custom Embroidery: Stitches, Fabrics, and Design Tips

Learn everything about custom embroidery: stitch types, best fabrics, design guidelines, and logo preparation tips from the experts at French Press Custom.

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Embroidery Thread Colors: How to Pick the Right One
February 24, 20265 min min read

Embroidery Thread Colors: How to Pick the Right One

How to choose embroidery thread colors that match your brand: Madeira and Isacord charts, PMS matching, contrast on dark garments, metallics.

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Screen Printing vs DTF: Differences and When to Use Each
February 24, 20267 min read

Screen Printing vs DTF: Differences and When to Use Each

Screen printing vs DTF side by side: cost, durability, detail and best use cases, so you can pick the right method for your apparel.

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Custom Apparel for Nonprofits: Fundraising and Volunteer Gear Ideas
February 24, 20266 min read

Custom Apparel for Nonprofits: Fundraising and Volunteer Gear Ideas

Custom apparel for nonprofits: fundraising tees, volunteer gear, charity run options, and how to run a campaign without holding inventory.

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How to Set Up a School Spirit Wear Store Online
February 24, 20268 min read

How to Set Up a School Spirit Wear Store Online

Set up an online school spirit wear store: pick products, launch the store, run it as a fundraiser, and manage orders with no upfront inventory.

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Custom Uniforms for Small Businesses: A Complete Ordering Guide
February 24, 20268 min read

Custom Uniforms for Small Businesses: A Complete Ordering Guide

Ordering custom uniforms for a small business: choosing blanks, decoration methods, sizing, budgeting, reorders and working with a shop.

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Puff Ink, Foil, and Specialty Screen Printing Inks: Elevate Your Custom Prints
February 24, 20266 min min read

Puff Ink, Foil, and Specialty Screen Printing Inks: Elevate Your Custom Prints

Puff ink, foil, metallic, glow-in-the-dark and reflective screen printing inks, and when to use each for standout custom apparel.

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How to Design a Logo for Custom Apparel
February 24, 20266 min read

How to Design a Logo for Custom Apparel

How to design or adapt a logo for apparel: vector file formats, high-resolution artwork, sizing and placement, and shirt colors that keep it readable.

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Custom Workwear and Safety Apparel: Industry Requirements and Best Practices
February 24, 20266 min min read

Custom Workwear and Safety Apparel: Industry Requirements and Best Practices

Custom workwear requirements: ANSI safety standards, hi-vis decoration rules, and the best print methods for durable safety gear and uniforms.

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Custom Apparel for Fitness Brands and Gyms: Building Your Brand Identity
February 24, 20266 min min read

Custom Apparel for Fitness Brands and Gyms: Building Your Brand Identity

How gyms and fitness brands use custom apparel: member gear, staff uniforms, retail merch and activewear, with fabric and print method tips.

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How to Prepare Artwork for Screen Printing
February 19, 20268 min read

How to Prepare Artwork for Screen Printing

Print-ready artwork for screen printing: best file type, DPI, vector vs raster, hand-drawn and Photoshop prep, and the mistakes that cause rework.

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Bella Canvas vs Gildan vs Next Level: Which Tee?
February 16, 20267 min read

Bella Canvas vs Gildan vs Next Level: Which Tee?

Bella+Canvas 3001 vs Gildan 5000 vs Next Level 3600: fabric, fit, sizing and print quality compared so you pick the right blank tee.

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The Complete Guide to Band Merch: From Design to Doorstep
February 10, 20268 min read

The Complete Guide to Band Merch: From Design to Doorstep

Everything bands need to know about custom merch. Design tips, printing methods, pricing, online stores, and how to maximize merch revenue at shows and online.

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DTF Printing Explained: Everything You Need to Know in 2026
February 7, 20266 min read

DTF Printing Explained: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

What is DTF printing? Learn how Direct-to-Film printing works, its advantages over screen printing and DTG, costs, and when to use it for custom apparel.

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Discharge Screen Printing: The Softest Screen Print You Can Get
January 26, 20265 min read

Discharge Screen Printing: The Softest Screen Print You Can Get

Discharge screen printing explained: how it removes garment dye for a zero-hand-feel print, which cotton shirts it works on, how it compares to standard screen printing, and how it is priced at French Press Custom.

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How to Start a Clothing Brand with Custom Printing in 2026
January 23, 20268 min read

How to Start a Clothing Brand with Custom Printing in 2026

Step-by-step guide to launching your own clothing brand using custom printing. From design to production to selling online. Real costs and practical advice.

