Internal Live Chat FAQ

Red Eye Media's standard screen size is 14" x 17"


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Red Eye Media's Jumbo screen size is 18" x 23"


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All Files must be 300 DPI or a Vector File. Preferred file types are .PSD, .TIF, .EPS, .AI, .PDF, and .JPG. Design should be sized to print. See File Prep for more info on how to prepare your order. Orders cannot be started until we have usable artwork.


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Free for all basic orders! Any orders with printed or heat pressed custom tags will require setup fees, see the apparel finishings page for more info.


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Red Eye Media's standard turnaround time is 3-5 days after artwork approval. If you have a specific in hands date, please let us know so that we can make sure to make it happen.


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We use plastisol, water base and discharge inks.


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Red Eye Media's minimum for screenprinting is 12 pieces.


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Yes. Different shirt styles and brands are ok as long as the ink colors remain the same. You must order at least 12 of each shirt style, you can mix and match sizes within each style.


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You can order as many different shirt sizes as you want and you DON'T have to order in dozens, unless otherwise stated. Certain brands require ordering in half dozens.


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Of course! We print on hundreds of different brands but to make it easy we only list the most popular ones. As long as we can get the blanks we will print it for you. Just drop us an email and we will see what we can do!


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Yes. Your payment must be received before your order is printed.


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Maybe. Why don't you drop us an email and we'll see what we can do!


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Discharge printing is the process of bleaching the dye out of the shirt, leaving its natural color showing through (usually a tan color). We can also PMS match discharge ink, however results vary depending on shirt color & brand. The only major downside is that with discharge printing you must wash the shirts before they take their "no feel" state. We have been working with discharge inks for over 5 years now.


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Waterbase printing is very similar to discharge printing but for white and light colored shirts. The inks are dyed into the fabric. When used on dark color fabrics it gives a strong faded/vintage look. Keep in mind that when using light ink colors on dark shirts the ink colors will be tinted by the shirt color. For example white inks on a black shirt will cause the inks to be a light grey. Waterbase inks must be washed before they take their "no feel" state.


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This is the traditional style of printing. Inks are thicker and rougher than our standard printing, and the ink sits on top of the shirt. These inks can be printed on any garment or fabric and work best in small print areas. Plastisol inks will be used on all 50/50 tees in place of our Standard inks.


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This is the process that you will want to use when you have a full color design or a photograph. We can do both full color process and simulated process. Every design is different so its best that you show your sales rep the artwork and they can tell you the best way to print it. Due to the difficulty involved there is a 1 time setup fee to get your artwork ready for printing.


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Foil is a great option to really make your shirts pop! Sheets of foil are heat pressed on top of plastisol inks. We can also mix foil with standard printing but waterbase inks must be used for the other colors being used. Keep in mind that foil does not last as long as normal printing and can start to peel after only a few washes if shirts are not taken care of. To extend the life of the foil please wash these garments inside out in cold water then hang dry. We print a similar color of ink under the foil to help make the shirts last longer when they do start to peel.


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Not every color garment discharges well. We did some testing to find out what colors worked and what colors didn’t when using discharge inks. Due to the intensity/amount of the dye used to make the shirts bright and vibrant, the following shirts do not work well when using discharge ink (which includes our Premium Standard Ink): Kelly Green, Red, Royal Blue, Lapis, Cobalt, Purple, Forest, Teal, and Turquoise. If you are going to print on these shirt colors, please note that lighter colors like white and yellow will be influenced by the shirt color remaining underneath.

Discharge Problem


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Ribbed garments provide the best form fit of all blank shirts as they stretch to meet the size of the individual wearing them. This is great the for final consumer but makes printing on them a challenge. When you pull a ribbed garment onto the press, it is not stretched out, so the ink only goes on the top of the ribs. Then, when the shirt is put on, the ink pulls apart, exposing a gap between the ribs that is not printed. We can apply more pressure on the press to try to force the ink into the gaps, but this limits the amount of detail that is actually shown on the garment. Because of these issues, we strongly suggest that if you want to print on ribbed garments, consider the use of discharge inks and or waterbase inks for lighter colors. Here is an example:

Printing on ribbed garments


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To get the best quality print when screen printing, we need as flat of a surface as possible between the pallet (that the garment lays on) and the screen (that holds your design). The fronts and backs of t-shirts are consistently smooth and the same thickness, which allows us to get a perfect print every time. However, when you print over a seam, pocket or zipper, it creates an inconsistency, because these are thicker portions of the garment. When you print over these portions of the garments, it creates a gap in the print where the ink from the screen does not touch the shirt due to the ridge caused by the seam. Here is an example:Printing over seams


