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3D, Puff, & Raised Screen Printing Services

Custom Puff Screen Printing

Wholesale Prices, Quick Turn Arounds, & Professional Customer Service

Popular For Clothing Brands & Businesses

What Is Screen Printing Puff Ink?

Puff screen printing ink contains an additive that is blended with plastisol ink and once heated to 320 degrees Fahrenheit it "puffs". Just like bread rises in a heated oven this technique works the same way. 

Puff can be incorporated into parts of the design or certain colors. For example, you can have one color of the design be regular flat ink and another color be puffed to create a unique look. 

We can puff any ink color, but keep in mind that Pantone matching is difficult because we can't control the ink's color change once it rises. As a result, we ask for leniency when requiring a Pantone match. 

  • Choose any ink color
  • Puff all or parts of your design
  • Jumbo screen print up to 17" wide x 23" tall
  • 3D Puff t-shirts, hoodies, joggers & more
  • 24 hour rush service available
  • Samples before production included
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Wholesale Custom Screen Printed Jogger Pants
Our Gallery

Examples of 3D Puff Screen Printing

A Comparison

The Advantages & Limitations of Puff Print Ink

Puff print screen printing has been a popular trend for decades. Of course, there's more to consider than popularity when producing custom merch. So, to help you make a decision on whether to include puff ink in your design or not, we have come up with a guide to answer basic questions.

Benefits of Puff Print Ink

  • May be able to sell your garment for more
  • On trend year-round
  • Affordable pricing
  • Durable technique
  • Increases creative options
  • Most customers love the texture & appearance

Limitations of Puff Print Ink

  • Only for small design elements
  • Can't be used on thin fabrics
  • Only with plastisol screen printing
  • Small details will be lost as the puff expands
  • Pantone matching is difficult
  • Not suggested to puff more than 2 ink colors
Pro Tip

Which hoodies are the best for screen printing with puff ink?

When it comes to puff screen printing on hoodies, the best results are achieved using heavyweight hoodies that are at least 10oz. Thicker fabric provides the structure needed for the puff to expand evenly, ensuring a crisp, professional finish. Thinner fabrics tend to wrinkle around the print and it loses the sharpness.

We recommend choosing from the hoodies listed below for the best results and the color of the hoodie doesn’t impact the quality of the puff. Also, when designing for puff ink, smaller artwork such as a 3” x 3” area performs better than larger areas like 10” x 10”. Larger designs can cause the puff to “collapse on itself,” creating unwanted valleys and dips that ruin the look.

Check out our puff screen printing portfolio to see how other customers have created their 3d puff screen print ink designs!

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10oz & Heavier

The Best Hoodies For Screen Printing Puff

Los Angeles Apparel HF09 Hoodie

LA Apparel Heavyweight

Style: HF09

Fit: Pigment Washed No Laces, Drop Shoulder

Weight: 14 oz

Order Sample
LS16001 Urban Pullover Hoodie

Lane Seven Urban

Style: LS16001

Fit: Drop Shoulder, Pigment Wash, No Laces.

Weight: 10 oz

Order Sample

Independent Mainstreet

Style: IND420XD

Fit: Drop Shoulder, No Laces, Heavyweight

Weight: 12.5 oz

Order Sample
Independent Trading Co IND4000

Independent Heavyweight

Style: IND4000

Soft, Great For Screen Printing, Popular For Brands

Weight: 10 oz

Order Sample
Expert Advice

Which t-shirts are the best for screen printing with puff ink?

When it comes to puff screen printing on t-shirts, heavyweight options at least 6.5oz are the best. The thicker fabric provides the stability needed for puff ink to expand cleanly, so it gives a crisp result. Lightweight t-shirts, on the other hand, can wrinkle around the print, causing the puff to lose its sharpness and quality.

For the best results, we recommend choosing from the heavyweight t-shirts listed below. Just like with hoodies, smaller artwork like a 3” x 3” area work best for 3d puff screen print ink. Larger designs like 10” x 10" will cause the ink to “collapse on itself” creating uneven dips that do not look good.

Check out our puff screen printing portfolio to see how other customers have designed puff ink screen prints on heavyweight t-shirts!

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6.5oz & Above

The Best T-Shirts For Screen Printing Puff

A young man with curly hair wearing a plain gray t-shirt and navy blue pants.

Lane Seven Apparel

Name: Urban LS16005

Fit: Boxy, Vintage

Weight: 7.5 oz

Order Sample
A man standing against a plain background, wearing a beige t-shirt and black trousers.

Los Angeles Apparel

Name: Garment Dye 1801GD

Fit: Boxy, Vintage

Weight: 6.5 oz

Order Sample
Man wearing a plain brown t-shirt and blue jeans standing against a neutral background.

Shakawear Apparel

Name: Drop Shoulder SHGD

Fit: Boxy,  Vintage

Weight: 7.5 oz

Order Sample
This is a photo of the AS Colour Classic Tee 5026 being worn my a male model.

AS Colour Classic

Name: Classic Tee 5026

Fit: Modern, Relaxed

Weight: 6.5 oz

Order Sample
Trending

Tonal Puff Screen Printing

Tonal puff screen printing is a technique that uses a custom Pantone ink color to match the garment's color. Tonal puff printing doesn't cost much more than standard puff printing, so it's an affordable screen print technique. Since it's puff ink it still works best on heavyweight garments like the options shown above. Check out these custom tonal puff screen printed lavender crewnecks we printed for the Kulti Clothing Brand.

