Maintenance Practices For DTG Printers

January 25, 2022

When you work with contract decorators across the US, you quickly see that they all have different brands of DTG machines. And yet the same thing always comes up — no matter the brand, maintenance upkeep on the machine is a must! Call it TLC for the printer — this extends the life of the … Continued

Introducing Decoration Spec Sheets

January 11, 2022

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s… A Decoration Spec Sheet? You read that right. After years of work behind the scenes, we are proud to announce that the Decoration Spec Sheet is here! Created by your Decorator and Digital Solutions Team and built from customer feedback, this resource provides design sizes … Continued

Laser Etching 101

December 28, 2021

As an embellisher of apparel, you’ve likely spent a lot of time adding various materials to garments as a means of decoration. What if I told you there was a decoration technique that embellishes and enhances the garment by removing from it, instead of adding to it? What is Laser Etching? Laser etching is a process … Continued

Sustainability Insights For Decorators

December 20, 2021

More and more key decision makers in the workplace are considering a company’s sustainability efforts centered around People, Planet and Product. This focused energy is a great place to start assessing what your company is already doing and where to go next. As interest rises, so does the need for products and decorations that align … Continued

Success on the Heat Press (No Experience Required)

November 24, 2021

The heat press is probably the easiest piece of decorating equipment to learn to operate. In today’s world of labor and staffing shortages, it can be a great way to bring inexperienced help into the fold by quickly giving a new employee the confidence and help develop an eye for detail that will help them … Continued

Plastisol Ink Curing – Under, Over or Just Right?

November 10, 2021

A constant question every screen printer has to weigh is whether or not the ink has cured correctly. The results of the ink being either under- or overcured will be a print that doesn’t hold up to the test of time in a washer. There are inherently unique differences to printing with water-based and plastisol … Continued

The Direct To Film Printing Process

October 28, 2021

Direct to film printing is an apparel decoration technique which many decorators are currently exploring. This type of printing allows you to obtain simple, convenient consistency in performance with a wide range of colors, and DTF machines are now reliable and cost-effective to own.

Heat Press: Proper Operation and Maintenance

October 12, 2021

The heat press is one of the most versatile and valuable pieces of equipment a decorator can buy, but they are also often neglected. Focusing on proper operation and maintenance can save you time and money down the road.

Finding and Securing a Network of Contract Decorators

September 28, 2021

With staffing tight and product scarce, the availability of contract decorators is also becoming an increasingly rare commodity. SanMar’s Decorator and Digital Solutions team shares some insights and tips that might help you find and secure not just one new contract decorator, but a whole network of them.

No More Broken Needles

September 10, 2021

While working on the Decorator and Digital Solutions Team, I have seen my share of broken needles on embroidery machines. It could be while embroidering on structured caps, heavy duck cloth material, bags or any number of items. But this doesn’t have to be the case! There are some simple steps to stop the break … Continued