Thanks to our state-of-the-art machinery, Print Lab can provide you with a range of techniques to apply your logo to any garment of your choice.
Our embroidery and printing equipment will bring your logo to life on any garment. There are factors, like the material of your garment, which you should consider before you decide on what kind of application you wish to use.
As a brief guide to help you choose what method of personalisation is best for you we have put together a few points on each type of logo application.
Embroidery
Embroidered clothing is ideal for a number of purposes, the most popular of which being used by employers to give their employees a very strong identity and help to promote their brand.
With this technique when adding a logo to your garment via embroidery, a frame or hoop is placed onto the garment and backing fabric is applied to the logo area. This ensures that the garment is secure while the logo is stitched. The actual embroidery process is carried out by a digital embroidery machine. Your logo is digitised and sent to the embroidery machines, with the process beginning once additional instructions like the colour of the threads have also been decided. We use only the best threads and embroidery machines to guarantee the highest quality result. Threads from Madeira in the UK ensure we're getting the strongest thread possible, whilst our Melco Embroidery machines ensure we can stitch at a very high detail and a fast turnaround.
In terms of suitability, embroidery tends to work the best on polo shirts, business shirts/blouses, aprons/tabards, jackets & headwear.
Direct To Garment (DTG)
DTG, or Direct to Garment print, is a method that sees a printer directly apply ink and print to the garment. To ensure the highest quality application when applying ink directly to a garment, a specialist printer is required, along with special ink which is absorbed by the fibres of the garment. A unqiue pre treatment is also applied to the garments before they go into production to help the colour adhere to the garments. This type of customisation is best for complex logos and multiple colours, typically used for one off or a high quantity, full colour jobs needed with a fast turn around. This type of print works particularly well with t-shirts and hoodies.
Direct To Film (DTF)
DTF, or Direct to Film print, is a method that sees a printer directly print onto a film. From here we then coat the film with a special glue. This will help bond the print onto the garment when we transfer it via a heat press. This relatively new technology is taking the industry by storm as it is an ideal alternative to DTG. With DTF, you get the same high quality and durable print, but it allows you to print onto nylons, 100% polyesters, special coated garments and much more mixed fabrics. This can work well on a wide range of garments from hoodies, t-shirts, sweatshirts, waterproof jackets, aprons, and much more.
Vinyl Transfer
We can print on a garment is by transfer vinyl, the best way to think of transfer is comparable to the names and numbers on the back of a football shirt. A sheet of vinyl is carefully cut into the specific shape of your logo, design, or lettering, the remaining design is then flipped and finally heat sealed onto the garment using a heat press. This is ideal for single colour and simple designs at a low quantity.
Print and Cut Vinyl Transfer
Print and Cut Vinyl Transfer is a unique method and is suitable for the most harshest of environments, such as a mechanics garage, builders site, or generally any workplace which involves hard graft and if you're garments are going to be exposed to extreme wear. We first print onto a special sheet of vinyl which is then custom cut to the shape of your logo or design. This is then heat transferred onto the garment with a heat press. Bare in mind that the reason why these are so durable is because they are printed onto a physical vinyl film, therefore the ink has a stronger backing than a DTG or DTF print.
Sublimation
Sublimation is another method we use for white garments which have multi coloured logos or designs. Sublimation is best for white garments as the ink is in fact a special dye which literally dyes into the fabric. This makes it near to impossible to destroy as the design physically becomes one with the garment. The result gives you a very soft finish as you can only feel the fabric of the garment. This is very popular for events as white tees are often cheaper than colours, and yet sublimation offers a fantastic finishing.
Laser Printing
Another print method we can choose is laser printing. With this method, you can achieve extremely sharp and crisp details in designs that would not be possible by any other print method. Lettering which needs to be read can be printed down to millimeters without issues. Laser printing is ideal for festivals, give aways, and occassional events where the garment may be worn for a short period of time.