Order Process

First Step: Please send us your Purchase Order, Proof, Output files (print-ready art at-size). We will build your order in our system and inventory your garments when they arrive. Once we have received your goods and order details, we will send your approval via email.  If we have discovered any inconsistencies, shortages, or garment quality issues, we will notify you at this time. If everything on our Order Approval is correct, please return your signed Approval and call with payment. Your production time will begin upon receipt of your signed Approval, goods, and payment. 

Out of Order Fees

Please do not ship directly to Special Tees unless you have provided a purchase order and outlined the arrival of goods coming from different locations ahead of arrival. 

Payment

We require payment up front on all contract printing orders unless you plan to bring a check at pick up. We do not collect or store payment information for security and safety reasons. When you are ready to pay you can check out via our Easy Client Check Out link or we can process your payment over the phone. Please note: Payments made with a card via our link will incur a 3% processing fee.

Shipping to us and Shipping to them

Please ship all goods for contract screen printing orders to our address. Special Tees 7313 Grove Road Unit F Frederick, Maryland 21704. Need us to ship the order to your client? No problem. Simply provide us with the ship-to address and your UPS shipper number on your Purchase Order. Please consider production time + shipping time to your client when planning your desired in-hands date. 

Turn Around

Standard turn around for contract screen printing is roughly 10-14 business days after receipt of goods, PO, Approval, and Payment. Please send your PO and order details to contracts@special-tees.com. Some turn around times may be longer for larger orders, multiple print locations, multiple colors, or if your order is during peak season (April-June). Please reach out to confirm turn around prior to sending any time sensitive orders. Production time may be longer depending on the current density of the production schedule.

Rush Production Times

Need your order produced in less than 5 business days? Please reach out via phone to confirm your rush needs. For less than 5 days: Please add 25% For less than 4 days: Please add 40% For less than 3 days: Please add 50% For less than 48 hours/Same day: Please add 100%

Please allow more time during peak season Our busiest season is from May-the second week of June. We will do our best to keep our standard turn around for all our clients during this time.   Please allow extra time around nationally recognized holidays.  We shut down production during the week of July 4th.

Please call ahead to confirm production time for hard in-hands dates or rush turn around during peak season and the weeks surrounding July 4th. 

Spoilage

Please allow for 2-3% spoilage per order. For every order, contract or regular, we trouble-shoot the set up of the design to ensure quality. Once we feel confident in the set up, we begin printing your order. We take garment style, garment blend, design, ink colors and many other details into account to ensure the best quality imprint. Please note:  It is your responsibility to ensure garment quality prior to production. We understand it is much easier to drop ship your order directly to us from suppliers. We do our best to inspect goods upon receipt. We will notify you of any quality concerns discovered from our inventory process. We do our best to identify any garment quality concerns prior to production, however, we cannot be responsible for replacing or reprinting any good or orders due to product quality concerns discovered post production. 

Spoilage Tip

Having an additional small shirt to use during for your print set up helps us ensure all the nuances of your order turn out great. We recommend sending an additional size small with your order as a best practice. We will use the additional small to help trouble shoot your print set up and ensure best quality. While sending an additional size small is not required, it is very helpful.   

Reprints on Spoilage

Please call or email contracts@special-tees.com for contract pricing information or to request additional information. 

Spot-Color Screen Printing 

We currently offer contract-screen printing for spot-color designs.  Spot color printing uses pre-mixed inks to print the colors in the design being printed. We are not offering CMYK (process) screen printing services at this time, but may consider this in the future. If you have any questions about if your design should be printed as spot color or process color, please give us a call to review your artwork or email your art and questions to contracts@special-tees.com. We are always open to considering an exception to help you achieve success. 

Plastisol Inks

We currently offer contract printing using plastisol inks. Plastisol inks are the most common type of inks used for screen printing on garments. We may offer other types of inks/processes in the future. Please check in if you have any questions.

Ink Colors

Please review our current list of screen printing inks colors available. Don’t see a color you want? Please give us a call. We can see about ordering for you. 

Ink Changes

Ink Changes are $10 ea per color, per location. Please note: Some art changes may require a separate set up and may not qualify as an ink change. Please reach out if you have any questions.  

Color Matching

Need us to mix a specific ink color that we do not currently offer? We would be happy to mix and color match to the best of our ability. There is a Color Matching Charge of $25 per color/per order for order of 249 units or less. If you are ordering more than 250 items that need color matching, please reach out for a Color Matching Quote. Depending on your design details, we may need to order pre-mixed ink from the manufacturer to fulfill your needs. Pricing would be based on your design, color, and quantity.  Please note: If your order is for light and dark garments or multiple styles, with the same imprint, your color matching may appear slightly different per item,

Art Files and Formats Required

1. Please send your print-ready files in vector format. Vector format is typically a file created with Adobe Illustrator and ends in .eps, .ai, or .svg. 
2. Please ensure your print-ready files are at-size. When art is not provided at the desired imprint size, it may cause confusion regarding your imprint, and could potentially result in a print at the size you did not intend or may require art time for us to correct for you.
3. All Text and fonts should be converted to outlines. 
4. Please assign all spot colors for multi-color designs.

Art File Review

Need us to review a file so we can make a recommendation? We are happy to take a look. Please connect with us first by emailing contracts@special-tees.com with at “File Review Request.” Please send your file and describe how you want it printed. We will take a look and can advise accordingly. In some cases it may be best to look at the file together while discussing over the phone. Give us a call! We look forward connecting with you about your art!   

Art File Tips

Consider the small details. When printing on dark garments, avoid details that are finer than 3 point stroke thickness. Some art files with finer details may work, but It all depends on the art. Have some fine details you need us to look over? Please email contracts@special-tees.com to review together. 

File Types We want to Avoid

Please keep in mind that saving a ".jpg" with the ".eps" handle does not create a vector format file. It simply is a raster file saved with a vector extension. These types of files may not print well and will likely require an art fee. Please avoid sending any artwork that involves pixel-based images or clipping masks. We can certainly work with such files, but there is a high likelihood such files will require art fees to prepare the file for print-ready. We are always happy to take a look over your design and advise.

Front and Back Imprint Area for Standard Adult Shirts

The current max imprint area is about 13” wide x 16” tall. 

Standard Youth Front and Back Imprint Areas

The current max imprint area on our youth palates is about 9-10” wide x 12” tall. *some sizes may not support these dimensions. Please check your shirt dimensions to determine the best size imprints for youth styles and ladies junior or missy-fit styles.

Sleeve and Leg

The current max imprint area for sleeve and leg designs is 3.5” wide and 12” long. For long sleeve prints, must be adult medium and larger. In some cases we may be able to print on smaller sizes sleeves, but this must be reviewed with the physical product in hand before we can confirm.

Combining Styles and Sizes

When planning your order, please consider the smallest size garment in the order. Youth tees and several ladies’ styles that are “missy fit” or “junior fit” may not support the max imprint size.  Check your sizing to ensure the set up for the imprint will fit on all the garments in your order.  If you need a smaller size imprint, this will be considered a different set up. Pricing will be based on the quantity per set up.