Whether you’re building a brand, launching merch, or kitting out your team, getting your logo onto clothing is a big step—and it needs to look the part. But how does it all work? What’s the best way to print on garments, and how do you make sure it looks spot on?
In this guide, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of printing logos and designs onto clothing, outlining some of the industry’s most popular methods and sharing tips for finding the perfect design for your brand or school.
Step 1: Choosing a Canvas Designed for Printing
Before diving into how logos are printed, it’s worth taking a moment to think about what you’re printing on. Finding the right canvas for your logo is just as important as the printing process itself, with the quality of the end result depending as much on the material and quality of the outfit piece as on the design.
Why AWDis is the Professional’s Choice
At AWDis, our sustainably sourced products are purpose-built for printing. The perfect canvases – they are designed and constructed using the highest quality products to not only make your logo look fantastic but also ensure that it stays that way over time.
- Superior fabric face: Smooth to the touch and comfortable to wear, our tight-knit fabric surfaces are specifically engineered to hold ink cleanly and facilitate crisp, detailed embroidery.
- Colour consistency: With a vast palette of up to 100 colours, we offer a selection of shades that allows you to identify the perfect fit for your brand or team colour scheme.
- Durability for any use: AWDis garments are built to last, and logo printings continue to look bright and vivid wash after wash across our range of t-shirts and hoodies.
Step 2: Understanding the Professional Printing Methods
Once you’ve picked the right garment, it’s time to choose how you’ll bring your design to life. There are several printing methods out there, each with its own strengths – and finding the right one is key to making sure your logo looks its best.
Screen Printing
Using a mesh and stencil to press an ink design into the fabric, this method is brilliant for imposing simple, bright and colourful designs onto merch t-shirts and leavers hoodies. Ideal for larger orders, screen printing is cost-effective and provides durable results that stay vivid and clear over time.
Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing
For highly detailed, multi-coloured logos, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing involves putting an outfit piece into a digital printer for water-based ink to be applied according to a digitally uploaded design. With minimal setup costs, this option produces sharp, photorealistic results and works well in small batches for brand start-ups.
Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing
As a newer printing option, direct-to-film (DTF) printing sees the logo printed onto a special transfer film and an adhesive powder applied and cured to the garment before being directly heat-pressed. An incredibly versatile method, DTF can be used on a range of fabrics (cotton, polyester, and blends) for full-colour logos. It also works well on performance fabrics for sports team uniforms.
Embroidery
Stitching designs into fabrics using thread offers a premium, textured finish that gives logos a brilliant tactile quality. School blazers, corporate polo shirts, and club emblem hoodies can all utilise embroidery for high-quality personalisation that carries an element of longevity and style.
Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)
Cutting a design from a sheet of coloured vinyl, heat transfer vinyl (HTV) involves using heat and pressure to apply a logo to a design surface. Providing long-lasting results, this method is ideal for printing names and numbers onto the back of sports uniforms or school leavers’ hoodies, or for bold, eye-catching logos.
Step 3: From Idea to Reality – Your Next Steps
Figuring out how to print your logo is just the first step. Turning your idea into a finished, ready-to-wear piece takes a few more moves – and the exact process can vary depending on what you’re creating it for.
For Small Brands and Entrepreneurs
- Finalise Your Logo: Make a final decision on the logo you want to print, considering the images, lettering, and colours that effectively communicate your brand values and vision. You also need to ensure your logo is in a high-resolution vector format for sharp results.
- Select Your Core Products: Choosing the right hero garments is about selecting products that fit your brand aesthetic and are functional for their intended purpose. Hoodies, for example, are consistent bestsellers for new brands on account of their comfort and durability.
- Find a Decorator: Partner with a professional printing or embroidery company that is not only capable of printing the results you want but also understands your vision for your logo and garment.
For Teams, Schools and Groups
- Confirm your design: Create and approve a design that embodies the colours, images, and spirit of your school or team. Also consider a design that kids will feel comfortable and confident wearing day to day.
- Choose your garments: Selecting the right products and colours is pivotal to ensuring your logo is printed onto a reliable, durable, and comfortable surface. AWDis’s different product ranges offer a diverse selection of high-quality and sustainable garments to meet your needs.
- Gather sizes and numbers: Make sure you get the right quantities of your designed garments to make sure everyone is included. For a smooth ordering process, have everyone confirm their preferred size and/or colour.
- Work with a supplier: The uniform or merchandise company you work with will source the AWDis apparel and handle the professional logo printing, so ensure consistent communication with them and provide feedback to guarantee the results you want.
Find The Perfect Apparel for Printing Your Logo at AWDis
Print your logo onto clothing you can trust and guarantee perfect results for your school, team, or brand. At AWDis, our range of garments lets you customise the perfect pieces for your needs. Check out our ranges and find the perfect customisable clothes for you. Got questions? Reach out – our team is always here to help!
