Common Questions (FAQ’s)

All Custom Gear stands out because we handle every part of the process in-house — including screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, and digital printing. By keeping production under one roof, we deliver faster turnaround times, consistent quality, and guaranteed on-time delivery. Whether you need custom t-shirts, embroidered polos, team uniforms, or branded merchandise, our experienced team helps you find the best printing solution for your needs. Located in the Seattle–Tacoma area, we’re your one-stop shop for high-quality custom apparel and promotional products.

Apparel orders over $300 ship free anywhere in the continental United States. Some restrictions or exceptions may apply depending on the products or destination. We also provide fast and affordable delivery for customers throughout Washington, including Federal Way, Tacoma, Kent, Auburn, Puyallup, and Seattle.

Whether you have a rough sketch, an existing logo, or just an idea, we can help get your artwork ready for printing or embroidery. We also have templates available for simple, budget-friendly designs.

All orders and artwork is saved for 5 calendar years. If artwork is used on an order, it’s archive date is extended an extra 5 calendar years.

If artwork preparation fees were applied to your order, you can request a copy of your artwork files, and we’ll provide them within one business day.

Businesses with an open account and a primary focus in the promotional products industry may qualify for wholesale pricing. Please note that retail incentives such as free shipping do not apply to wholesale orders.

In some cases, yes. We offer imprint services on customer-supplied garments during slower times of the year, but all items must be reviewed before we can accept them. Please note that garments with a retail value of $30 or more are not eligible. We recommend contacting us before purchasing or bringing in your own items.

Turn your garment inside out.
Fill your washing machine with cold water.
Use the correct amount of soap.
Use the gentle cycle on your washing machine.
Air dry your garment or use the LOW heat setting on your dryer.

A raster file is made up of thousands of tiny pixels that create detailed images, making it ideal for photos and complex designs. However, these files don’t scale well—when enlarged, they can lose sharpness and appear blurry or “pixelated.” Raster files also often require more cleanup or editing before they’re ready for high-quality printing or embroidery. Common raster formats include JPG, PNG, and TIFF.

Vector artwork is created using points and paths rather than pixels, allowing the design to be resized or adjusted to any scale without losing quality. It’s ideal for clean, simple graphics like logos and text-based designs. Vector files also support all major color systems such as Pantone, CMYK, and RGB, making them excellent for accurate color matching across various imprint methods. Because of their precision, vector files give printers the best foundation for reproducing a design exactly as intended.

Orders are not restricted to ordering the same garment. Customers can mix styles and colors to achieve each minimum quantity (Within reason).

• Embroidery:
  • 12 Pieces – Standard garments
  • 3 Pieces – “Bigger” ticket brands
    (Carhartt, North Face, OutDoor Research, TravisMathews)
• Screen Printing
  • 12 Pieces – Standard garments
• DTG / DTF Printing
  • 12 Pieces – Standard garments
• Customer Supplied Garments – Contact us.

Orders are not restricted to ordering the same garment. Customers can mix styles and colors to achieve each minimum quantity.

• Embroidery:
  • Logo is stitched onto a piece of fabric and submitted for approval.
  • Once stitched sample approved – Final / Digital proof submitted for approval
  • Actual embroidered garment sample available for certain orders – Contact us for details.
• Screen Printing
  • Digital proof submitted for approval.
  • Actual screen printed garment sample available for high volume orders only – Contact us for details.
• DTG / DTF Printing
  • Digital proof submitted for approval.
  • Actual screen printed garment sample available for high volume orders only – Contact us for details.
• Customer Supplied Garments – Contact us.

Some manufacturers include a condition of sale that allows for up to 5% of an order not to be delivered due to production errors or quality control issues. This small variance is standard in the industry and accounts for potential defects or misprints during manufacturing.

For products produced in-house, we do not impose a 5% under-run requirement. Our production process is designed to account for discrepancies and ensure accurate order fulfillment. If an unexpected issue or delay arises, we contact the customer immediately to provide an update and solution.

Orders can be canceled any time before the proof is approved. However, cancellation costs may apply, including labor, shipping, and supplier restocking fees—typically around 20% of the item’s MSRP. Any applicable fees must be paid before a refund or credit can be issued.

The size of the logo is solely up to the customer but are standard canvas sizes are listed below:

• Crest / Badge size: 4″ x 4″
  (Average badge size = 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″)
• Caps / Hats size: 4 1/2″ x 2 1/4″ canvas size
  (Cap Average size = 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″)
• Visors: 3 1/2″ x 3/4″ Canvas size
  (Visor Average size = 2″ x 3/4″)
• Full Size Chest / Back: 11″ x 11″ Canvas size

You can send almost any type of artwork, from a rough sketch to a finished digital logo. Our team will convert your design into a stitch file specifically formatted for embroidery. High-resolution files or vector artwork are preferred, but if you only have a basic image or drawing, we can usually make it work.

Digitizing is the process of converting your logo or artwork into a special file that tells our embroidery machines how to stitch it. This file maps out the stitch type, direction, and color sequence needed to accurately reproduce your design on garments or caps.

