FAQ. Just for you.

Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Just click a question to see the answer.

What is your turnaround time?

Our standard turnaround time is currently 10 business days from the time we have receive a complete order(including all sizes, design files and/or final art approval.) If you have a specific deadline (such as an event) that you need to have met, please notify us when placing your order. We can often work rush orders into our schedule, and we never charge rush fees, no matter how little time you give us. But the more time you give us the better the odds of us taking the job. Please keep in mind our standard timeframe refers only to orders which are done in house and that this does not include shipping time. Sunline will not be held responsible for missing deadlines due to weather conditions, power supply interruptions, vendor shortages and errors, shipping errors, or any acts of God. If we expect or foresee any problems in advanced, we will be sure to notify you and work with you to rectify them.

What if the style or color I want is out of stock?

It is unfortunate, but sometimes our vendors will run out of particular styles or colors. This is just the nature of the industry, and it is out of our control. We do our best to provide you with an accurate inventory prior to your order being placed, but we cannot “hold” goods from the time you receive a quote to the time you actually place the order. Should items become out of stock, we will do our best to find a replacement and get it approved by you prior to using it for your order. If you choose to wait for the inventory to be replenished, we canot guarantee the turnaround time or that the items will be back in stock when the vendor says they will. But if you choose a substitute garment then we are able to stick to our typical turnaround time. We order the blank goods within 1 day of the order confirmation, so we are able to notify you of any out-of-stocks within 24 hours.

How do I keep the cost down?

Quantity is usually the largest factor on the price. We have price breaks at 36, 72, 144, 288, 576 etc...

The other easy way to keep the cost down is to print in less locations and with fewer colors. Simple designs usually sell better than high detailed full colored ones anyway. That is why our most common order is a one color front print only.

The last way to reduce the cost is to choose a less expensive garment, You can find many economical options and our most popular styles here.

Do dark shirts cost more?

Yes. Dark shirts are more expensive to buy blank, and they require an under base to make most colors opaque.

What is an under base?

An under base is a layer of white ink that is printed under the other ink colors (including the top white) when printing on dark garments with plastisol inks. Without an under base, most shirt colors will show through the ink, influencing the color of the ink. For example, yellow ink printed directly on a royal blue shirt will look green. While this is sometimes a desirable affect, it is also somewhat unpredictable, so we ask that you specify the final color you want to appear rather than the ink color, and leave it to the discretion of our artists whether to use a base or not.

We also offer a discharge base, which gives the shirt a softer feel. Because this is a chemical process, discharge can not be used on all colors and fabrics, depending on the material content and pigments used in the manufacturing.

Can I mix the shirt types in my order?

Yes, as long as the design and print colors stay the same, and the print is in the same size and location on every shirt. There are many variables that may be affected, such as the underbase, or areas of the shirt showing through within the design. As such, additional screens may be needed, so be sure to cover this before you order. It is usually best to make a virtual proof for each different color to see exactly how it should look on each shirt. If ink changes are needed, there is a $10 charge per change.

How large will the print be?

If you are sending us the art, it should be built at the final print size, and the same size will be reflected on the proof. In addition to sending your art at the exact size, it is aways a good idea to specify the final print dimensions on your order to make sure nothing is scaled or shifted in the output process. Because the print will look different on each size shirt, our virtual proof reflects an adult Large, or the median size for your particular order. While we always look at the range of sizes for each order and make our best estimation for sizing, we are often limited by the smallest size as to how large we can go. This is especially important to consider with youth sizes. Please see our image sizing guidelines for some of our most common styles. But sizes vary greatly from style to style, so if there is any question, please ask your account manager for the specs on your particular garment. We cannot be held responsible for the wrong print size if it is not stated on the order.

Will it look good on all sizes?

All shirt sizes in an order will be printed with the same image size unless otherwise requested. Different image sizes being printed on different shirt sizes will be treated as a new order and priced as such. It is up to you to decide if it will look appropriate on all sizes and decide whether a second set of screens is necessary. An image size printed within 1 inch of any seam is subject to distortion, print imperfections, and/or other small inconsistencies. These are all considered acceptable goods. We will not assume responsibility for print imperfections due to printing too closely to seams.

How many colors can you print?

We can print up to 12 different ink colors at a time in each location. This may seem like a lot to those used to 4-color process, but Plastisol inks are higher in viscocity and opacity, and therefore do not mix as well as process inks. For this reason we use a method called simulated process, including several techniques to increase the percieved colors in a print. We assess each print individually to produce full color prints on both light and dark colored shirts.

Do you offer digital garment printing?

We do not offer direct to garment printing. We are not completely satisfied that the technology will meet our high quality standards and production needs just yet, and the high cost of the equipment means it is not cost effective with the typical quantities of our orders. We choose to specialize in custom screen printing, which we believe is a much more valuable and artistic process.

Do you print on hats, Jackets, or bags?

Yes, but only in certain circumstances. Please contact us for specs and limitations, sometimes embroidery will be a better option.

