March 14, 2013

5 Reasons Why Screen Printing is Still the Best

cheap rosetta stone software
With the popularity of digital technology, many businesses are concerned over whether or not silk screening is as popular as it once was. Despite the growth of digital technology, screen printing has some real advantages in the world of graphics. Here are the top five reasons for why screen printing still rules in our book.

1. Large Volume – When companies need a large quantity of marketing materials printed with their logo, nothing beats screen printing. This type of printing can produce a large volume of prints at an economical cost compared to digital prints. Generally speaking, the more color a logo has, the more ink a digital machine will need, thus raising the price. Additionally, digital machines take longer to use, and time costs money.

2. High Quality – In many cases, the quality of silk screening is better than digital. When dealing with pictures that have large pigment grain sizes, digital printing can leave the image looking a bit dull and faded. With screen printing, screening is used to fine-tune the logo, and it’s especially advantageous for fine-line pictures and small text. That being said, photographs still fare better with digital technology.

3. Versatile – Digital ink is more sensitive than the inks used in silk screening. When you need logos printed to tricky surfaces such as uncoated metals, screen printing is the way to go. The inks can be epoxies, and they will adhere to many surfaces, unlike digital ink. Also, digital ink needs to be changed out with each new color, unlike screen printing ink that is inexpensive and easy to switch out.

4. Fast – Using silk screening is much faster than digital. You can make a large quantity of prints and change out inks quickly. The ink also dries faster, so you won’t have to wait around for the products to dry. Instead, they can be immediately marketed or shipped out to the customer.

5. Economical – You can see how cost-effective silk screening can be, considering it’s fast, simple and produces a large volume of quality printing. Additionally, the equipment needed for screen printing is inexpensive (panels, ink and requisite materials). This reward is perfect for both screen printing shops and customers.

Blog sponsored by: Great Atlantic Outfitters

Photo c/o: ideasworkshops.com

March 2, 2013

The Importance of a Business Logo

[image title=”Duval Ford Logo” size=”full” id=”283″ align=”left” linkto=”https://greatatlanticoutfitters.com/” ]

Always remember that your logo is the face of your company. Therefore, your logo should be unique to your business while providing information about your brand. It’s always amazing to see how many companies have outdated logos that no longer reflect the product or service of the company. This often occurs because businesses have limited advertising funds and it becomes costly to replace or update old logos. Yet logos are the way that customers will identify your brand, so really, logos are one of the most critical advertising components you have.

The key to having a professional logo that clearly defines your company is using a dependable printing company. Too often, companies bounce around from one printing company to the next, but the way the logo is printed doesn’t match up. What you’re left with are materials and advertising products that have different looking logos. This can make your company look unprofessional and may cause confusion among prospective clients. The last thing you want to do is turn off potential customers with a poorly executed logo. Instead, you want to convey service and trust through this simple yet significant graphic.

When you have the best logo in place – one that includes professionalism and competence – partner with a screen printing shop that will execute all of your needs so that the logo and colors remain consistent. Remember that your logo should be of the highest quality, so refrain from using clip art or photographs. All the small details also need attention, from the spacing and positioning of your company name to the size and color of the graphic. A printing shop like Great Atlantic Outfitters can help you find the best arrangement that will transfer uniformly to company t-shirts, promotional items, business cards and giveaways.

physical therapy chicago

February 14, 2013

The History of Screen Printing

c/o: spekulator

Screen printing is a popular tool that is used to make large quantities of shirts, promotional items and movie posters. It’s cost-effective and efficient when done right and offers more convenience than today’s digital technology. Screen printing dates back to some of the earliest days when the Polynesian Island natives used banana leaves and ink that were transferred onto bark cloth. This practice was continued by the Sung Dynasty in AD 960 when the Japanese used stencils to make intricate designs. In the Middle Ages, these designs were used for mass production.

However, it wasn’t until the 1700s that western culture caught onto the idea of screen printing. It was patented by Samuel Simon in 1907 in England and was used to print wallpaper and other fine fabrics. The techniques used to transfer these intricate designs were kept as quiet as possible, as Western screen printers wanted to keep their discoveries as secret as possible. After all, if this technique was only known by professional printers, it would remain a lucrative business.

Unfortunately, that’s not the way things went. In 1914, John Pilsworth of San Francisco patented a multicolor screen printing process. Right after this time, screen printing was used extensively for recruiting young men for World War I (think back to Uncle Sam’s “I Want You!” slogan). As time went on, more people started using screen printing, such as graphic artists during the Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements. In the late 40s and early 50s, Francis and Dorothy Carr of the UK used screen printing as a fine art, and in the 1960s, Pop Art was heavily popularized thanks to Andy Warhol.

In fact, Warhol played a major role in using screen printing as an art form, especially as he used the technique to depict Marilyn Monroe in 1962. A final movement was made in 1960 by artist and inventor Michael Vasilantone who developed a rotary multi-garment screen printing machine, allowing a boom in screen printed t-shirts. Screen printing on garments accounts for half of screen printing activity.

Some speculate that screen printing will be replaced with new technology, but for those who practice this art form regularly, we believe the opposite. Even with digital technology at its highest, screen printing is still most efficient and allows a mass production of items to be made at one time and with little to no error. When businesses need cost-effective and high-quality promotional products, the answer still lies in screen printing.

