Introduction

Custom shirts are a fantastic way to express your individuality, promote your brand, or create unique gifts for special occasions. Whether you want a personalized t-shirt, polo shirt, or button-down shirt, the process to order custom shirts can seem daunting at first. But fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps involved in ordering custom shirts, helping you create your perfect garment.

Ordering Options

We offer three ways to order shirts.

1. If you are ordering black or white t-shirts using DTG or 1-color screen printing as a decorating option, please visit www.shirtresponders.com and place your order through the website.  It features design tool that you can create your own designs or upload a file designed elsewhere.
2. The most common ordering method is via email.  Send an email to info@aplusimages.com with your artwork and order details.  If your files are too big to send via email, you can use Drop Box or Google Drive to share a link to your file(s).  When sending an email, we’ll need the following information:
   1. Shirt style number(s):  These can be found in the links to our online catalogs in the top menu bar of our website.  “Men’s t-shirt” isn’t very useful to us.  Style numbers like 3001C, G640, F170, and ST105 let us know exactly what you are looking for.
   2. Shirt color(s): Each vendor uses different names for colors.  In most cases, “blue shirts” won’t help us.  A vendor might offer several shades of blue, none of which are called “blue”.  For instance, in the G200 style shirt, over a dozen shades of blue are offered.  Examples are: Antique Royal, Carolina Blue, Royal, Irish, and Sky are some of the options.  None of their colors are simply called “blue”.  Color options are listed for each style in the online catalogs.
   3. Size and quantities: We need to know how many shirts in each size you want.  Make sure to pick styles that offer all the sizes you need.  While most styles offer sizes S-2XL, sizes like XS, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL, 6XL, and tall sizes are far less common.  In some cases, not all sizes are available in each color within a style.  Additionally, the actual shirt sizes vary from style to style.  Even styles from the same brand can but cut differently.  Available sizes and their size charts are listed in the online catalogs.
   4. Decorating method: If you are certain of a specific preferred decorating method, please list it.  If not, please don’t guess.  We’ll choose the best option based on your artwork and garments.
   5. Decoration colors: We need to know what color(s) you want to use.  Do you have specific Pantone colors?  If so, screen printing or custom screen printed transfers are likely your best bet.  In some cases, embroidery thread is available in Pantone colors.  You can check that here. Vinyl colors are also only available in specific colors as well.
   6. Decoration locations: Where do you want each image placed on the garments? Examples: Left chest, right chest, front chest, back, sleeve, etc.
   7. Decoration sizes: How big should each image be?  Examples, 4″ wide left chest and 12″ wide back.
   8. Include the artwork for you order, preferably setup according to the details for each decorating method.  Artwork charges will apply for any editing needed to turn your artwork into “print-ready” formats.  Many types of artwork have legal restrictions that prevent us from replating them.
   9. Order deadline.  Not all deadlines can be met.  Rush services may be available.  Allow as much time as possible for order fulfilment to reduce costs and order acceptance.
   10. Any other specific details relative to your order
3. If the above options do not work for you, please schedule a meeting to go over order details in person.  Meetings are not available every day, especially in peak seasons (Mar-May and Oct-Dec).  We will need all the information listed in option 2 above at the meeting to process an order.

An example of design locations.

Tips

Here are some helpful tips for designing and ordering custom shirts.

1. Define Your Purpose and Design: Before diving into the ordering process, it’s important to determine the purpose of your custom shirts. Are you looking to design shirts for your sports team, create branded shirts for your business, or perhaps design shirts for a special event or gathering? Identifying your purpose will help you refine your design and make informed decisions.
2. Next, brainstorm your shirt design. Consider elements such as colors, logos, text, and images that will best represent your purpose. If you’re not artistically inclined, you can hire a professional designer or use online design tools to bring your ideas to life.  Do not simply steal art from search results or other websites.
3. Choose a Printing Method: There are various printing methods available for custom shirts, each with its unique characteristics. Here are a few popular options:
   1. Screen Printing: Ideal for larger quantities with one ink color, Pantone color matches, and t-shirts
   2. Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing: Suitable for smaller quantities or intricate designs, full color images, and cotton-faced shirts.
   3. Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing: Suitable for any size order, multi-color/full-color artwork, and non-cotton, heat-sensitive fabrics (50/50 shirts, fleece, 100% polyester, tri-blends, 60/40s, etc.
   4. Embroidery: Ideal for higher-end garments and corporate wear.
   5. Vinyl: Ideal for simple logos in low-quantities, jersey names and numbers, and special effects (glow, glitter, flock, etc).