Once your logo has been digitized, there are no additional setup costs for future embroidery orders, as long as the design and size remain the same. Simple changes such as color adjustments, adding text, or adding individual names typically do not require new digitizing fees.

The main factor that affects embroidery cost is the amount of time it takes to stitch your design. This is measured by the “stitch count,” which represents how many stitches are required to complete the logo. Most designs fall within a standard stitch range and are priced the same. If a design exceeds that range, a small additional charge may be added to cover the extra production time.

When a logo hasn’t been digitized, we estimate the stitch count based on the design’s complexity and size. This estimate represents a worst-case scenario for the initial order. If the actual stitch count ends up being higher, we honor the lower quoted price. If it’s lower, we adjust the price down to match the correct rate. After your first order, all future quotes are based on the confirmed stitch count. This approach ensures you always know your final cost upfront—no surprises once production begins.

We can usually match Pantone colors within a few shades. However, exact color matches aren’t always possible since embroidery thread is available in a limited range of colors. Our team will select the closest available thread shade to ensure your logo looks as consistent as possible across all garments.

We offer stock fonts and pre-made templates that can help reduce or eliminate digitizing costs. Some templates may include a small setup fee, but this option is typically more affordable than creating a fully custom logo from scratch.

The size of the logo is solely up to the customer but are standard canvas sizes are listed below:

• Front Crest / Badge size: 15″ x 18″ canvas size
  (Badge average size = 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″)
• Front Full Chest size: 15″ x 18″ canvas size
  (Front Chest Average size = 10″ x 10″)
• Back Full Back size: 15″ x 18″ canvas size
  (Front Chest Average size = 12″ x 14″)
• Short Sleeve size: 3″ x 5″ Canvas size
  (Short Sleeve Average size = 3″ x 3″)
• Long Sleeve size: 3″ x 18″ Canvas size
  (Long Sleeve Average size = 3″ x 12″)

In screen printing, each color in your design requires its own screen to be created and mounted on the press. This process is called screen prep and plays a big role in determining setup costs—the more colors in your design, the more screens needed. However, when we provide quotes, you won’t hear us talk about screen prep separately. We give you an all-inclusive price that covers everything—screens, printing, and garments—so your total cost is clear and easy to understand. Some screen printers separate these charges, but we believe a single, straightforward price is the best approach.

No. We don’t sell or release screens created for customer orders. Screens are reused and maintained in-house as part of our production process.

No. Once a garment has been screen printed, the ink is permanently bonded to the fabric and can’t be removed. In some cases, minor fixes are possible. The most practical options are to cover the area with an embroidered patch or apply a vinyl patch using heat press. These methods can help conceal or replace the printed section, but the original print itself cannot be erased.

Screen printing costs are primarily determined by the number of colors in your design. For example, a red, white, and blue logo would count as a three-color print. Designs that use special effects, metallic inks, or require an extra underbase layer may have a slightly higher price due to added setup and printing time.

Yes. We can match almost any Pantone color to achieve your desired look. Please provide the Pantone Coated (C) color code when placing your order to ensure the most accurate color match.

Screen printing can be done responsibly. While water-based inks are a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastisol inks, the overall environmental impact mostly depends on how the production process is managed. We use eco-friendly, biodegradable cleaning chemicals and handle all inks responsibly.

The size of the logo is solely up to the customer but are standard canvas sizes are listed below:

• Front Crest / Badge size: 5″ x 5″ canvas size
  (Badge average size = 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″)
• Front Full Chest size: 14″ x 16″ canvas size
  (Front Chest Average size = 10″ x 10″)
• Back Full Back size: 14″ x 16″ canvas size
  (Front Chest Average size = 12″ x 14″)
• Short Sleeve size: 3″ x 5″ Canvas size
  (Short Sleeve Average size = 3″ x 3″)
• Long Sleeve size: 3″ x 18″ Canvas size
  (Long Sleeve Average size = 3″ x 12″)

DTG stands for direct-to-garment printing. It’s a process where specialized inks are sprayed directly onto the fabric, allowing for detailed, full-color designs. DTG printers work much like a standard inkjet printer—using a moving printhead that prints the image line by line directly onto the garment. This method is ideal for detailed artwork, small orders, and designs with many colors or gradients.

Screen printing is best for larger orders and offers lower unit costs, vibrant colors, and excellent durability. DTG printing, on the other hand, is ideal for smaller quantities or detailed, multi-color designs. It requires little setup, can print from lower-quality images, and uses environmentally friendly inks. DTG printing provides exceptional clarity and smooth color gradients, making it a great option for complex or photo-style artwork.

During the Direct to Garment (DTG) printing process, an eco-friendly pretreatment solution is applied to the fabric before printing. This helps the ink bond properly to the garment. In some cases, a light haze or slightly rough texture may remain after printing, but it’s completely harmless and temporary. The residue washes out easily with tap water and won’t affect other clothing in the wash.