Blue Moose Designs provides high-quality screen printing services for garments, signage, and specialty substrates. Using professional-grade equipment, precision mesh screens, and premium inks, our team produces vibrant, durable prints with exacting detail. We offer a range of standard and specialty printing methods designed to meet both creative and performance requirements.

Screen Printing Techniques & Effects

• Standard Plastisol Printing: The most common and versatile ink type, offering vivid color and durability on cotton and cotton-blend fabrics.
• Water-Based Printing: Produces an ultra-soft feel with breathable results; best on 100% cotton or light-colored garments. Eco-friendly with a matte finish.
• Discharge Printing: Uses a chemical process to remove dye from cotton fabrics, replacing it with pigment for an ultra-soft, vintage look.
• Neon & Fluorescent Inks: High-visibility, UV-reactive inks for bold color effects and promotional applications.
• FR (Flame-Resistant) Printing: Printed using NFPA 2112 / ASTM-compliant inks and bonding methods that maintain the protective integrity of flame-resistant garments. These inks are specially formulated for use on FR-rated fabrics such as Nomex® and treated cottons.
• Puff Printing: Expanding additive mixed into plastisol ink to create a raised, 3D texture. Perfect for logos and stylized designs.
• Metallic, Glitter & Shimmer Inks: Contain reflective or metallic particles for enhanced visual appeal under light or stage conditions.
• Special Effects: Suede, glow-in-the-dark, high-density, clear gel, and other texture-based finishes available upon request.

Artwork & File Requirements

• All artwork should be submitted in vector format (AI, EPS, or PDF) or as a high-resolution raster image (300 DPI minimum at print size).
• Designs requiring color separations must have spot colors clearly labeled. Raster images should be flattened and sized correctly to avoid scaling artifacts.
• Convert all fonts to outlines to prevent substitution.
• Include at least 1/8” bleed for edge-to-edge artwork and allow for safe zones around seams and collars.
• Blue Moose Designs is not responsible for quality issues resulting from low-resolution or improperly formatted artwork files provided by the customer.

Color Matching & Variations

• We use professional ink mixing systems (e.g., Wilflex, Union, Rutland) to match colors as closely as possible to provided samples or Pantone references.
• Exact Pantone® matches may vary slightly due to fabric texture, garment dye, or base color absorption.
• Specialty inks such as metallic, neon, and puff may reflect light differently depending on viewing angle and substrate, resulting in natural variation.
• Underbase (white ink) may be required on dark garments to achieve accurate color appearance, which can affect hand feel.

Print Placement & Tolerances

• Print placement tolerance is ±1/8” from requested location due to natural garment movement during production.
• Image alignment on multi-color or multi-location prints may vary slightly due to stretch, shrinkage, or manual registration limits.
• Screen printed colors may shift subtly between print runs or fabric lots due to dye variance — this is standard within industry tolerances.

Curing & Durability

• All prints are heat-cured to ensure maximum adhesion and wash resistance.
• Standard plastisol prints are cured between 320°F–330°F depending on ink type and substrate.
• FR inks and specialty effects may require custom cure profiles for safety and performance.
• Improper laundering, ironing over prints, or use of bleach can damage ink surfaces and void warranties.

Garment Limitations

• Natural fibers like cotton accept ink most effectively; blends or performance fabrics may exhibit reduced opacity or texture variation.
• Garments with waterproof coatings, heavy texture, or sublimated patterns may require testing or alternate application methods (such as heat transfer or DTF).
• Blue Moose Designs reserves the right to refuse printing on materials that may not yield consistent results or risk damage to equipment.

Care Instructions

• Turn garments inside out before washing.
• Machine wash cold with mild detergent; do not bleach.
• Tumble dry on low heat or hang dry for best longevity.
• Do not iron directly over printed areas.

Quality Control & Liability

Each order undergoes multiple inspection points to ensure color consistency, alignment, and print quality. Minor variations in print texture, sheen, or placement are expected due to garment variability and manual production processes. These differences are within commercial screen printing standards and are not considered defects.

Blue Moose Designs will repair or replace any confirmed production defect in accordance with our Guarantee and Returns Policy. Blue Moose Designs is not liable for printing errors on customer-supplied garments or for damages caused by laundering outside the recommended care instructions.