Tips for Screen Printing Custom Artwork: Tip 1 – Software to Create Artwork
Jul/110
Transfer Express’ collection of clip art and layouts is very extensive and continues to grow each year. That being said, you don’t have to be an artist to order our designs. Simply customize and order our Easy Prints® layouts. However, we are seeing an increase in the amount of uploaded art to our web site for custom orders – Easy Prints® Plus. In this new series of blogs, we will give you the Top 5 Tips for Screen Printing Custom Artwork to help make your experience the best possible for submitting custom artwork to us.
The first tip this week starts at the beginning. It deals with software for creating and/or editing custom artwork. There are many programs you may use to do this, however, there are really two main programs we would suggest using – CorelDraw® or Adobe Illustrator®. These programs are great in the graphic arts industry including art for screen printing.
Create custom artwork for screen printing in CorelDraw (left) or Illustrator (right).
The Graphic Software
CorelDraw and Illustrator are programs that professionals use. However, you can learn them just as easily. Both of the creators of these programs allow you to download a free 30 day trial. This gives you a free opportunity to play with the programs and get your feet wet. Test out each program to see which one you may prefer. Spending a few minutes in the program everyday will allow you to get accustomed to it and by the end of the 30 day trial, you may have decided that yes, this is something you can do and would like to purchase.
Resources
While learning the programs, there are many resources online for free to help you if you get stuck on a particular problem. Search the internet or YouTube, and there are many videos and tutorials to view for almost any situation in either of these two programs.
Great info at:
AdvancedArtist.com
Sending Us Your Creations
Did you make something you need transfers of? Uploading artwork to our web site is very easy. On the upper navigation tabs, click on the “Send Us Your Artwork” tab. Upon signing in, click on the “Upload File” button. From there, simply fill out the information in the form and browse for your saved artwork file on your computer. And voila, it’s that easy! Once your art is reviewed we will call you to discuss your quote or order.
Get screen printed plastisol and digital transfers made from you artwork
Now go get your free 30 day trial and experiment! Who knows, you may have some skills you never knew you had…
Important Links:
CorelDRAW X5 Information
5 Trends Team Dealers Need To Watch and Tools to Help Meet Those Needs
Jul/110
Decorate your full uniform with Transfer Express - uniform front, names, numbers, helmet stickers
In the July issue of Team Dealer magazine, the top 5 trends team dealers need to watch was listed:
- Rising Importance of Parents
- Rising Importance of Ecommerce
- Shorter Lead Times
- Growth in Stock Uniform Sales
- Spirit Pack Sales Soar
We have many tools to help you meet the needs these new trends create.
Our website becomes your website with our generic site you can use with parents—Easyprints.com. This site has no contact information and can be linked to your own site or used as an online reference for teams and their parents. So, even if you don’t have the budget for your own site, you can make the Easy Prints site your own. Include the site on your own business cards and literature with information on how to order.
Once your customer has used Easy Prints to choose a design, same day shipping is available for single color orders when ordered by 11 AM EST so you can offer your customers the shortest lead times possible. Once the custom transfer is printed, it can be applied to your in stock uniforms in just seconds so your customer is ready for today’s game.
To help with spirit sales we offer pages full of layouts and free online flyers that can be used as is or personalized for a specific team.
We also now offer 6″ 2 color numbers in 34 different color combinations.
New 6”-2 Color Screen Printed Transfer Numbers
Jul/110
We now have a complete line-up of two color 6” screen printed numbers (plastisol), perfect for youth leagues! These two color numbers apply in one, easy 4 second application with a heat press. These transfer numbers are available in our best selling Champ style, a varsity, athletic full block number style. The numbers are sold as low as just 31¢ per digit making them very economical. They can be purchased in packages of five, team oriented Express Packs (60 digits), or best value league size Number Kits (315 Digits). Order today before 3:00 pm eastern and they ship the same day!
New color combination for 2 Color 6" Champ screen printed transfer numbers
List of color combinations:
- Black/White
- Black/Gold
- Black/Red
- Black/Orange
- Black/Grey
- Black/Vegas Gold
- White/Gold
- White/Black
- White/Red
- Burgundy/Vegas Gold
- Dk. Green/White
- Dk. Green/Gold
- Dk. Green/Orange
- Dk. Green/Grey
- Dk. Brown/Orange
- Gold/White
- Grey/White
- Kelly/White
- Maroon/White
- Maroon/Gold
- Navy/White
- Orange/White
- Purple/White
- Purple/Gold
- Purple/Orange
- Red/White
- Red/Black
- Red/Gold
- Red/Grey
- Red/Navy
- Royal/White
- Royal/Gold
- Royal/Orange
- Royal/Red
- Navy/Orange
- Navy/Red
- Navy/Grey
- Navy/Gold
- Navy/Vegas Gold
- Navy/Columbia Blue
- Vegas Gold/White
How to Order Custom Transfers with Class Lists or Team Rosters
Jun/110
A customer from Michigan called last week wanting All Star shirts for several local leagues she had supplied uniforms. It is All Star season and this type of shirt is a best seller for leagues looking to recognize their all stars. Ordering a custom transfer with a list of names is easy!
