Our Technology

ITS NOT JUST ANY OTHER APPAREL

When you first decide to step inside designing & printing your first company apparel, you may be unsure what sort of garment would best suit your company: a Tee Shirt, a Polo, or what sort of design should go onto the garment.

Well, based on our experience here at The Cottonink over the many years spent consulting with companies both big and small to create their ideal company apparel, we have always pushed how one can tell their company’s story through their well-thought-out apparel.

Here are some things to consider when you are planning your hoodie printing, custom-made cap, customise polo shirt, or tote bag printing project in Malaysia:

TYPE OF GARMENT CHOSEN

First and foremost, the type of garment that you choose is a key component in expressing your company’s story. The first question you always need to ask yourself is What?.. So, What is this apparel going to be used for?

Whether it’s going with a standard Round-Neck T-shirt, which has a clean, young, trendy look for a more casual event or team-building activity, or a Polo Tee, which to me is a very versatile apparel suited for both formal and casual occasions. 

TYPE OF MATERIAL

Not only that, choosing the type of material for your apparel is also extremely important. Knowing who this apparel will be for will provide you with a key insight in deciding on the material that will be used for the apparel. Is this for staff who will be outdoors most of the time or for staff sitting in a cold, air-conditioned office?

Dri-fit or Microfiber will definitely provide the staff who will be outdoors all day with more comfort, whereas cotton will provide sufficient warmth to a staff stuck in the office all day. Even better, there are garments which have a mix of Cotton & Microfiber, making it more flexible for staff to use both indoors and outdoors. 

DESIGN

To me personally, the Print & Design is by far the most important aspect when creating your companies apparel. The Design of a Logo/Illustrations goes a long way into expressing your companies image. 

Creating and using simplistic designs (not to mention the company logo fused in within the design) with a slick font may give off a professional image, whereas the use of wonky fonts followed by a combination of doodle artwork can give off a more creative vibe. 

Do not be afraid to consult an expert Graphic Designer when you are in the midst of drafting your design as this One-Off Project to create your ideal design will definitely be worth the money! 

PRINT

With new technologies popping up all around today, T-shirt Printing has also benefited from those advancements. We are all familiar with the standard Silkscreen Printing, Heat-Transfer, Vinyl, and Embroidery prints around today, which may be the simplest and most cost-effective way to go about your printing.

However, if you are looking for your designs to stand out more on your Company Apparel, there are options which may cost a little extra, such as:

• Flocking: A Furry, Velvet texture that can give off a soft, fuzzy and cosy feeling to the print.
• High Density: A Repetitive print that literally brings your print alive with its 3D texture.
• Emboss: A softer version of High-density, which provides a raised surface of the print.
• Glow-in-The-Dark: A Print that literally glows.
• Glitter: Adding an extra shine to the print surface, which makes your design sparkle.

In the end, it all comes down to mixing and matching elements of apparel, design and print that complement each other while matching the company image that you are trying to convey to your customers.

MEET THE FAMILY OF PRINTS | PART II

Our last blog post focused primarily on prints we have been accustomed to in the printing industry. This post, however, will look into the new, innovative methods of screen printing in Malaysia that have begun to arise in recent years.

It is exciting to see how print technology has evolved in the custom corporate shirt printing industry in Malaysia, from regular and basic prints to visually stunning prints that bring out the life of your apparel by adding an extra feature to the visuals of your printed designs.

Here are the few up-and-coming prints in the current market that tick all the boxes when it comes to adding a little twist to your custom t-shirts:

High-Density Printing

One of my personal favourite types of print is High Density, which uses a mixture of a puff base and ink followed by repetitive printing that creates a special effect that rises up above the garment, providing a sharp-edged 3D feature to the print. Not only that but as this is done as a repetitive print, the height and width of the print can be controlled by the number of strokes.

However, it has to be noted that high-density print does have its shortcomings as well. Most importantly, high density cannot be achieved when printing halftone and detailed images. (Eg: Line Width of designs should not be less than 2Pts). On top of that, high-density printing is a labour-intensive process that requires multiple strokes of print, which takes up extra ink and time, which results in it being more costly than regular print methods.

Glow in the Dark Printing

It is a very versatile print that can be done in various types of garments. Glow in the Dark allows designs to stand out even more by emitting a glow from the print when exposed to a dark environment (Eg: Night runs, Haunted Houses, Club events). Not only that, as special inks & treatments are required to be used when producing glow-in-the-dark prints, the print boasts a higher durability and a professional finish when compared to regular silkscreen prints. 