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Jumbo prints account for approximately 50% of all orders placed at our shop. People want as big of a print as possible. With standard unisex or mens tees, this is typically not a problem. However, some shirts have issues when printing Jumbo:

  • Tank Tops: Most tank tops are low cut at both the neckline and the sleeves. Printing jumbo prints on these garments can cause print defects from printing over the seams.
  • V-Necks: The neck line of the v-neck may cut into the design. Please take this into account when you are designing your shirt.
  • Girls Tees: Jumbo pallets are wider than most girls tees. In order to get the girls tee onto the press, it has to be stretched. This can cause several issues: possible ripped shirts, loss of form from stretching past normal means, a distorted image due to stretching the shirt, and the design being cut off the bottom/sides of the shirt.

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With advancements in screen printing (including high mesh count screens and specialty presses) we can recreate a level of detail with t-shirts that was previously unattainable just 5-10 years ago. However, due to the way some garments are constructed, they will not work well with detail. The following is a list of those garments:

  • Ribbed Garments
  • Canvas Material (Aprons, Bags, etc.)
  • Burnout Tees
  • Pique Polos

These items do not work well with detail because they are not smooth like standard t-shirts.


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What Issues Will Arise When Printing Hoodies Hoodies are one of the more difficult garments to print on, but they are also one of the best selling items during the winter. The following are a few issues to be aware of when printing hoodies: Double lined hoodies can only print 1 color ink and no underbase. They slide around on the press so we cannot accurately register multiple colors. Pockets on hoods have to be glued down to print over them. Because of this, when you receive your garments, they may still have some of the glue spray in the pockets. This should wash out after one wash. Prints on the hood itself vary based on what brand of sweatshirt you are printing on. We may have to heat press the design onto the hood if it is double lined. Only single lined sweatshirts work with hood prints. We do have special pallets that have indentations for the zipper and pocket seams, but not every sweatshirt is exactly the same. When you print over these portions of garments, it creates a gap in the print where the ink in the screen does not hit the shirt due to the ridge caused by the seam. For this reason, we do not recommend printing over-the-zipper. When you print over the seams, it can throw the registration off. You may see white poking out from under the design. Hoodies are made with thick fabric and soak up a lot of ink. The color of the sweatshirt will often times influence the ink colors. To get the highest quality print when going over zippers &/or pockets, we recommend using a 100% cotton or 80/20 blend hoodie and using all discharge colors without an underbase. When printing hoodies, we cannot mix them with regular t-shirts..... Read More »

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Halftones are small dots blended in a printed design that vary in size and space to create the effect of smooth, full-color imagery. If your artwork contains gradients or complex detail (such as a photograph), halftones are a great solution.Halftones


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When printing tri-blends we always recommend using either 100% waterbase ink or a waterbase discharge ink to get the softest print possible. If you don't use waterbase ink, your only real option is plasitsol ink. We recommend that you only opt for a tri-blend tee if you are looking for a soft shirt with a soft print. Please note that without an underbase, tri-blend tees will have a faded/vintage look, which is what the shirts were intended for.


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It is recommended that you leave at least 1" of space between the edge of your design and any shirt seams.


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Rush jobs are completed in less than 48 hours after the final artwork approval. A rush job can be subject to a 30% addition of the total order.

Down below are our rush job upcharge for screenprinting:

  • Rush Charges of 40% (2 business days)
  • Rush Charges of 50% (24 Hours, after artwork approval)
  • Rush Charges of 100% (Same business day, order & artwork needs to be in before 10am)

 

*NOTE TO AGENT: Most of the time we will waive this charge, we just need to let the customer know the overall cost and then we can use this as leverage to earn their business.


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We accept company checks, cash, personal checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. We also work with PO's


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Screenprinting is based on a few factors:

  Number of garments being printed is by far the most important criteria
  Number of colors
  Number of locations on the shirt
  Number of screens required to print the garment

Knowing the above will allow us to provide you with a better estimate.

We can provide you with an exact cost, what's the best phone number to call you?


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Yes. However, quite often we can save you money by purchasing the product for you because of our volume discount with several vendors.

