The Process

How Custom Printing Works - From Idea to Delivery

Whether you're ordering custom t-shirts for the first time or placing your hundredth reorder, here's exactly what to expect when you work with French Press Custom.

6 Simple Steps

Your Order, Step by Step

From your first message to delivery at your door, here's how we bring your custom apparel to life.

STEP 01

Get a Quote

Free, no obligation, fast turnaround

Tell us what you need: garment type, quantity, print method, number of colors, and any finishing services.
Use our online quote form or call us directly - we respond within 2 hours during business hours.
We'll send you a detailed estimate with per-piece pricing, setup fees, and a total. No hidden costs.
Need help choosing? Our team will recommend the best print method, garment, and setup for your budget.

Free revisions until you're happy

STEP 02

Approve Your Design

Mockups, revisions, and artwork prep

Send us your artwork in any format - vector (AI, EPS, SVG) is ideal, but we work with PNG, PSD, JPEG too.
Our art team prepares your files for production: color separation, vectorization, sizing, and placement.
We send you a digital proof showing exactly how your design will look on the garment, including placement and colors.
Request as many revisions as you need - we don't start production until you're 100% happy with the proof.

Thread colors matched against Pantone swatches for an embroidered stitch-out at French Press Custom

Pantone-matching thread colors before a stitch-out

STEP 03

Production

Screen prep, printing, embroidery, and more

Screen printing: We burn custom screens for each color, mix Pantone-matched inks, and run your order on our automatic presses.
Embroidery: Your design is digitized into a stitch file and sewn on our multi-head machines for consistent results.
DTG/DTF: Your full-color design is printed directly using the latest digital printing technology - great for detailed artwork and small runs.
Every piece is printed by experienced operators who monitor quality throughout the entire run.

Multi-head embroidery machines running a bulk crewneck order at French Press Custom

Our multi-head embroidery machines mid-run

No hidden fees - what you see is what you pay

STEP 04

Quality Assurance

Inspection, count verification, and consistency check

Every single piece goes through our QC station before it leaves the press or machine.
We check for print clarity, color accuracy, placement alignment, and garment defects.
Pieces are counted and sorted by size to make sure your order is complete and accurate.
Any piece that doesn't meet our standards gets reprinted - we'd rather reprint than ship a subpar product.

A bulk tee run stacked and counted on the French Press Custom shop floor

A bulk run stacked and counted on our shop floor

STEP 05

Finishing & Packaging

Folding, bagging, labeling, and boxing

Standard orders are neatly folded and boxed by size for easy distribution.
Need individual polybags? Hang tags? Woven labels? Custom packaging? We handle it all in-house.
For online store orders, we can pick, pack, and ship individual pieces to your customers.
All finishing services are quoted upfront - no surprise charges.

STEP 06

Delivery

Shipping, local pickup, or drop shipping

We ship via UPS and FedEx with full tracking. Most orders ship from our Santa Fe Springs facility.
Local pickup is available Mon-Fri 8am-5pm at our shop - no shipping cost.
Need items sent to multiple locations? We offer drop shipping and multi-address fulfillment.
Track your order anytime using our online order tracker.

Estimated Timeline

Quote

1 day

Proof

1-2 days

Production

5-7 days

1 day

Shipping

2-5 days

Typical turnaround: 1-3 weeks (varies by job)

Need it faster? Rush production available!

Print Methods

How Each Method Works

Screen Printing

Screens are burned from your artwork. Ink is pressed through mesh onto the garment one color at a time for vibrant, durable prints.

Best for: 24+ pieces, 1-6 colors

DTG

Your design is printed directly onto the garment with a specialized inkjet printer. Full-color, photo-quality results with no minimums.

Best for: 1-50 pieces, full color

Embroidery

Your logo is digitized into a stitch file and machine-embroidered for a premium, textured finish that lasts.

Best for: Polos, hats, jackets

DTF

Your design is printed on a transfer film then heat-pressed onto the garment. Great color vibrancy on any fabric color.

Best for: Small runs, dark garments

Turnaround Times

When Will My Order Be Ready?

All timelines start after proof approval. Choose the speed that fits your deadline.

Standard

Typically 1-3 weeks

Our standard turnaround after proof approval. Exact lead time depends on order size, decoration method, and current production schedule.

Rush

Compressed timeline

Need it faster? Rush production may be available case-by-case. Surcharge is quoted per project based on the timeline.

Super Rush

Tightest timeline

Last-minute deadlines happen. Super rush is subject to availability and carries a surcharge. Call us to confirm what is feasible.

Timelines may vary for very large orders (1,000+ pieces) or during peak season. We'll always confirm your specific timeline before you approve.

First-Time Buyers

Tips for a Smooth Experience

Ordering custom apparel for the first time? These tips will help everything go smoothly.

Start Early

Reach out 3-4 weeks before your event date. This gives time for quoting, proofing, production, and shipping without rush fees.

Have Your Artwork Ready

Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) produce the best results. If you only have a JPEG, no worries - we can vectorize it for you.

Know Your Sizes

Collect size breakdowns from your group before ordering. We can provide size charts for any garment style to make it easy.

Order a Sample

For first-time orders or new designs, a sample lets you see and feel the quality before committing to a full run.

Ask About Reorder Savings

Reorders skip screen and digitizing setup fees, so your per-piece cost drops. We keep your art files on record for easy reordering.

Consider Finishing Services

Polybags, hang tags, woven labels, and custom packaging give your merch a retail-ready feel. Great for online stores and gifting.

FAQ

Common Questions About the Process

Everything you need to know before placing your first order.

How long does the entire process take from start to finish?+

Most orders run on a 2-4 week total timeline: a few days for quoting and proof approval, 1-3 weeks for production depending on size and decoration method, then shipping time. Rush options may compress the production window case-by-case.

Do I need to pay upfront?+

We require a 50% deposit to begin production on new customer orders. The balance is due upon completion before shipping. Returning customers with established accounts may have net-30 terms.

What if I need to change my order after approval?+

Changes before production starts are usually no problem. Once production is underway, changes may affect timeline and cost. Contact us immediately if something needs to change.

Can I see the garment before I commit?+

Yes! We offer blank garment samples so you can feel the fabric, check sizing, and see the color in person before placing a production order.

What is the minimum order for screen printing?+

24 pieces per design per color. For smaller quantities, DTG (direct-to-garment) printing has no minimum - you can order as few as 1 piece.

Do you handle large orders (1,000+ pieces)?+

Absolutely. We regularly produce runs of 1,000-10,000+ pieces for enterprise clients, events, and retail brands. Large orders get volume pricing discounts.

What happens if there is a quality issue?+

We stand behind every order with our 100% satisfaction guarantee. If there's a defect or quality issue, we'll reprint at no cost. See our guarantee page for full details.

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote today. No obligation, no pressure - just great custom printing from a team that cares about your order.

Get a Free Quote Contact Us

Call us: (562) 407-3800