One of the main setbacks of a glow-in-the-dark print is that the strongest glows emitted are from a white-based print. Even though you may use a different coloured base, the glow may not be as strong as that on a white base. Furthermore, the colour of glow currently available in the market is very limited to about 4-5 different colours. (Eg: Blue, Yellow, Green, Red). 

Photochromic Printing

One of the newest prints in town, Photochromic print, will blow your mind! Photochromic has already gained popularity in the market with its unique print, which appears clear indoors and begins to colour when the print surface is exposed to sunlight or UV light. The fact that photochromic can be done in a variety of colours is also one of its advantages, as it allows customers to work with detailed designs.

However, due to Photochromic being a new type of print technology, it requires special treatments and inks in order to create the Photochromic effect which can be quite costly. On top of that, the black and white colour visible when Photochromic print is not exposed to the light may come off as slightly dull. 

So here are a few of the most exciting prints for your custom-made t-shirts, customised Polo shirts, custom hooded sweatshirts, and caps that are currently on the market. However, you can choose from many more types of prints when printing apparel and it would be best to consult with your local custom shirt printing supplier, who should have physical samples of the actual prints for you to touch and feel.

MEET THE FAMILY OF PRINTS | PART 1

For hundreds of years, prints have been the key to expressing a great design on apparel for both personal and corporate use. However, in recent years, the industry has experienced a burst of new innovative techniques that have presented us with new approaches when printing on our apparel.

In this blog, I will focus more on the prints that we have been so accustomed to over the years when looking at screen printing technology in Malaysia.

Silkscreen Printing

Silkscreen printing is the most frequently used printing method right now in the market. It utilizes a stencil (Screen) and mesh, which is then covered with a layer of emulsion to block any unwanted ink going through the mesh during the printing of the design.                                                                

Silkscreen printing is ideal for printing high-quality and detailed designs on apparel. This printing method is great for companies looking for custom corporate shirts with near-perfect colour reproduction of their logos, provided that the correct Pantone (PMS) code is provided to your local printers. Furthermore, silkscreen printing is more economical and provides an impressive quality-price ratio for large print runs, especially those with 1-2 colours (100 pieces and above).

However, the turnaround time for Silkscreen printed jobs is longer than that for Heat Press or Embroidery because a new mesh and stencil are needed for each colour that is being printed. Not only that, if there are many colours in a design, the printing price will be very high (especially for quantities below 100 pieces). The best option to reduce cost in this occasion would be using CMYK printing, which is able to produce multiple coloured prints at a lower cost, but the colour accuracy will not be as spot on.

Techniques of Printing

Heat Press Printing

Another commonly used method of printing known as heat transfer is a two-step process that requires the design to be transferred to a paper (Check out how heat transfer paper is made and printed from 0.38)  and then heat-pressed onto the garment, which causes the adhesive ink to stick on the garment.

Heat Press is perfect for small quantity runs, allowing customers to get their orders quickly due to the easy process and at a much more affordable price when compared to silkscreen printing. On top of that, heat transfer can be done in a variety of colours as well as placements on the garment where silkscreen can’t replicate. (Eg: Shoulder, Close to Seam, Collar)

Heat press, unlike silk screen printing, is more costly when done in a large quantity and may take up more time due to each artwork needing to be heat-pressed individually. Also, It may not look or feel as professional as silkscreen Printed T-shirts due to the print being stiff, which causes the shirt to be firm and not as breathable.

Embroidery

For many years, embroidery has been considered one of the most durable methods when decorating apparel. The combination of Digitized artwork, Automated embroidery machines, and thread can create a detailed image in texture and depth.

In addition to that, most printed artworks have limited fabrics on which they can be printed, whereas, for embroidery, most fabrics are embroidery-friendly. On top of that, there is a large variety of coloured threads you can mix and match to create long-lasting, rich, vibrant colours for your design. Furthermore, unlike silkscreen printing, the number of colours within a logo or design does not add significant costs when using embroidery.

However, there are a few shortcomings when it comes to embroidery. One that has received the most complaints is the ability to produce a sharp, detailed image like silkscreen or heat transfer printing. It is also hard to recreate a gradient with embroidery due to the multiple coloured threads that are required in order to replicate the design.