If you would like to bring your own garment, we have to first do a test sample on the fabric to make sure we use the correct inks and additives so that the impression can last for years to come. Not using the correct formula often can cause the ink to migrate (bleed) through the color of the garment.


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SCREENPRINTING FAQ'S

We have composed a list of frequently asked questions that pertain to the screenprinting department.

Screen printing is the best option for designs that require a high level of vibrancy, when printing on dark shirts, or specialty products. The ink in screen printing is applied thicker than digital printing, which results in brighter colors even on darker shirts.

Screen printing is most commonly used for t-shirts, garments and other fabrics, but it is also used on all sorts of other substrates ranging from plastic to metal. Although small and intricate details can be captured, this technique is ideally suited for bold and graphic designs.

When a design is going to be printed on darker items, a base print may be required to ensure that the colors maintain their vivacity. A base color (usually white) is applied wherever the final print is desired; it is then flash-cured and the subsequent colors are printed on top. This flash-curing technique adds another step to the process, but ensures strong prints on on dark or even black materials.

What is the standard screen size?


- Red Eye Media's standard screen size is 14" x 17"

What is the jumbo screen size?

Red Eye Media's Jumbo screen size is 18" x 23".

How do I prep the files?

All Files must be 300 DPI or a Vector File. Preferred file types are .PSD, .TIF, .EPS, .AI, .PDF, and .JPG. Design should be sized to print. See File Prep for more info on how to prepare your order. Orders cannot be started until we have usable artwork.

How much are the setup fees (aka screen fees)?

Free for all basic orders! Any orders with printed or heat pressed custom tags will require setup fees, see the apparel finishings page for more info.

What is your turnaround time?

Red Eye Media's standard turnaround time is 3-5 days after artwork approval. If you have a specific in hands date, please let us know so that we can make sure to make it happen.

What kind of inks do you print with?

We use plastisol, water base and discharge inks.

What is the minimum?

Red Eye Media's minimum is 12 pieces.

Can I mix and match shirt styles and brands?

Yes. Different shirt styles and brands are ok as long as the ink colors remain the same. You must order at least 12 of each shirt style, you can mix and match sizes within each style.

Can I mix shirt sizes & do I need to order in dozens?p> You can order as many different shirt sizes as you want and you DON'T have to order in dozens, unless otherwise stated. Certain brands require ordering in half dozens.

I want to bring my own t-shirts/garments.

Of course! We print on hundreds of different brands but to make it easy we only list the most popular ones. As long as we can get the blanks we will print it for you. Just drop us an email and we will see what we can do!

Do I need to pay for my shirts now?

Yes. Your payment must be received before your order is printed.

Can you do (insert crazy idea here)?

Maybe. Why don't you drop us an email and we'll see what we can do!

What is the jumbo screen size?

Red Eye Media's Jumbo screen size is 18" x 23".

The Embroidery Process

Embroidery is the technique of decorating apparel, fabric or other materials with needle and threat on a machine. Embroidery is considered a high quality print method that years ago was considered much more expensive that other print methods.

One of the major benefits is that it lends a very professional tone to the item and for this reason it is very commonly done for uniforms. Unlike screen printing, for embroidery the number of colors on the design has no bearing on the price. This mass it a great choice for a design that features many different colors.

Digitizing is the process of converting artwork into a stitch file that can be read by an embroidery machine and interpreted as different stitch types. As oppose to other formatting methods, digitizing is not a one step process.

Not all logos or artwork that were designed for a print media such as business cards will work well for embroidery. Many designs need to be simplified. In addition to correctly sizing a logo, some elements such as outlining may need to be eliminated and small text may need to be enlarged.

Benefits:


- Has a more professional look than other print methods

- Great for logos with multiple colors

- Can be applied to virtually any fabric type

Turnaround Time:

5-7 business days after artwork approval. This process takes a little longer as the design and artwork have to be digitized before going into production.

Digital Banners

Digital printing refers to methods of printing from a digital-based image directly to a variety of media. It refers to professional printing where small-run jobs from digital sources are printed using large-format and high-volume inkjet printers.

Digital printing has a higher cost per item than more traditional offset printing methods, but this price is offset by avoiding the cost of all the technical steps required to make printing plates. It also allows for on-demand printing, short turnaround time, and even modifications of the image used for each impression.

Digital Banners are perfect for special events, street-level advertising and more, banners bring the focus to your business. Featuring a fully customizable design and message of your choosing, you can use banners to really draw the attention you need.


