Screen Printing Guide

Here at SeaSide SilksScreening, we use the latest non-phthalate color mixing system, designed with an enhanced pigment technology for the best color saturation available.

Choose from one our stock 52 pantones colors, specitalty inks or custom PMS have added fees.

NOTICE
When matching colors to any of the swatches, please make sure to reference a proper PMS formula guide or color wheel. Web browsers and digital screens do not accurately depict the true color. Our artist and production team uses Pantones "Solid Coated" Formula Guide.

Stock Colors

Specific Colors or Brands?

Are you looking for a specific PMS match for your screen print design that is not listed in Purity Print’s stock inks

Select any of the 1,867 coated colors listed in most PANTONE® guides and it can be mixed using a state-of-the-art mixing system.

Screen Print Techniques

  • Underlay – A print that has a base of white, providing you with a bright, vibrant and contrasting color, even on dark garments.
  • No Underlay – A print that does not have a white base, resulting in a duller print and the ink color not being a true PMS match, especially on darker garments.
  • Vintage – A thin print with a worn looking print created by cutting back ink flow and using no underlay.
  • Distressing – A print that has an aged look that is created graphically, not using print techniques.

  • INK WITH UNDERLAY

  • INK WITHOUT UNDERLAY

  • VINTAGE PRINT

Getting More Colors

Halftoning

Halftone screen printing uses varied, small dots to create gradients, shades, and photorealistic images on apparel using only one or two ink colors



1 color, Multiple Halftones

SINGLE COLOR HALFTONE

Looking for a one-color design with intricate details of shadows or depth?

Consider printing with halftones: varying sized dots that appear to be different shades to the eye.

Advance Techniques

  • Four Color Process:

    If you have white colored garments in need of complex decoration, consider using CYMK: the specially formulated, semi-transparent inks in the colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black produce complex designs in the form of halftones.

  • Simulated Process:

    For complex graphics with many colors, Simulated Process will allow for accurate reproduction of highly detailed, digital graphics with vivid colors and a soft-hand feel. Using halftones and fully opaque inks, this technique will result in a tremendous amount of detail on light and dark colored garments.

Art Requirements for Screen Printing

Spot Color – Screen Printing

The acceptable art files vary depending on the screen print method that you choose. Please see the following for the requirements for each method available.

NOTE: Purity Print requires adobe files, if you create in Corel Draw, we ask that you please convert your file to a .pdf before sending. Due to the differences in Corel and Adobe, some of the art may not translate as it should. Once you convert it to a .pdf, we recommend that you take a look at the design before you send it to ensure the proper translation occurs. If there are discrepancies in the conversion, it may require art time and charges to prepare the file for print.

Acceptable file types: .EPS, .ai, .pdf, .svg

  • All content must be vector, not raster
  • All strokes must be converted to outlines.
  • All text must also be converted to outlines.
  • All photographic elements (such as distressing effects that are often made with raster elements) must be embedded with the file, not linked.
  • All art must be sent at actual size or sizing must be specified in Purchase Order.
  • All must be rendered using Coated PMS colors from Purity Print Stock Colors unless a custom PMS is required.

Non-Acceptable file types: .PSD, .JPEG/JFIF, .JPEG2000, .Exif, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG, .PPM, .PGM, .PBM, .PNM, .WebP, .HDR, .HEIF, .BAT, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .TIF

Four Color (CMYK) Process

NOTE: Purity Print requires adobe files, if you create in Corel Draw, we ask that you please convert your file to a .pdf before sending. Due to the differences in Corel and Adobe, some of the art may not translate as it should. Once you convert it to a .pdf, we recommend that you take a look at the design before you send it to ensure the proper translation occurs. If there are discrepancies in the conversion, it may require art time and charges to prepare the file for print.

Acceptable file types: .EPS, .ai, .pdf, .svg, .jpg, .png

  • File must be true to size with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
  • Color space of files must be RGB, CMYK, or Grayscale.

Non-acceptable file types: .Exif, .GIF, .BMP,.PPM, .PGM, .PBM, .PNM, .WebP, .HDR, .HEIF, .BAT, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .TIF

Simulated Process

NOTE: Purity Print requires adobe files, if you create in Corel Draw, we ask that you please convert your file to a .pdf before sending. Due to the differences in Corel and Adobe, some of the art may not translate as it should. Once you convert it to a .pdf, we recommend that you take a look at the design before you send it to ensure the proper translation occurs. If there are discrepancies in the conversion, it may require art time and charges to prepare the file for print.

Acceptable file types: .EPS, .ai, .pdf, .svg, .jpg, .png

  • Art must be sent at actual size or sizing must be specified in Purchase order with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
  • Color space of files must be RGB, CMYK, or Grayscale.
  • Colors must be rendered using Coated PMS colors from Purity Print Stock Colors unless a custom PMS is required.

Non-acceptable file types: .Exif, .GIF, .BMP,.PPM, .PGM, .PBM, .PNM, .WebP, .HDR, .HEIF, .BAT, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .TIF

Print Area and Dimensions

Some common print areas and locations, May not be applicable to all garments. Some tolerance is allowed

  • Full Front Print Adult

    Max size: 13.5 x 15.5 inches

    Position: 2.5 inches down from collar

    Notes: Based of a regular T-shirt
    Hoodies, V-Necks, Tanks, and other unsual garments will have different max sizes

  • Full Back Print Adult

    Max size: 13.5 x 15.5 inches

    Position: 3 inches down from collar

    Notes: Hoodies have a lower position due to the hood covering some of the design

  • Small Chest (FLC/RFC) Adult

    Max size: 3.75 x 3.75

    Position: 2.5 inches down from collar

    Notes: Based on regular T-shirt
    Other garments will have different positions and alignments to best suit small chest position

  • Pocket Adult

    Max size: 3 x 3 inches

    Position: Centered

    Notes: May not apply to pockets and is a general advisory based off a basic pocket T-shirt

  • Yoke Adult

    Max size: 3 x 3 Inches

    Position: 1 inches down from collar

  • Short Sleeve Adult

    Max size: 3.5 x 4 inches

    Position: 0.5″ up from seam

  • Long Sleeve Adult

    Max size: 3.5 x 15.5 inches

    Position: Centered on sleeve

  • Tags Adult

    Max size: 2.75 x 2.5 inches

    Position: 0.5″ down from seam

  • Full front Print Youth

    Max size: 9 x 12 Inches

    Position: 2 inches down from collar

    Notes: Based on Small Youth shirt.
    Youth Hoodies and other garments may have smaller size limitations

  • Full back print Youth

    Max size: 9 x 12 Inches

    Position: 2.5 inches down from collar

    Notes: Based on Small Youth shirt.
    Youth Hoodies and other garments may have different positions.

  • Small Chest (FLC/RFC) Youth

    Max size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches

    Position: 2 inches down from collar

    Notes: Based on regular T-shirt Other garments will have different positions and alignments to best suit small chest position

  • Short Sleeve Youth

    Max size: 3.5″w X 3″h

    Position: 0.5″ up from seam

  • Long Sleeve  Youth

    Max size: 3.5″w X 14″h

    Position: Centered on sleeve

    Notes: Smaller youth sizes may not on standard printing boards.

  • Tags Youth

    Max size: 2.75″w X 2.5″h

    Position: 0.5″ down from seam