If you are ordering a team roster we have many custom transfer layouts set up for easy online ordering. Just enter the team name or other personalization and type in the names where specified–Name 1 here, Name 2 Here, etc. Then just enter the quantity, color and size and submit.
If you are using a layout with a longer list or if your customer has sent you an electronic list of names there is no need to retype these. We have an area on our site to send name lists at www.transferexpress.com just click “Send us your artwork” The list of names should be in a single column, entered as you want them to be printed, for example Jimmy Smith, and saved in a .txt file. If you want to use this in an Easy Prints® layout, this can be noted in notes or you can submit all but the names through the online ordering just noted the names have been sent and include the reference number you received as confirmation.
Whether ordering online or sending us a name list to use in an Easy Prints layout, you get low Easy Prints pricing and same day shipping for 1 color orders placed before 11 am eastern. Good luck to all of your All Stars.
Team roster layout QAS-45 for All Stars
It’s Festival Time-A Great Opportunity for Shirt Sales
Jun/110
The weather is finally warm and the festivals have started. Maybe it is because we were stuck inside all winter, but these seem especially popular in the Midwest. Every weekend you can find a church festival locally as well as larger ones in the major cities. I love the food you find at these festivals, while others like to try their luck at the Monte Carlo events. But every festival needs shirts for those working the festival, or as many to sell as well. Just search festivals in your area online to find a listing of area festivals (and possible customer list) Our Easy Prints® can help you and you don’t even need to be an artist—just creative. Use any section and add clip art and text to fit your needs. Here locally this weekend we have common festivals like a Strawberry Festival and Brew Week Fest to the more unusual like the Duct Tape Festival (Miss America will even be there in an outfit she created with Duct tape!) Just to show you how creative you can be, I used layouts from the event, championship and fashion sections and tried my hand at customizing for each of these events! Ok – the Duct tape one was a challenge and I chose to use a duck, which is the mascot for the company headquarters of a duct tape company located in the festival’s location!
QEV-57- Customized layout from the Events section
QWN-16 - Customized layout from the Champtionship section
QAT-9 customized layout from the Fashion section
What do you need to print custom T-shirts and apparel?
Jun/117
We are in the planning stages for the 2012 custom transfer Idea Book™ and offerings and need your feedback. We want to help you to continue to have success selling custom apparel.
Is there clip art, colors, or a layout category you think we are missing?
Would you want additional number styles or colors?
Any problem applications we can help you solve?
Just leave us a comment below and we will look into implementing it!
Give us your feedback and ideas!
How To Outfit An All Star Uniform
Jun/112
Baseball All Star teams are forming and these teams will need uniforms. Start with the front of the uniform and dress them like pros! An entire layout category is dedicated to these players in our Easy Prints® collection. Many of these teams will want two or more colors on the print and our online design tool, Easy View™ can show your customers what the print will look like in two colors on their shirt. All Star teams frequently also add a number to the front of the uniform under the logo, especially script with tails layouts. If doing teen uniforms, our 4” numbers are perfect. For smaller youth, use 2.5” or 3” numbers ordered through our Express Names program. If using 2.5” numbers you can fit 10 digits in one strip, and for 3” numbers you can fit 8.
The All Stars will want to be recognized so be sure so to be sure to add an Express Name above the number on the back. The 2.5” size is best for teen uniforms and the 2” size is perfect for younger teams. The number under the name can be ordered in two colors to match the uniform front, and with Easy Prints® numbers it is one application in just 4 seconds. For teen uniforms, an 8” number can be used and for smaller sizes use a 6” number.
If your team has a sponsor this can be added to the sleeve. Add this as well as a cap size print for your team caps to the front logo and create a gang sheet – all three logos are printed on one sheet for a great cost savings.
Add an American flag to the other sleeve and your All Star is ready to play!
