Q. I'm ready to order. How do i get started? A. First we need to know how many tees you need, how many colors are in your graphics and what sizes you need. Then forward whatever graphics you have so we can take a quick look and assess the number of colors in the design. When we have your blank t-shirt/apparel order details and know how much goes into re-producing your graphics on your tees, we can send back a quote right away. As soon as everything is approved and ready to roll, we begin the production process. Please consider these variables and include in your Quote Request email: Quantity of tees (colors and sizes for total) Is a 6.1 oz 100% cotton shortsleeve shirt OK? If not, let us know what you need. # of colors in each design and closest Pantone/PMS # equivalent). # of placements and print sizes (front and back? how big?) What graphic format do you have (please attach any available graphics) Deadline - When you must have your order in hand. Are we shipping to you or can you pick up in Charlotte? Any other information we need to know. Base T-shirt Pricing below includes a 100% Cotton 6.1 oz Gildan G2000 Ultracotton Short Sleeve Tee - any color or size. (Preshrunk cotton. Seamless collar. Double-needle stitched. Taped shoulder-to-shoulder.) less than 30 shirts Please email orders[at]inkfloyd.com for quote. # of clrs. in design 1 color 2 colors 3 colors 4 colors 5 colors 6 colors 7 colors 30 shirts 7.45 8.20 8.95 9.70 10.45 11.20 11.95 50 shirts 6.70 7.29 7.88 8.47 9.06 9.65 10.24 80 shirts 6.10 6.55 7.00 7.45 7.90 8.35 8.80 100 shirts 5.65 6.00 6.35 6.70 7.05 7.40 7.75 200 shirts 5.25 5.50 5.75 6.00 6.25 6.50 7.00 500 shirts 4.89 5.08 5.27 5.46 5.65 5.84 6.03 1000 shirts 4.65 4.84 5.03 5.22 5.41 5.60 5.79 2000 shirts 4.55 4.60 4.75 4.90 5.05 5.20 5.35 3000 shirts 4.05 4.15 4.25 4.35 4.45 4.55 4.65 more than 3000 shirts Please email orders[at]inkfloyd.com for quote. Q. How do i submit my artwork? A. In order to get a great print we will need files in .ai or .eps (vector format). Or, a 300dpi resolution file in Photoshop format (.psd, .jpg, .tiff) at the print size you want. Please "outline" or "render" all fonts to deactivate the fonts before submitting. Also, please let us know what colors to match for your design. You can tell us "kelly green" or "royal blue" for example, but for more specific color needs use this Pantone/PMS Color Guide (PDF format). For more info, see below. If your artwork is not "production-ready" then we will have to prepare it for you at a rate of $50/hour in 1/2 hour increments. The minimum art setup fee is $20 because 99% of the time graphics submitted are not ready to go into production and we must take the time to prepare them. But we will analyze your graphics and let you know ahead of time of any additional setup fees. Q. What other charges are involved? Screen fees are $18 per color for images less than 13" x 18". For each different color in your graphic, a different screen is needed. If we are doing a CMYK/process ink/photo-realistic job, screens are $25 each. Film output/vellum - the photographic film needed to expose your screen: 8.5" x 11" - $5 per color 11" x 17" - $7 per color 13" x 18" - $10 per color For images greater than 13" x 18" please contact us. For printing on both front AND back of tees, there is a $.45 cent flip charge per tee. Printing light or white inks on dark tees requires two passes, so consider them a "two-color" print on our pricing matrix. Sleeve prints are $.75 cents each and fifty cents per additional color. If you are doing two different colorways of the same graphic, ink changes are $10 each. We prefer not to do "samples," but if you'd like sample images, they are $30 per color and location. Pricing above applies to t-shirts ranging from Small through XL. For 2XL - 5XL tees, add $1 per X (example, add $1 for 2XL, $2 for 3XL, etc.) Pantone matching is $10 each, but we can't guarantee EXACT Pantone color unless you want us to custom order an actual Pantone "spot" ink for your job (please allow one week for ink delivery). RUSH fees - same day 100%, next day 75%, two days 35%, three to five days 10% of total order amount. In certain cases, your tees will not be available from our local warehouse and we will have to order them from other location(s). Shipping and handling charges will apply depending on the shipping destination. Q. What kind of shirts do you have? A. Your apparel choices are unlimited, but the most efficient process for picking a style is NESclothing. If you're interested in "Fashion Tees" check out ALStyle for some great selections. Let us know the style numbers and colors you like. If you're not exactly sure what kind of t-shirts you want we can suggest some for you. Or, you are totally welcome to supply your own t-shirts or other garments and there is no upcharge. When requesting a quote, please get us up to speed on what your project or brand is about so that we can suggest a "package" that will fit your needs. Q. How does this whole thing work? A. Scroll to the bottom of the page for an explanation of the entire process, with a sample test print image printed on paper. See bottom of page... Q. What do I need to get started? A: What usually works best is a "vectored" file. That's a graphic that has been prepared in a vector-based