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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 ink 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.
Examples of how you can make your own 3d puff t-shirts & hoodies.
3D puff screen printing, also known as "raised 3D ink" or "puff 3D screen prints" has been a popular trend for decades. But, there's more to consider than popularity when printing. So, to help you decide whether to include puff ink in your design or not, we created this guide.
| Features: | Traditional Flat Screen Printing | 3D Puff Ink Screen Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Print Speed | 650+ garments per hour | 400 garments per hour |
| Fabric Suitability | 100% cotton, 100% poly, & blends | 100% cotton only |
| Fabric Weight | Nearly any garment fabric weight | 6.oz t-shirts and 10oz hoodies or higher |
| Print Process | Standard procedure | Puff additive is mixed into the ink then applied |
| Set-up Time & Cost | $30 per screen and faster setup | $30 additional per screen & slower setup |
| Color Accuracy | Available Pantone (PMS) matching | Not available for Pantone (PMS) matching |
| Loss of Vibrancy? | None | Around 5-10% loss |
| Design Limitation | Great for all artwork | Small text and details will be lost |
| Maximum Colors | Up to 12 colors | More than 2 colors per design is not suggested |
Our custom 3d puff screen printing services are designed to last at least 50 washes before you may see signs of color fading and ink cracking. Please note, that this largely depends on how customers wash their garments. The ideal technique is to wash in cold water and hang dry for the best results.
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.
Check out this tonal puff screen printing video on our YouTube Page.
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!
An account rep requires a minimum order of 50 pieces to process your order.
Style: HF09
Fit: Pigment Washed No Laces, Drop Shoulder
Weight: 14 oz
Style: LS16001
Fit: Drop Shoulder, Pigment Wash, No Laces.
Weight: 10 oz
Style: IND420XD
Fit: Drop Shoulder, No Laces, Heavyweight
Weight: 12.5 oz
Style: IND4000
Soft, Great For Screen Printing, Popular For Brands
Weight: 10 oz
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!
An account rep requires a minimum order of 50 pieces to process your order.
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.
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 3d puff prints.
Bold and simple designs are best for 3d screen prints. Keep in mind that the artwork will rise and this may result in small text and details being lost inside the puff print.
Custom puff printing is more expensive than standard screen printing, so it's important to know your budget. Your account rep will work with you to plan accordingly.
Planning is essential when creating custom puff merchandise. Proper preparation ensures smooth production and time to revise the design's details if needed.
Remember that production is based on the quote and artwork email you approve. It's important to ask for changes at this stage which is before production begins.
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!
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!
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!
If there is anything we missed, please contact us:
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:
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:
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.
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 customer washes the garment, but the average is 50 washes before the print may crack and the color may fade.
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.
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.
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.
An account rep requires a minimum order of 50 pieces to process your order.
Our average reply time is 2 hours.
We make merchandise for brands, businesses, and events.
4778 W. Mission Blvd, Montclair CA 91762 
Phone: (855) 942-7636 
E-mail: info@garmentdecor.com Categories
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