future-proofing (verb) Creating a resilient, adaptable business strategy that withstands change, mitigates risk, and fosters long-term growth. The world of contract decoration is beginning to resemble the divergent trend of the overall economy—many decorators are struggling while others see spectacular success. The reasons behind this include: Customer expectations are higher Order complexity is increasing Turnaround … Continued

The standard process for direct-to-film decoration produces a smooth, durable print. Many decorators are experimenting with post-pressing methods to achieve unique finishes, textures, and hand-feels. Post-pressing refers to the additional heat press steps performed after the initial transfer of the print onto the garment, altering the appearance, texture, and even durability of the print. We’ll take a closer look at some of the popular materials, strategies, and effects used when post-pressing DTF transfers.

The world of dimensional printing is where screen printing adds depth, texture, and new possibilities to your work. Let’s explore a few of the most common dimensional screen printing techniques., so you’ll know what works best and what to watch out for.

With over 10,000 attendees and 310 exhibitors packing 116,000 square feet, Impressions Expo in Long Beach brought non-stop energy from the expo floor to the classrooms. Your SanMar Decorator Solutions Team was on-site to explore the standout innovations across the show floor.

Most decorators know the dreaded heat press box, a discolored border of scorched fabric around a newly-pressed decoration on a polyester garment. It means that shirt is effectively toast, a sad scene that plays out all too often. But it doesn’t have to. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of heat press scorching and how to avoid it.

In 2025, our team of decoration experts attended a lot of tradeshows and met with many customers. Through it all, one thing was abundantly clear: in the world of decoration, what’s old is new again. Old-school looks like chenille and headwear patches are among the latest trending decoration styles. Both enable personalization, add an extra … Continued

With the ability to print just about anything you want, pretty much on-demand, direct-to-garment printing has revolutionized the garment decoration industry. The creative potential of DTG doesn’t stop at standalone applications either. Layering DTG prints with other decoration methods opens a world of possibilities that capture the attention. Let’s explore the benefits, compatible methods and design considerations that come with the art of layering DTG prints and other techniques.

The Printing United tradeshow in Orlando was the biggest one yet, setting a new standard of what we can expect from this impressive gathering. Take a closer look at five things we saw there that impressed us the most.

Out of the many different styles of performance apparel, there’s one that stands out as particularly tricky to decorate: the reversible mesh jersey. The open-hole mesh and reversible double fabric in this style can often throw a flag on the play, whether screenprinting or decorating via heat application. Take a closer look at how you can decorate this style efficiently, minimizing mess and causing fewer printing inconsistencies across a uniform order.

In the always-changing world of promotional apparel, stitching designs onto fabric never gets old. Chain stitch embroidery and rodeo thread are specialized techniques to consider that achieve a unique, timeless appeal, enhancing the perceived value of promotional items. Let’s compare the two, so you know when to consider them for your projects.