Give your business a boost with full-color custom banner printing. Using the latest in digital printing technology, Red Eye Media brings you an eye-catching opportunity to grab people’s attention at grand openings, fundraisers, anniversary celebrations and more. From concept to creation, we want to help you reach a wider audience with ease. 


Red Eye Media’s marketing team has the knowledge, skill and technology you require for custom banner printing, whether you need large-scale printing, development and design or a variety of other services. From start to finish, we’ll work with you to create banners and other business solutions designed to fit your marketing needs.


Benefits:

- A virtually unlimited selection of sizes and designs 

- Full-service production, from concept development to completion

- Quality prints using the state-of-the-art digital equipment

- Professional finishing touches, including lamination, gloss and grommets

Promotional Items

Promotional merchandise is used globally to promote brands, products, and corporate identity. They are also used as giveaways at events, such as exhibitions and product launches. Promotional products can be used for non-profit organizations to promote their cause, as well as promote certain events that they hold, such as walks or any other event that raises money for a cause.

Promotional products have often been overlooked when businesses develop their marketing campaigns. While some think of them only as gadgets, gizmos, novelties, trinkets or give-aways;    
savvy marketers realize the impact promotions have in reaching a specific target audience.

This industry, which includes over 200,000 different products, is one of the most important and respected parts of the integrated marketing communications mix..

A recent study showed that promotional products can enhance a company's good will standing with it's customers as much as 52%. These results include customer loyalty, repeat purchases and a willingness to recommend the company to others. Because promotional products are tangible and useful to the recipient, they are kept long after other elements of a campaign may have been forgotten.

Trade show booth effectiveness and excitement is increased with promotional products.


Benefits:

- Increased brand recognition.

- Mass outreach at a low cost.

- Alternative to the traditional business card

- Develop tradewshow traffic

- Improve customer relationships

Paper Mediums

Red Eye Media produces high-quality custom printing and fast turnaround at a great price. No job is too big or too small. Companies rely on Red Eye Media every year for their paper medium needs. With a wide range of paper, from value to luxury, as well as type styles such as raised print.

New businesses may not even need to create a logo, since many of the business card designs feature unique type treatments that can be turned into a logo or brand graphic.

Printing custom marketing materials is just as convenient as presentations. Whether you need flyers, brochures, menus, door hangers, memo pads, bound books, sticky pads, or hundreds of other items, Red Eye Media can do it.

Benefits:

- Low Cost at higher quantities

- No additional cost for full color

- Many custom options available

- Improves brand image

PROCESS STEPS

01
ARTWORK

We work best with vectored artwork, however if you are unsure of what format you have or if you don't have vectored artwork; no worries; we can work with just about any type.

If you have artwork ready to go, that's great. If not, it's alright; we can create a few different mock ups of artwork for you to look at. Our goal is for you to be happy with the product itself. Creating artwork from scratch may take a little longer, if you have a deadline you need to meet, please let us know so that we can work with that.

Different imprint methods require different type of artwork formats. Let us know what method you would like so that we can help you create the correct artwork that can help you or your organization shine.

02
GARMENT STYLE

Choosing the correct garment style is critical. Not all inks or threads will work on all fabrics. Some garments require us to use an additive mixture to the ink, while others won't work at all with a specific imprint method.

With over 5,600 different ape of garment styles, it can be overwhelming and complicated to choose the correct one that fits your needs

Our staff is here to help you filter through all the different styles and educate you on the types of fabrics. We carry over 35 different reputable brands and are knowledgable on the different types of materials.

03
IMPRINT METHOD

Understanding each imprint method and it's limitations is helpful when deciding which method to use. Not all methods will adhere to all garments or substrates.

Though some inks may not naturally adhere to the garment or substrates, there are additives that can be added to the inks to help with the curing process.

On some occasions, dual imprint method may be required to achieve the style and look you want. Having the right artwork, with the correct garment and proper imprint method is what will make the difference in the outcome and quality of your items.

04
DELIVERY

On top of great customer service, we offer free delivery to your business if your business is within the City of Long Beach. Delivery of your order depends on the items within that order. Various items have different time frames.

We understand that from time to time you may be in a time crunch and may need your order completed before our typical delivery timeframes. If that's the case, simply let a member of our team know and we will accommodate to meet your time.

After hours order will call is also available if needed. Please let our customer service representative know if that is something that you will need for your order.

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