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Decoration Guide
Apparel Imprint Reference
Adult Unisex Short Sleeve Tee. Maximum imprint placements and dimensions for screen print, transfer, embroidery, and pad print decoration. Sizes shown are the largest recommended print area for a standard adult garment.
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Placement Map
Front
Back
Primary placement (largest area) Standard placement Left / Right are oriented to the wearer, not the viewer.
02
Imprint Dimensions
Front
FC Full ChestPrimary 14"H × 14"W
LC Left Chest 4"H × 4"W
RC Right Chest 4"H × 4"W
Back
FB Full BackPrimary 14"H × 14"W
UB Upper Back 8"H × 14"W
Sleeve & Shoulder
LS Left Sleeve 3.5"H × 3.5"W
RS Right Sleeve 3.5"H × 3.5"W
LSH Left Shoulder 4"H × 4"W
RSH Right Shoulder 4"H × 4"W
Usable imprint area changes with garment size, decoration method, and the equipment in use — confirm the working area with your decorator before sizing artwork.
03
Decoration Methods
Screen Printing
01Ink is pushed through a fine mesh screen, one screen per color, then heat-cured so it locks into the fabric. It is the most cost-effective option once runs get larger, and it lays down bright, durable, opaque color. At bulkthreads we have a MOQ of 12 prints, waive all set-up fees at 100 prints per design, and can print up to 10,000 pieces in one day!
For blends: use low-cure inks and add a grey or black underbase so garment dye can't bleed up into lighter colors.
Heat Transfer / DTF
02Artwork is printed to a film or sheet and bonded to the shirt with a heat press. Quantity is no barrier, you can DTF one shirt or five hundred, which makes it the go-to for names and numbers, full-color photographic art, and on-demand or on-site jobs. At bulkthreads.com we use our own DTF maker and we find very little quality difference between traditional screen prints and DTFs.
For blends: choose a low-cure adhesive transfer with a built-in bleed blocker.
Embroidery
03Thread is stitched straight into the garment for a raised, premium finish that holds up to heavy wear. Artwork runs through digitizing software, where stitch direction, density, and type are tuned for depth and detail. Polyester and rayon handle most work, with specialty threads (metallic, cotton, silk, and Nomex) available. At bulkthreads.com we typically provide three proofs for embroidery--a digital proof after we digitize your logo, a sewout on a basic piece of material, and then a materials sewout on one or more of your ordered pieces of apparel (your hat, your tee, your hoodie, etc.)
On tees: lightweight fabric can pucker, so use the right backing and reserve stitching for sturdier placements.
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Curing & Cotton/Poly Blends
Blended fabrics are sensitive to the heat used in curing—too much can pull the garment's dye into your print (dye migration). Dial in your press and dryer, run a test, and confirm settings with your decorator or ink supplier before a full production run.