In the contract decorating business, few things are more costly than a reprint. A mistake on one job can create a ripple effect that delays multiple orders behind it. While some issues are outside a shop’s control, many of the most common causes of reprints originate inside the operation itself and can be prevented through stronger processes and greater consistency. Here are five things to keep in mind to help you avoid reprints.
The humble heat press has come a long way. While it once filled in for small add-on jobs or non-traditional requests, today it’s become is a strategic profit center that meets the need for more on-demand printing with improved efficiency, better margins, and new customers. Let’s take a look at the reasons for this evolution, and how it’s taking shape.
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.