Blog sponsored by: Great Atlantic Outfitters

January 2, 2013

Top 10 Promotional Items for 2013

c/o: Stefan Klabunde

Goodbye 2012, hello 2013! It’s time to look toward the future and begin thinking ahead for your company. With each new year, there are new advances being made, and the same holds true for promotional items. No, your prospective customers don’t want the same foam “thumbs up” hand or another ceramic coffee mug. They want something futuristic, fun and unique. Something that will have them remembering your business for stepping outside the box and being different.

Here are the top 10 promotional items for 2013.

1. Magnets – Who couldn’t use a pack of magnets to hang up their kids’ artwork at home? Magnets can also be stuck to dishwashers, magnetic doors and dry erase boards. When they’re up, everyone sees them, branding your business without any effort.

2. Mouse Pads – Everyone has a computer, so it only makes sense that a mouse pad would be a practical promotional item. Once again, it sits out so people around the office will see your company’s name or logo.

3. Coaster – A hot mug of coffee in the morning is made better with a creative coaster.

4. Silicone Wristbands – Wristbands are loved by kids and adults, and they’re available in plenty of colors. They’re cost-effective, easy to hand out and lightweight.

5. Phone Lanyards – It’s not just lanyards that are cool but phone lanyards. Available in fun colors, you can easily clip a lanyard onto your smartphone and possibly even save it from a few falls.

6. Green Grocery Totes – Being green is a great way to show that you have a commitment to the environment and that you care about your customers’ health and safety. Aim for green totes that are practical and encourage reusable shopping bags.

7. Playing Cards – Who doesn’t love a game of poker or rummy from time to time? A pack of playing cards never goes unnoticed and may be just the thing to spark a family game night or in-office bet.

8. Stress Balls – Once you get your hands on one, you just can’t put it down. Stress balls are fun and should be a standard part of every office cubicle.

9. Koozie Can Cooler – Koozies are great for keeping cans of soda or beer cold, and they’re collapsible so they don’t take up any space in the cabinet. Plus, it’s a great way to market your business when Koozies make their appearance at picnics, sports games and concerts.

10. Aluminum Water Bottles – Another great item that shows your commitment to a better planet, aluminum water bottles encourage people not to use plastic water bottles and to drink more water.

Blog sponsored by: Great Atlantic Outfitters

December 26, 2012

Advantages to Working with a Custom Screen Printing Shop

c/o: Richard McMillan

Whether you’re looking for screen printed items, embroidered fabrics or promotional gear, reaching out to a custom screen printing shop is your best option. These companies are experienced in making large quantities of products that are custom made with logos and company names. Customers use these types of products for corporate gifts, promotional items, team gear and more. Let’s take a look at the benefits to choosing a custom screen printing shop for your printing needs.

Efficiency

When you need a large quantity of items and you need them fast, a screen printing shop is your best bet. They have the best tools and equipment for completing jobs quickly, and most offer quick turnaround times from the date you place your order. For those who wait till the last minute, you can still have the products you want when working with a screen printing shop.

Quality

Screen printing shops are experienced in printing high-quality products. Many offer guarantees if you’re unsatisfied with the end result, and they are also very willing to work with their customers to get the logo, image or wording to the client’s exact specifications. At Great Atlantic Outfitters, we use innovative techniques to get high-quality prints on our products each and every time.

Variety

Screen printing shops do so much more than just print words. They also have a large selection of promotional gear, gifts and clothing that can be customized. Whenever you’re in doubt for corporate gifts, employee incentives or promotional items, you can count on a custom screen printing shop to have the variety of practical items that you need.

Cost-Effective

The more you buy, the more you save, and that’s exactly how it works with screen printing shops. Because these companies are used to working with large scale orders, they have affordable prices on their products. When you shop with Great Atlantic Outfitters, you’ll find a comprehensive catalog of all of our items at competitive prices. The bottom line is that you get great value for your money, which is especially helpful for those within a strict budget.

December 18, 2012

What is Silk Screening?

c/o: life123.com

In the screen printing industry, the term “silk screen” is second nature to us. To others however, it’s not something that’s often thought about, even though we do see the end results of silk screening on a variety of products.

Silk screening is a process where print is transferred to a material or surface, such as wood or fabric. In this process, there is the screen or printing plate, and this is covered in a tight mesh material. Traditionally, the mesh was made of silk, but today we use polyester. The mesh is then coated with a film that blocks the holes in the material when they dry. Paint or ink is forced through the screen using a squeegee. When the print is transferred, the screen is removed and the print can be hung to dry.

Silk screening is a fairly easy process to learn, and just about anyone can do it with the proper supplies. However, it takes a highly strategic process to yield perfect results, which is why the professionals at screen printing shops have had plenty of experience with silk screening. When working with fabrics, there are also some unique steps you’ll need to take. For example, for multi-color designs, the color of the ink needs to flow through the screen and onto the shirt multiple times. You must also start with the lightest color and move toward the darkest.

So why is silk screening used when we have fancy digital technology and computers?

Well, consider that to print paper, it takes time. Now imagine printing fancy designs or logos. Yes, you would be lucky to print one T-shirt every five to ten minutes, and you would be eating away at ink and toner. Plus, the machine would cost more and you would have to do each shirt by hand. Silk screening is cost-effective and efficient. Under trained hands, it yields high-quality results every time. When screen printing shops offer silk screening, it sets them apart from other businesses and allows customers to get a great product for less.

Blog sponsored by: Great Atlantic Outfitters

« Newer Posts