How long before a national day should I order?

Order two to three weeks before the date. A typical custom-print order takes one to two weeks from artwork approval to delivery, so the extra week absorbs artwork revisions.

Can I send a picture from the web as print artwork?

Not as-is — it will print blurred. Web images are usually 72 dpi, while print artwork must be prepared at 300 dots per inch at final size.

Which method for a small one-off run?

DTG suits small one-off runs better than screen, because screen needs a separate screen for each colour. Heat transfer also works for small batches.

Will the ink work on a polyester blend shirt?

Only if it is formulated for synthetics. Cotton takes screen-print plastisol and DTG inks well, but polyester blends need dyes or inks made for synthetic fabric.

Order early, print right

National Day Love — Custom Holiday Apparel | nationaldaylove.com

National Day Love is a guide to custom apparel printing for holidays: screen printing, which descends from Song-dynasty stencilling, DTG inkjet and heat transfer compared, artwork rules that survive the press, and order timing planned backwards from dates like 4 July, 14 July and 17 March. A custom-print order typically takes one to two weeks from artwork approval to delivery, so the safe move is to order two to three weeks before the holiday.

A map of this guide's sections

Pick the method first

Screen printing descends from stencilling used in China during the Song dynasty, before 1300. Today the choice between screen, DTG and heat transfer turns on quantity, colour count and fabric — decide that before opening the artwork file.

Build artwork at print size

Files are prepared at 300 dpi at final size; 72 dpi web images print blurred. Keep text vector where the method allows, and match the ink to cotton or polyester blend before the design is locked.

Count backwards from the date

Production runs one to two weeks from artwork approval to delivery. Order two to three weeks before the holiday — 14 July, 4 July or 17 March — to keep rush fees off the calendar.

Which print method fits your run?

Screen printing, DTG and heat transfer each win on different quantities and colour counts.

Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil onto the garment. Each colour needs its own screen, so cost per shirt falls as quantity grows — large runs of a single design are where it pays off.

Direct-to-garment printing, DTG, is an inkjet process that lays full-colour artwork straight onto the fabric. Commercial DTG printers appeared in the early 2000s, and the method suits small one-off runs where setting up screens would not make sense.

Heat-transfer printing applies a printed film to the garment with a heat press at roughly 150–180 degrees Celsius for 10–20 seconds. It works well for small batches and for placements that are awkward to screen.

Large run, few colours → screen printing
Small one-off run, full colour → DTG
Small batch, film-based artwork → heat transfer

Order two to three weeks before the holiday and the one-to-two-week production window never becomes a rush fee.

Method comparison

Print methods compared on colour handling, run size, durability and cost pattern
Method	Colour handling	Best run size	Cost pattern
Screen printing	One screen per colour	Large runs	Cheaper per shirt as quantity grows
Direct-to-garment (DTG)	Full colour, no screens	Small one-off runs	Flat per-shirt cost
Heat transfer	Printed film applied by press	Small batches	Per-piece film cost
Artwork resolution	300 dpi at final size	All methods	72 dpi web images print blurred
Heat press settings	150–180 °C	10–20 seconds	Film applied under pressure
Cotton fabric	Plastisol and DTG inks	All methods	Takes ink well
Polyester blend	Synthetics-formulated inks	Method-specific	Needs dyes for synthetics

Print methods compared on colour handling, run size, durability and cost pattern

Common questions

How long before a national day should I order?: Order two to three weeks before the date. A typical custom-print order takes one to two weeks from artwork approval to delivery, so the extra week absorbs artwork revisions.
Can I send a picture from the web as print artwork?: Not as-is — it will print blurred. Web images are usually 72 dpi, while print artwork must be prepared at 300 dots per inch at final size.
Which method for a small one-off run?: DTG suits small one-off runs better than screen, because screen needs a separate screen for each colour. Heat transfer also works for small batches.
Will the ink work on a polyester blend shirt?: Only if it is formulated for synthetics. Cotton takes screen-print plastisol and DTG inks well, but polyester blends need dyes or inks made for synthetic fabric.