Tonal Puff Screen Printing
Custom_Screen_Printed__Light_Purple_Tonal_Crewneck_With_3D_Puff_3
Custom_Screen_Printed__Light_Purple_Tonal_Crewneck_With_3D_Puff_2
    Our Youtube Channel

    Watch A Tonal Puff Screen Printing Video

    Check out this tonal puff screen printing video on our YouTube Page.

    Tips for Ordering
    Custom Puff Screen Printing

    Custom 3D puff screen printed merch is in high demand, but before adding it to your order, it’s important to determine if it’s the right fit for your project. Reviewing your designs and goals with your dedicated rep is a key step to ensuring a successful project.

    Choose Your Garment

    Garment selection is critical for puff screen printing. Heavyweight fabrics for hoodies should be at least 10oz and t-shirts should be at least 6.5oz. These fabric thicknesses provide the stability needed for the puff printing to expand properly.

    Prepare Your Artwork

    When it comes to puff printing, bold and simple designs are best.  A great tip is to isolate specific parts of the design to raise with puff screen print ink instead of applying it across the entire artwork. This selective use creates contrast and elevates the look.

    Know Your budget

    Custom puff printing is a bit more expensive than standard screen printing, so it's important to know your sell price and budget. Pricing depends on a few factors such as quantity, number of colors in the design, and printing locations. Your account rep will work with you to meet your budget.

    Plan Your Production

    Planning is essential when creating custom puff merchandise. We offer 24-hour service and our average turnaround is 7 to 10 business days, but advanced preparation ensures smoother production and allows for extra time to revise the design's details if needed.

    3D Screen Printing
      Retail Ready Services

      Upgrade Your Puff Screen Printing Order

      Retail Finishing

      Fold & Poly Bag

      Retail ready presentation.

      This is a photo of a custom hang tag for clothing brands and it's on a black t-shirt.

      Hang Tag

      Promote your brand's story.

      Woven Labels

      Professional appearance.

      Retail Finishing

      Sizing Sticker

      Easy to see.

      Screen Printing Puff Reviews

      Verified | January 2024

      Garment Decor created custom screen printing puff t-shirts, hats, and hoodies for our tennis club. We love the custom merch and appearance!

      Claremont Club

      Kim A. Owner

      Verified | April 2024

      We had a special event in Long Beach and needed custom screen printing puff t-shirts. With a Google search I found Garment Decor! Life savers!

      Vuori Clothing 

      Brenna A. Manager

      Verified | September S2024

      The Garment Decor team helped us create screen printing puff t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags for our VIP client. True life savers!

      Los Angeles Apparel

      Kara G. Manager
        Expert Help

        Frequent
        Questions About Puff Ink

        If there is anything we missed, please contact us:

        • Call (855) 942-7636
        • Email info@GarmentDecor.com
        • Visit 4778 W Mission Blvd. Montclair CA 91762 
        What fabrics can you screen print using the puff ink?

        We suggest only 100% cotton fabrics for the best results. If you'd like to decorate polyester, spandex, or blends then we'd encourage you to consider:

        What ink colors are available?

        We can screen print puff any color. But, keep in mind, that Pantone matching is difficult and not guaranteed. The ink color will appear lighter after application and the percentage is based on the:

        • Quality of the fabric
        • Type of dye to color the garment
        • Thickness of the fabric
        • The Pantone color itself

         

        Are there manufacturing challenges?

        Small details such as 10 point text can become difficult to read since the puff rises and "closes" in the transparent areas of the text. Therefore, we suggest creating artwork with large text and elements that won't be affected by this effect.

        Also, colors may experience a 5-10% dilution from their original hue and lose vibrancy as the ink expands.

        For a closer match to the original Pantone color, we recommend requesting minimal raise or not including puff ink.

        How should puff printed garments be washed?

        We strongly suggest washing any decorated garment inside out, with cold water, and hang dried or at least a low temperature in the dryer.

        The screen printing puff's lifespan largely depends on how well the person washes the garment, but the average is 35 to 50 washes before the print may crack and the color may fade.

        How accurate can 3d puff inks recreate artwork?

        3d puff inks can achieve approximately 80% of the sharp detail that is achieved with traditional non-puff screen printing.

        The expansion of puff inks both upwards and outwards softens sharp edges, resulting in a "raised pillow effect."

        Our sales reps will work with you to address this during your ordering process.

        Are samples before production available for puff screen printing?

        Yes, samples before production are standard on every order.

        Keep in mind, we send an artwork approval for you to approve and it's important you let us know if you have any concerns at that stage. Once we setup the machines and send the sample photo there are only a few changes we can make. 

        These changes include an ink change and the design's placement on the garment, but we are unable to change an element of the design since the machines have already been setup. 

        It's important you communicate with your sales rep about any concern you have before placing your custom screen printing puff order.

        Start the Conversation

        Connect With A Rep

        Whether you have questions, want to explore products, or interested in placing an order, our account reps are here to help. Let us guide you along.

        Connect With A Rep

        We look forward to speaking with you!

        Our average reply time is 2 hours.

        Start a Conversation
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        4778 W. Mission Blvd, Montclair CA 91762

        info@garmentdecor.com

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        We make merchandise for brands, businesses, and events.

        • 4778 W. Mission Blvd, Montclair CA 91762
        • Phone: (855) 942-7636
        • E-mail: info@garmentdecor.com

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