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HOW TO Create EYE-CATCHING Headwear

You might want to hang on to your hat….

You’ll be blown away at how many custom options are available!

At Progress Printing, we LOVE creating headwear that stands out from the crowd.

Whether you’re just trying to improve the hat you’ve already got, or start from scratch – our team know how to turn your ideas into reality.

What we can offer:

  • A full package that includes design, samples, production, and delivery of your special order. All you have to do is ask.

  • A large selection of ready-to-print Headwear options – these are the products you see listed on our website.

  • Custom services which allow you to build your perfect piece of headwear from scratch. The options are endless when it comes to custom headwear – choose from a wide range of styles, colours, and decoration options.

Customisation


There is nothing more exciting to clients than a custom piece of headwear. We can offer custom options for every aspect of your cap, hat or beanie, and more importantly, we love doing it!

The following diagrams show every aspect of a cap that can be customised.

So, if you don’t see the options, style or colours you want on our website, get in touch about custom options, and we will be eager to help!

Common Decoration Techniques


Screen Printing

Screen printing is the process of pressing ink through a stencilled mesh screen to create a printed design. Screen printing is great for designs that need to be repeated, as the stencil can be used again and again to replicate the artwork in a different position. Screen printing is effective if:

  • You need bright, vibrant colours such as fluro, metallic gold and silver.
  • You need a close PMS colour match
  • You have artwork to be repeated
  • You need a low-cost job for high volumes

Heat Transfer

A heat transfer, also known as a digital transfer, involves printing your design onto transfer paper and then ink is thermally transferred from the paper to your fabric using heat and pressure. The heat transfer is best suited for:

  • Digital photography prints with fine details
  • High quality colour prints

Embroidery

In this decoration method, artwork is stitched onto a hat, creating an embroidered design with a three-dimensional feel. It is the most common and most popular decoration method for headwear. Available in both 3D and 2D options. It is great because:

  • It’s suitable for thicker garments
  • Long-lasting and durable
  • Premium appearance

Badging

There are a number of different types of badge options available, including embroidered badges, PVC badges, Supasub, Supatech, Supaflex badges and metal badges. There are sew on, iron on, stick on and velcro backings available, depending on which type of badge you are after. Badges are ideal because:

  • They are long-lasting and durable
  • Premium appearance
  • Suitable for thicker garments

Debossing

Debossing is when an image, text or logo is imprinted onto a hat, creating a depressed effect. The debossed area can be left blank or can be infilled with colour. Debossing is a less common decoration method for headwear, but nonetheless a highly effective and eye-catching way to go. The advantages of debossing are:

  • Long lasting
  • Premium appearance
  • Great for simple logos and designs

Tips & Tricks


Samples

Your business may feel apprehensive about placing an order with Progress Printing, as many of our headwear products have a large minimum order quantity (MOQ) on them. We understand that this can be daunting, and that it’s important you feel confident with the quality of the finished product.

This is why we offer product samples.

Product samples are usually just one unit of an item you are interested in purchasing. We offer three different types of product samples – factory samples, custom samples and digital mock-ups.

Factory Samples:

Factory samples are blank products that are sitting in our warehouse ready to be shipped. These samples are a great option if you are just looking to assess the style, quality and fit of a product, without any added customisation. These samples are usually free, and can be shipped very quickly.

Custom Samples:

Custom samples are samples that we produce for you, branded with any custom specifications you request. These are a great option if you want to see a pre-production sample of the finished product. Most custom samples will incur a cost that will vary due to the custom nature of each order, so to find out how much yours will cost, consult one of our team members for a quote.

Digital Mock-ups:

Digital mock-ups can be created to show a digital image of the final product. The image will show all custom details, including colour codes and a full product description. These can be provided for free on request.

Design

We know how difficult it can be to create the perfect design yourself – especially if you don’t have access to designer programs. This is why we offer a design service for a small fee that will ensure your headwear looks the best it possibly can. Our experienced designer will work with you to create the design you have in mind – and will even throw in her 2 cents of imagination!

Check out our custom designs!

Lucy Kirk

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