Do you do athletic numbering or lettering?

Yes, we offer custom numbering and lettering in vinyl heat apply and screen printed in a variety of sizes and typestyles for teams. This is an additional cost per shirt, and your account manager can give you the exact prices and options.

Are there any art charges?

Art not supplied in print ready format, as specified in our File Prep section, is subject to be billed hourly at our current rate of $50/hour. We will always give you an estimate before doing this work. Any art preparation done is the property of Sunline Products. For example, if you supply artwork for your order which incurs a $150 charge for separations on your 6 color simulated process print, you do not own the separated art file. That separated file is the property of Sunline, although the artwork itself, is still your property.

How do I prepare my files for printing?

There are a few simple steps that will ensure there are no problems with your files that can hold up the printing process. To make sure you are not billed for any art charges, please read and follow our art submission guidelines here.

How do I get my artwork to you?

Always contact your account executive to use the best method for your situation.
The typical method is via email for all files that are 25MB or less. For files larger than that we recommend a file transfer service like Dropbox or Hightail. For more details, please read our submission guidelines here.

Do I need to proof a virtual Mockup?

Yes, we will send you a virtual mockup through email, and it is your responsibility to proof the artwork carefully for spelling, colors, size, location, and any other information. We will not be responsible for errors, misspellings, or otherwise incorrect or missing graphics and information in approved digital mockups if the printed product matches the final proof. Your final approval is needed to start the production process, and if you do not reply with approval in a timely manner, your delivery date may be jeopardized. Changes to the artwork after approving the mockup could increase turnaround time for your order and additional art or screen charges.

Can I get a pre-production sample?

Pre-production samples are costly and our virtual mock ups and approval process eliminate the need for press samples in most cases. We do offer pre-production samples on larger quantity orders. For more details on this, contact your account manager.

Are there any discounts on reorders?

We do not offer discounts on reorders unless they exceed the quantity of the previous order by enough to reach the next price break.

Do you ship outside of the United States?

Yes, and anywhere in the United States. We get pretty good UPS rates, but we can also ship on your account if you’d rather, or if your rates are better. Discuss with your account manager what option works best for you.

Are your inks environmentally friendly?

Yes, we print with plastisol inks. The chemistries are harmless when handled properly by the inustry standards as we do. There is little waste except for cleaning chemicals which are dispatched by a national waste management company that collects and recycles solvents to the original state and resells back to consumers.

Will the printing fade on my shirts after a few washings?

No. Our plasisol screen printed t-shirts are very durable and the print will outlive the garment. Though the feel of the ink may soften with numerous washings. Never iron a screen printed garment and do try to wash them inside out.

Can you print over zippers or seams?

We do our very best to produce the best looking prints anytime we pull a squeegee. However, printing on or over any seams, collars, pockets, zippers or otherwise is subject to distortion, print imperfections, and/or other small inconsistencies. These are all considered acceptable goods and will not be considered misprints.

Do you Guarantee your work?

Definitely, without question. We stand behind our products, and will do whatever is necessary to make sure you get the quality goods you expect. We take every precaution possible to avoid miscommunications and errors on the front end of the job. On the rare occasion we make a mistake, we will correct it for you. We have no problem admitting when we make a mistake, though oftentimes the customer is responsible for the error. Whenever this is the case, we will inform you of what you can do on future orders to help avoid it. The most common mistake is spelling. This is why proofing your virtual mock up carefully is such a critical part of the process. The bottom line is that we are reasonable and ethical people and we want you to have a good experience and order with us again.

WE WANT your designs to print perfectly.

A quick read through these guidelines will ensure they do.

Art Submission Guidelines

These few simple steps will help ensure that there are no problems when processing your art files. If you are not the party responsible for creating your art, please send these guidelines on to your designer or direct them to this page.

We accept art built in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. If you are using Corel or Microsoft Paint, please upgrade your software at Adobe.com, or convert your files to one of the following: .pdf, .ai, .eps, or .psd, and to ensure it looks the same on our end, we recommend that you send a jpeg proof as well.
We DO NOT accept print files created in MS Word, MS Publisher or MS Powerpoint, but if we are recreating the art we will take anything from iPhone snapshots and napkin doodles to full size oil paintings, but additional art charges may apply. Talk to your account executive for more details.

If your are working in Photoshop:

Please build your art at 300 dpi at 100% print size. This is not the same as building it at 72 dpi and then changing the resolution to 300 dpi after it is finished. This will result in poor image quality.
(We will NOT proceed with the order if artwork is of poor quality.)

Build your files in RGB and at 8 bits/channel. There is not need for 16 or 32 bits, and they create problems when exporting the file for print.

Leave your artwork in layers so we can easily separate your design. Do not flatten the image.

Acceptable file formats for art done in Photoshop: .psd(Photoshop Document)* or if you are doing your own separations: .ai (Adobe Illustrator) with a placed DCS(.eps) file included in the same directory. (please do not attempt to separate your own work if you are not familiar with the process. We highly recommend that if you are new to color separations, you read this book first.)