These are a few of the most commonly used decorating methods and screen printing in Malaysia. Our next blog will feature some less-known, new advanced methods of screen printing technology that have gained traction in recent years in Malaysia.

Choosing the Right Ink for Your Custom T-Shirts

When it comes to printing quality, the type of ink used during the print plays the most significant role in deciding the quality and durability of the print. Inks are the foundation of your brand image on your printed apparel. There are two main Silkscreen inks that are being used in the market at the moment.

Water-Based Silkscreen Ink

Water-based inks are a dispersion of pigments in a water-based medium. One of the main features of water-based ink is the ability to seep into fabrics due to its thin & light texture when printed on a garment, making it a lot more breathable than any of the other inks available. Not only that, water-based inks provide a much softer texture than other inks as they are absorbed into the material upon being printed.

This makes them ideal for custom t-shirts in Malaysia’s hot and humid climate, especially for microfiber t-shirt printing. Additionally, water-based inks provide a softer feel compared to plastisol inks as they become one with the material upon printing.

However, there are also a few limitations when printing with water-based ink. Some of these are that water-base inks do not appear as sharp when printed on materials due to the ink not having a very dense base. On top of that, when printing on lighter garments, water-based inks are perfectly fine. However, once paired with a dark-coloured garment, the colours of printed water-based inks tend to vary depending on the garment (white print on dark garments may appear greyish).

Plastisol Silkscreen Ink

Plastisol Silkscreen ink is currently the most durable ink on the market. Its prints have been known even to outlast the life of the garment. Not only does the dense plastisol ink provide a better texture, but it also creates a vibrant and sharper print. Not only that, with the use of Plastisol Ink, printers are able to replicate the exact colours of your company logo, providing they are provided with the Pantone colour codes.

Although there are many benefits of using Plastisol inks, there are also shortcomings when using thicker silkscreen inks. One of them is that the thick prints may cause apparel to be less breathable when large-area prints are done. Not only that, but as there are PVC and plasticizers in the inks, applying direct iron to the prints will cause them to melt. 

If you are still indecisive about the types of inks to use, please consult your local printer. Plastisol inks have become very well-known over the past few years due to their durability. However, water-based inks also provide a vintage print effect with light ink.

If you are interested in custom printing services, we are offering a wide range of custom t-shirt printing services in Malaysia, using both water-based and plastisol inks to meet your specific needs. We can handle it from custom-made t-shirts and tote bag printing to screen printing and custom polo shirt printing! Contact us today for a quote today!

With the current boom of new companies happening around the world today, creating a superior work environment is pivotal in retaining employee and brand loyalty. One significant method in which companies are able to effectively create a quality work environment is with custom shirts for Company Apparel. 

Here are a few reasons why Company Apparel is more important than you think;

1. Plays a Significant Role in Promoting Your Brand

In today’s society, consumers are more sceptical of online advertisements and are not easily manipulated. The word-of-mouth approach plays a key role in promoting your brand. In fact, research done by Nielsen showed that 88% of consumers put the highest trust on word-of-mouth marketing more than any other form of advertising.

To put it simply, being able to create an aesthetically pleasing brand logo and incorporate that onto your company apparel may help to catch the attention of consumers when the apparels are worn by your staff. Once the exposure of your brand has been planted into the minds of the consumers, it is very common for them to then spread the word on your brand to friends, families and others.

On top of that, with company apparels it would also be able to instill trust in your brand and also create a sense of familiarity with customers that will actually go a long way in promoting your brand.

2. Promotes Employee Unity & Collaboration

One of the most important aspects of a company is the people behind the scenes.

A huge plus side of incorporating a custom corporate shirt into the company is to present a unity front towards its staff. When employees are dressed similarly, they will feel a sense of belonging, which in return will boost team spirit, inspire a positive attitude as well as eases ice-breaking between new staff.

Furthermore, a close connection is built when employees are provided with company apparel, making the team much more comfortable when communicating and collaborating with projects. This would result in a collective effort by the team to work together in order to achieve the short and long-term business goals. 

3. Creates a Professional Environment 

Sometimes, an item as simple as corporate apparel will be able to assert the professionalism of a team strongly. Which would you see as a more reliable, trusting team, one dressed in a completely different attire or a group of people using the same outfit, may it be as casual as a custom-made T-shirt or as formal as a Polo.

It is a small but effective psychological aspect that puts customers at ease when they see the uniform relationship formed by the group just by using the same outfit. It would allow customers to have more confidence when approaching a sales representative as it allows employees to appear more official. 

