Apparel & Merch Guides

Latest Apparel Merch Guides

All Apparel Merch Guides

What Is Direct-to-Garment Printing?

What Is Direct-to-Garment Printing?

Direct to garment (DTG) printing jets ink into the fabric of a shirt like an inkjet, so learn how DTG works, what it costs and how to order custom tees.

Jordan Kim
How to Make Merch for Your Brand, Step by Step

How to Make Merch for Your Brand, Step by Step

How to make merch for your brand in five steps: set goals, choose products people use, design them, price the line, and order a first run from 4OVER4.COM.

Jordan Kim
Custom Cap Printing Explained, From Embroidery to Heat Transfers

Custom Cap Printing Explained, From Embroidery to Heat Transfers

Cap decoration explained: embroidery, 3D puff, heat transfers and patches, the seams that limit artwork, placement sizes and what bulk orders cost.

Jordan Kim
How to Put a Logo on Cotton, From Totes and Tees to Cotton Cards

How to Put a Logo on Cotton, From Totes and Tees to Cotton Cards

Cotton logo products split into fabric and cotton paper, with the print method that holds on each, why sublimation fails on cotton and what a run costs.

Jordan Kim
Custom Twist Pens That Write Well and Print Clean

Custom Twist Pens That Write Well and Print Clean

What a twist pen imprint area holds, how pad printing and laser engraving differ, which ink and refill to specify, and the minimums suppliers quote.

Jordan Kim
Custom Work Jackets With Logo, Without Ruining the Shell

Custom Work Jackets With Logo, Without Ruining the Shell

Embroidery or heat transfer for branded work jackets, the placement sizes that read at distance, what hi-vis ratings allow, and sizing a crew run once.

Sofia Ramirez
Custom Branded Merch That People Actually Keep and Use

Custom Branded Merch That People Actually Keep and Use

Compare popular company merch, from stickers and buttons to mugs, totes, tees and keychains, by starting price, minimum run and standard turnaround.

Jordan Kim
Custom Printed Clothing and How to Pick the Right Print Method

Custom Printed Clothing and How to Pick the Right Print Method

Screen printing, DTG and vinyl compared for custom printed clothing, plus cotton versus blends, print sizes, minimums and where each method fails.

Jordan Kim
How to Choose a Promotional Product Supplier That Delivers On Time

How to Choose a Promotional Product Supplier That Delivers On Time

What to ask a promotional product supplier about in house decoration, item minimums, setup charges per color and location, and a real in hand date.

Jordan Kim
How to Choose an Apparel Printing Company That Gets Your Order Right

How to Choose an Apparel Printing Company That Gets Your Order Right

What to ask an apparel printing company before you order, from decoration method and blank style numbers to setup per color, samples and reorder matching.

Jordan Kim
How to Create Custom Merchandise for Your Business Without Overordering

How to Create Custom Merchandise for Your Business Without Overordering

Choose custom merchandise your business can hand out, order the right quantity, prep one logo per substrate, and compare real 4OVER4 starting prices.

Jordan Kim
How to Design Custom Printed Mugs People Reach For Daily

How to Design Custom Printed Mugs People Reach For Daily

Design a printed mug that survives the wrap: template sizes, handle safe zones, photo resolution, panel layouts, and custom mugs printed from $20.86.

Jordan Kim
Jordan Kim, 4OVER4 labels, packaging and sustainability voice (illustration)
Jordan Kim Labels, Packaging & Sustainability Editor at 4OVER4.COM

Jordan is our labels, packaging and sustainability voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.

Printing on a shirt, mug, or tote is nothing like printing on paper, the method (screen, DTF, or DTG), the fabric, and how it survives a wash all shape how your art should be prepared. These guides break down those choices so your merch looks sharp on day one and still looks good after the fiftieth wear.

Print Areas and Blanks We Stock

Size your artwork to the product before you pick a print method. Our T-Shirts print an 8.5 x 11 inch area, start at $21.96 for a single shirt and ship in 5 business days. Mugs come in 11 oz with an 8.5 x 3 inch wraparound area or 15 oz with a 9 x 4 inch area, from $20.86 for one. Tote Bags are 6 oz cotton canvas at 14.5 x 16 inches, printed on one side or both, from $22.73 with a 7 business day turnaround.

Build a full front file at 300 DPI to the print area and keep text inside it. The t-shirt print size guide lists every placement in inches, cm and pixels, and the vinyl versus screen printing guide compares the two methods on color, feel and cost for your run size.

No Eco Surcharge Switch to a recycled or FSC stock and the price updates live. The greener choice adds no extra fee. Choose a Stock →
FSC Certified Printer #C013635
G7 Certified Color Accuracy
25+ Years Since 1999
150,000+ Businesses Served