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Screen Printing Ink Types Explained
January 20, 20267 min read

Screen Printing Ink Types Explained

The four screen printing inks compared: plastisol, water-based, discharge and puff. How each one feels, what it costs and which garments suit it.

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PMS Color Matching for Custom Apparel: A Guide
January 17, 20266 min read

PMS Color Matching for Custom Apparel: A Guide

How PMS and Pantone color matching works on apparel: find your Pantone number, coated vs uncoated, ink mixing, and what shifts on a dark garment.

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Custom Hats: Embroidery, Patches, and Screen Print Options Compared
January 14, 20266 min read

Custom Hats: Embroidery, Patches, and Screen Print Options Compared

Explore custom hat decoration options: embroidery, patches, and screen printing. Compare look, cost, durability, and which method is best for your brand.

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Corporate Swag Employees Actually Want to Wear: A Buying Guide
January 5, 20266 min read

Corporate Swag Employees Actually Want to Wear: A Buying Guide

Corporate swag employees actually wear: how companies choose blank t-shirts, how to give employees a merch budget through a company store, how to avoid wasted branded apparel, and how to budget per person.

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Water-Based Screen Printing Ink vs Plastisol
January 2, 20265 min read

Water-Based Screen Printing Ink vs Plastisol

Water-based ink vs plastisol: hand feel, opacity on darks, durability, cure and cost. Which ink to pick for cotton, polyester and discharge prints.

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What Is Comfort Colors? The Garment-Dyed Tee Guide
December 30, 20255 min read

What Is Comfort Colors? The Garment-Dyed Tee Guide

What Comfort Colors means, why the garment-dyed 1717 is everywhere, whether the shirts shrink, Ivory vs White, and how they take a print.

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Custom Packaging for Apparel: Polybags, Labels, Hang Tags, and Boxes
December 27, 20256 min read

Custom Packaging for Apparel: Polybags, Labels, Hang Tags, and Boxes

Elevate your brand with custom apparel packaging. Guide to polybags, woven labels, hang tags, tissue paper, and custom boxes for clothing brands.

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Simulated Process Screen Printing: How to Get Photorealistic Screen Prints
December 24, 20256 min read

Simulated Process Screen Printing: How to Get Photorealistic Screen Prints

Learn how simulated process screen printing reproduces photorealistic images on dark garments. How it works, when to use it, and how it compares to CMYK.

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Event Merch Timeline: When to Order Custom Apparel for Your Event
December 21, 20255 min read

Event Merch Timeline: When to Order Custom Apparel for Your Event

Planning timeline for ordering custom event merchandise. When to start, production timelines, and how to avoid last-minute rush fees for events and festivals.

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Selling Merch Without Inventory: Print-on-Demand vs Pre-Order Models
December 18, 20256 min read

Selling Merch Without Inventory: Print-on-Demand vs Pre-Order Models

Compare print-on-demand and pre-order models for selling custom merch. Learn the pros, cons, and profitability of each approach for your brand.

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Why Screen Printed Shirts Crack (and How to Fix It)
December 15, 20255 min read

Why Screen Printed Shirts Crack (and How to Fix It)

Why screen printed shirts crack or peel after washing, how to tell a production fault from a care mistake, whether it can be fixed, and wash rules.

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Custom Apparel for Restaurants: Uniforms, Merch, and Branded Gear
December 9, 20256 min read

Custom Apparel for Restaurants: Uniforms, Merch, and Branded Gear

Custom apparel solutions for restaurants and hospitality. Staff uniforms, branded merch for customers, aprons, hats, and how to build restaurant brand identity.

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Embroidery Stitch Count Explained: What It Means for Your Order
December 6, 20255 min read

Embroidery Stitch Count Explained: What It Means for Your Order

Understand embroidery stitch count and how it affects cost, quality, and production time. Guide to stitch count ranges for logos, text, and designs.

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10 Common Mistakes When Ordering Custom Apparel (And How to Avoid Them)
November 30, 20257 min read

10 Common Mistakes When Ordering Custom Apparel (And How to Avoid Them)

Avoid the top 10 mistakes people make when ordering custom printed apparel. From artwork issues to sizing disasters, learn how to get your order right.

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Custom Apparel Trends 2026: What's Selling Now
November 27, 20257 min read

Custom Apparel Trends 2026: What's Selling Now

Custom apparel trends for 2026: garment-dyed and vintage washes, oversized fits, sustainable blanks, puff and tonal prints, and what is actually selling.

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