All Stars layout QAS-2 with front number
How to Use Easy View™ to Create Examples for Your Customers
May/110
Easy View™ is a great online design tool we created specifically for our dealers to create designs for tshirts and more. Using Easy View™, you can search through our thousands of layouts and you control the ink colors, text, fonts, and clipart for each and every layout you choose! Even better, you can save the customized layouts you create to your own computer. Print or e-mail these personalized layouts to show your customers to help close the sale. Having examples is always a great selling feature to help your customers visualize their designs rather than leaving it up to them to try to picture it in their minds. Not only does it help speed up the sales process with your customers, it is quick and easy to learn and use!
HOW TO DO IT:
For example, your customer, the city of Mentor, is having their annual Memorial Day Parade. Using Easy View™, we will show you how you can sell them the designs for t-shirts and more for the parade, doing it all online!
First, log into our web site using your Dealer ID and Password. After logging in, you have full access to Easy View™. By clicking on the “Idea Book Layouts” tab at the top, you can search our thousands of layouts.
At this point, you have chosen several layouts that fit the parade, and now you are ready to customize the layouts.
When we click on the thumbnail version of layout QHL-52, it automatically goes to Easy View™. We have determined that the layout is sufficient for our needs and are only going to change the Line 3 text from COMPTON to MENTOR. We are choosing to keep the same typestyle and clipart.
For our ink colors, we will show them a 2 color ink design using white as the primary ink color and royal as the secondary. These will be going on red shirts. Then, we simply click the Easy View button and our customized layout emerges in the preview window.
An Easy View™ preview of Mentor Memorial Day Parade design using layout QHL-52
Now we will save this image so we can e-mail it to our customer. For PC users, we will right-click on our customized layout and select Save Picture As (MAC users will Control + click). Save the image with a name and location on your computer of your choice.
Right-click in the Easy View™ preview window to save your customized layout on your computer
Next, open your e-mail and click to open a new message. You may type your message before or after you attach the design for the parade. When you are ready to attach, most e-mail applications show a paperclip icon for attaching documents while also displaying some sort of text title. When you have found the attachment button, click to bring up the attachment dialog box. Browse your files until you find the saved parade design image.
Using the attachment button, click on your saved parade image to attach the file in the e-mail
You may attach as many images to your message as your e-mail provider will allow space for, some more and some less.
Tip: To create records of what you sent to the customer, click the “Printable” page for each design and print a copy for your records. You can also add these designs to your cart and “Save for later” when your customer decides on the design they want for their tshirts or other apparel.
It is that easy! You are now ready to send preview images to your customers with customized designs for their needs and events! Happy Easy View™-ing!
Helmet Stickers Are A Great Add On Sale
Mar/110
Whatever the sport—we have the helmet stickers to decorate and number the team. Our stickers apply easily to baseball, lacrosse, bike or football helmets and are full color! You can send us your own art to create a custom helmet sticker or use our Easy Prints® ideas and clip art—just let us know the colors and the size! The stickers are durable, water and fade resistant for outdoor wear. If you have placed an order for your customer’s uniform, we can reduce the logo for the helmet also. Stickers can be purchased as individual logos, in number/decal packs or numbers only.
The Number/Decal Packs are perfect for handing out to the team to personalize each helmet. Each pack has a 4” x 4” space for a logo (you can do one large, two small or even multiple reward stickers), and 13, 1.6” numbers—the perfect size for the back of a helmet. In addition, each pack has space for a store name/address or motivational message for the team. For example, on each pack you can put “MVP Sporting Goods wishes the Mentor Cardinals the best of luck this season”, or just your company name and address so the team knows who to call when they need more stickers.
Helmet Sticker using Easy Prints® Clip ArtHelmet Decal Packs come with numbers and logos.
Helmet Decal Packs come with numbers and logos.
Homecoming Shirts are Easy with Custom Transfers
Sep/100
Homecoming is right around the corner
Whatever the theme of your customer’s homecoming dance, we have Easy Prints® layouts to help you create the perfect custom printed tshirts. No art experience is needed. We have an entire section of layouts dedicated to homecoming dances, plus layouts throughout our Idea Book™ can easily be adapted and customized for your needs. For example, if you have a Hollywood movie theme, QAL-393 with a movie marquee layout is perfect. Or if you have the Casino Royale theme try layout QEV-130. Going Cajun? Try our Mardi Gras layout QEV-123 or for the traditional Night In Paradise, try one of our resort layouts such as QRT-11. If you need help finding a layout for your theme, just email us the theme and we can help! If your customer has artwork of their own, just send it to us online!
Have a great Homecoming Event!
Easy Prints Homecoming Design Ideas