*a flattened Jpeg (.jpg) or TIFF (.tif) may also be used in some cases, if the art is one color, relatively simple or if that is all that is available. However, it should be 300 dpi at print size, and additional art charges may apply. Talk to your account executive for more details.

IF YOU ARE WORKING IN ILLUSTRATOR:

Please build your art at exact print size. Even though Illustrator is a vector based program and the art is scalable, this reduces possible confusion as to what your desired print size will be.

Be sure to expand all effects, appearances and strokes by selecting all and choosing “Expand Appearances” & “Expand” from the “Object” menu.

Convert all colors to spot colors. (If the color swatch doesn't have a black dot in the lower right corner, it is not spot) To check for this choose “same stroke and fill color” from the “select” menu, and then press Command+3 to hide the selected elements. Do this for each color, press Command +A to select all, and If items remain visible, they are not spot.

Unlock and show all Layers and delete any unused layers or graphics.

Make sure there are no locked or hidden graphics by holding command+option+2 on a mac (ctrl+alt+2 on a pc) and then command+option+3 on a mac (ctrl+alt+3 on a pc)
Be sure to embed all images by selecting all (cmd+A) and selecting the “embed image” option from the dropdown menu in your links palette.

Be sure to convert all type to outlines by selecting all (cmd+A) and selecting the “Create Outlines” option from the “Type” menu (cmd+shift+O).

We recomend saving a copy with type not outlined in case you want to go back and make changes.

Acceptable file formats for art done in Illustrator: ai (Adobe Illustrator), .pdf(Portable Document Format)*, .eps (Encapsulated Post Script)*

*These files should still be created in Illustrator and follow all the guidelines specified above. Be sure to preserve Illustrator editing capabilities by checking the box in the pdf options. If these specifications are not met, additional art charges may apply. Talk to your account executive for more details.

Over 200 ink colors in stock.

So there’s a real good chance you’ll find one that suits your fancy.

Choose one from this list or we will mix it for you.

Please keep in mind that monitors can vary significantly from one computer to the next. Due to the variation between monitors, we cannot guarantee ink colors based on visual mockups alone. We recommend checking these color swatches against a Pantone book for color accuracy. Failure to specify a pantone color may result in a different color than expected, and we cannot be responsible for these inconsistencies. Pantone books can be purchased from Amazon.com.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COLORS

Size Matters. Get it right
the first time.

We believe in measuring twice and printing once.

Please use the size chart below to specify an exact print size.

If you are sending us the art, it should be built at the final print size, and the same size will be reflected on the proof. In addition to sending your art at the exact size, it is aways a good idea to specify the final print dimensions on your order to make sure nothing is scaled or shifted in the output process. Because the print will look different on each size shirt, our virtual proof reflects an adult Large, or the median size for your particular order. While we always look at the range of sizes for each order and make our best estimation for sizing, we are often limited by the smallest size as to how large we can go. This is especially important to consider with youth sizes. Please use the chart below for our most common styles. Sizes vary greatly from style to style, so if there is any question, please ask your account manager for the specs on your particular garment. We cannot be held responsible for the wrong print size if it is not stated on the order.

MAXIMUM PRINT AREAS

DISCLAIMER: These sizes are APPROXIMATE sizes only. (There can be up to 1-2” of variance between shirts even within the same size, shipment, color, style and brand. We must size the print for the smallest shirt in the order, so there are no guarantees we can print to the maximum sizes listed here.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: These are not RECOMMENDED sizes (typical print size is 8-12” wide, and all-over prints, while possible, are not typical (evaluated on a case by case basis)

Shirt styles and sizes Width x Height (inches)

Gildan 2000 (Adult)
S-2XL 16.5x21

Gildan 2000 B (Youth)
YXS 14x15
YS 14.5x16
YM 15x17
YL 15.5x18
YXL 16x19

Gildan 5000 (Adult)
S-2XL 16.5x21

Gildan 5000 B (Youth)
YXS 13x13
YS 13.5x14
YM 14x15
YL 14.5x16
YXL 15x17

We recommend you confirm and verify them on the manufacturers' site to ensure the garment is going to fit as you intend. If there's any doubt about sizing on the selected garment, we recommend ordering a blank sample first. Please keep in mind that ordering blank samples will push back the turnaround time. Blank samples are available for purchase, but are nonrefundable unless transferred towards a full production run. Please talk to your account executive for details.

The resources youneed Are Here.

Questions answered. Colors & sizes specified. Art and processes defined.

FAQ SHEET

(Frequently asked questions)

SUBMISSION GUIDLINES

(FILE TYPES, RESOLUTION, ETC.)

STANDARD INK COLORS

(PANTONE SWATCHES)

GRAPHIC SIZING

(MAX IMPRINT AREAS)

PRINT CAPABILITIES

(custom ART & color SEPARATIONS)

ORDER PROCESS

(SEE HOW IT WORKS)