program like Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand, and usually has a file extenstion like .eps or .ai. Unlike bitmapped graphics like those created in programs like Photoshop, a vectored file is actually rendered with lines instead of pixels. That way, the finished image has PERFECT resolution. If you don't have access to these programs, let us know and we can prepare it for you for a fee that will be part of your quote. Or, if you have Photoshop files or JPG files, go ahead and send those and we'll work with them. Overall, if you have any graphics you can send for our review, we can do what it takes to get it "production-ready" for you. Q. I don't have any graphics. Can you help me? A: Yes, we have designers on staff who can help you put together a graphic or launch a whole line. This designer fee is $50 per hour, but we work efficiently in designing something great within your budget. Q. What is a screen? Why is there a screen fee? A screen is basically like a picture frame with a mesh stretched across it. It is coated in photosensitive emulsion - like elmer's glue with photo sensitivity. Your graphic is placed onto this screen and it is placed in a vacuum/exposure unit. When the light hits the image, it blocks the light. Then the screen is washed out and your image appears on the screen. The screen is then ready to have ink pulled through it and onto your shirts! The entire process is labor-intensive so we charge an industry-standard screen fee. But once it's set up, most of the work is done. So if you re-order the same design (same screen used) we do not re-charge the screen cost, just the cost of your printed tees. Q. Can I supply my own shirts, or do you guys supply them for me? A. Either way is fine with us. Please email us for Contract Pricing, aka Wholesale Pricing if you are supplying your own garments. Q. What are your minimums? What if I only need a few tees printed? A. We try to keep the minimum order to 30 shirts. But if you only need a few tees for some special reason, tell us about the job and we'll try to make an exception. But because much of the process is in set-up and clean-up, we would have to charge a much higher fee per shirt than we do for larger orders. Q. How fast are your turn-arounds? A. We're pretty darn fast. Depending on how many shirts you need and how complicated your design is, we can usually turn your job around within a week or so. If you have a special rush job, let us know and we'll see what we can do. Sometimes our customers need shirts printed by the end of the day, and we've made it happen for them. Q. Can you print on things other than t-shirts? A. Yes. As long as it can lay flat on a printing pallet, we can probably print it. We can print on longsleeves, jeans, pillow cases, tote bags....but ideally fabrics that are 100% cotton print the best. Synthetics/polyester can be problematic but we can usually do it. Q. Why should we choose Ink Floyd over the competition? A. We try to keep things simple and efficient through every step of the process from quote to delivery. We strive to minimize cost and time. We know you need your shirts fast, you want them to look great, and you need the entire process to be quick and easy so that you can get back to work on other things. Ultimately, we provide the kind of workmanship, service and price to keep customers coming back. Please feel free to read some testimonials from some of our customers. We don't advertise - to us the best advertising is simply doing a great job, providing great service and letting us customers spread the word. Got more questions? Email orders[at]inkfloyd.com for answers. (or call 704.607.2910) The screen printing process, explained and demystified... First, we print your graphics in black on a vellum. One vellum for each separate color that goes on the shirt or poster. In this case, a two-color print. The black blocks the light in the exposure unit. Notice the little registration marks in the corners of each print. We use those to line up one screen to the next. But they don't get printed on the final version. Next, we take your ink color specifications and begin mixing ink to match your PMS numbers (also known as Pantone). If you don't have PMS numbers, let us know and we can get as close as possible. For picking out colors, here's a Pantone Color Guide (PDF format). The vellums are then secured to the photo-sensitive screens and put into the exposure unit. The light from the exposure unit cures the emulsion coated on the screen - except for where your graphic is on the vellum. After the screens are exposed, they get washed out with high pressure water and the design falls away. What is left is your design on the screen, ready for alignment on the printing press. The first screen is loaded with ink and printed with one clean swipe of the squeegee! A few seconds under the flash dryer and the first ink is cured. We're now ready for the second color. With the first print down we can micro-adjust the second screen to line up to the first. Once it is lined up it is ready to be loaded with the second ink. Both colors are lined up and everything is lookin' good. Time to tape off the registration marks so they no longer show up. We're ready for mass production! Hot out of the belt dryer, both inks cured