On top of that, it also allows customers to easily identify staff members in a busy setting to obtain information of their product or service.

4. Contributes to an Effective Marketing Strategy

Promoting your brand, an event or even a new product requires a well-thought marketing strategy. If your company decides to invest in apparel as part of the marketing plan, one must identify which clothing item will be the most effective and value for money. 

A small tip will be to do a little in-house research and ask your employees about which apparel they would most likely wear out which would get the best value out of the money spent. On top of that, consider providing a variety of corporate-branded apparel to fit the current trend.

if the plan is to provide give-away merchandise during roadshows, competitions or retail, it is key to consider past consumer research done by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), which shows the the types of promotional products that recipients prefer:

• 58% T-Shirts
• 41% Caps & Headgear
• 35% Polo 
• 27% Microfiber / Dri-Fit Material

Also, size labels, which state “Made in Malaysia” products, also have a high relationship with how customers perceive the overall quality of the garment.

All in all, if you are unsure of how you can achieve optimal results with your corporate apparel. We are the best t-shirt printing company in Malaysia; feel free to contact us to provide you with the best solutions to the problems currently faced in the ever-changing industry.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS OF SILKSCREEN PRINTING

Silkscreen Printing has been in use for many decades. Along the way it has made vast improvements to its technology in terms of inks and Machine functionality in order to be able to provide more customized prints for customers. However, there are still a few limitations to consider for custom t-shirts due to the complex process surrounding Silkscreen Printing.

An example of a Design which does not meet the printing Specs for Silkscreen (Sublimation is the only method to print this design)

Printing Position

From purchasing countless numbers of Apparels throughout our lifetime, most of us are familiar with the standard print positions on our own garments. The standard positions of prints would normally be :

• Across the Chest 
• Left and Right Side Chest
• Across Upper Back
• Left or Right Sleeve
• Full Front Print
• Full Back Print

On top of that, it would be best to note that Silkscreen Printers generally require a space between 1.5 inch – 2.0 inch from the seams of the apparel in order to print an artwork (An example of what cant be printed with Silkscreen Printing is displayed in the image above) .This is done in order to avoid any uneven print when the frame of the screen in pressed on the seam of the shirt. Not to mention, printing on seams, cuffs , and collars are not able to be done due to the same problem. 

However, for some custom-made shirts, printers would be able to print from the seam as normally Printing would be done on the fabric before being sewn into the actual garment. In this case, it would be best to check with your t-shirt printing company regarding the artwork and position you are looking to print.

Print Size

Another important Specifications of Silkscreen Printing is the size of print which can be done using Silkscreen Printing. Normal Printers would generally have 4 different screen sizes which customers can pick from in terms of sizes:

• A6 Print Size – 4.1Inch W X 5.8 Inch H ( 10.5 W X 14.8 H cm )
• A5 Print Size – 5.5Inch W X 8.3inch H  ( 14.8 W X 21 H  cm )
• A4 Print Size – 8.3 Inch W X 11.7 Inch H ( 21 W X 29.7 H cm )
• A3 Print Size – 11.7 Inch W X 16.5 Inch H ( 29.7 W X 42 H cm )

Any prints that exceed the above size area may require an extra screen to be done up in order to meet the desired result of print. It would be best for designers to tailor their artwork within the provided size range in order to create the most affordable costing of prints. 

Artwork File

When it comes to printing high-definition prints, it all comes down to the quality of the artwork file sent through. If low-quality files are sent through which are pixelated and stretched, the print will be replicated once put onto the screen. 

Files which are recommended are:

1. AI (Adobe Illustrator) File 
2. High-Definition PDF File
3. High-Definition PNG File
4. High-Definition Photoshop File

Files not recommended are :

1. Low-Definition JPEG File
2. Low-Definition PNG File

In order to ensure a smooth transition between the design team and your local printers, before sending the full artwork in an AI file it would be best to create an outline on all Logo/Text before sending. This is done to ensure that all details of the artwork are locked in the file, which will prevent any missing details.

All in all, if you want to start your clothing line or create fun custom corporate shirts for the first time. These few tips on the specifications for printing would go a long way in helping you better understand the printing industry and avoid any unnecessary mistakes during the printing process. If you require any further information from a local screen printing provider in Malaysia, feel free to pick up the phone and call your local printer a call for custom corporate shirts, custom hoodies, or bulk t-shirt printing.