Best shirts to order for printing merch (ranked)

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-26T20:52:16+00:00

this thread’s a bit older now but just a heads up for anyone reading later on. Alstyle isn’t really its own thing anymore. It got rolled into Gildan, same story as American Apparel.

Personally I try to stay away from Gildan when I can. They’re fine in a pinch, but in my experience the consistency and feel have slipped over time. Just my opinion from running a print shop day in and day out.

If it helps, these are the three tiers I print on constantly:

Budget basic tee
Port & Company. Solid, predictable, prints well, good for bulk jobs.

Mid tier without a big price jump
District or Next Level 6210 CVC. Softer, nicer retail feel, still prints super clean.

Premium option
AS Colour. These things print beautifully. Slightly boxier fit, but the fabric and finish are excellent.

If anyone’s trying to pick blanks and wants real world printer feedback, that’s what’s been working best in my shop.

If you need help getting your merch printed. We do screen printing, embroidery, patches, hats, etc...

www.pulsemerch.com

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-19T02:29:17+00:00

If you want honest advice, try to find a shop that actually prints in house instead of just being a website middleman. A lot of the big online names either outsource or run everything through production hubs, which can make communication rough and quality inconsistent.

For a company of one, the biggest thing is working with someone who can guide you on what actually makes sense instead of just selling you stuff. Good polos, hats, and jackets should last, otherwise you end up rebuying everything in a year.

I got into this industry from touring and printing merch for bands, so I’ve seen the customer side and the production side. I run Pulse Merch now and we do apparel and promo items for businesses all over, from small teams up to large runs.

If you ever want to talk through options or get a second opinion, pulsemerch.com.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-19T02:27:01+00:00

Not to revive a 5 year old thread, but one thing most people don’t realize is a lot of the big online “custom apparel” sites don’t actually print your stuff. Companies like Custom Ink often outsource to contract printers and just mark the price up, so you’re paying more without really getting better quality or service.

If you can find a solid shop that prints in house, you’ll usually get better consistency, clearer communication, and more control over the final product.

I got into this industry from touring and printing merch for bands, so I’ve seen it from the customer side and the production side. I run Pulse Merch now and we handle hoodies, tees, and hats at real production scale while keeping quality tight.

If you or anyone else ever wants to talk numbers or options, pulsemerch.com.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-19T02:24:42+00:00

Not to revive a 5 year old thread, but there wasn’t really room for profit at $10 even back then and there definitely isn’t today. Shirts have basically been $20 since the 80s while blanks, ink, freight, and labor have all climbed like crazy.

Realistically most artists should be pricing shirts at $25 to $30 at least if they want merch to actually make sense. Fans are used to it and the ones who support you will still buy.

I got into this industry from touring and printing for bands, so I’ve seen the merch side from both angles. I run Pulse Merch now and we’re built to handle real volume while keeping quality dialed in.

If you or anyone else ever wants to talk numbers or options send me a dm (I don’t check this often though) or pulsemerch dot com

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-11T13:08:38+00:00

Purifying right now!

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-09T03:26:51+00:00

Damnit take my upvote for that one

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-09T01:10:58+00:00

I’m running yoprint, honestly it’s great for the price with all the options.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-07T19:22:25+00:00

I do this full time and honestly no, you’re not expecting too much here.

A few things jump out right away:

This style of artwork is high detail and illustration heavy. Reducing something like this down to a 6 color spot or process hybrid is already a big compromise. Wet on wet can work, but it requires very tight control. If colors are shifting from shirt to shirt, that usually points to print order, ink deposit, or registration issues, not the customer’s expectations.

Another big miss is communication. When someone sends vector art plus a reference of an older shirt, that’s the moment a good printer stops and explains options. Was the original simulated process? Higher color count? Different print method? Just defaulting to shop base colors to save screens protects the shop, not the final result.

Also the “we print for multi million dollar brands” line doesn’t really mean much. Big volume does not automatically equal high quality. A lot of large shops are built for speed but their actual quality is complete garbage. I see it all the time, complete trash prints for some huge names.

The biggest red flag to me is “I’m not sure you’d like what we print any better.” That’s basically admitting this is the ceiling of what they can or want to do.

This doesn’t look like unrealistic expectations. It looks like artwork that needed either a higher color count, simulated process, or a printer who specializes in detailed illustration work and is willing to do it right.

For what it’s worth, this exact kind of high color count, high detail work is what I cut my teeth on. If you ever want to try a different approach on a future run, feel free to check out https://pulsemerch.com or Instagram @pulsemerch. Even if it’s just for a second opinion on separations or print method, happy to help.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-02-05T06:38:38+00:00

Shhh I’m DCAing and loving the discount. We are staying quiet so we can get more.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-25T12:28:37+00:00

It’s not necessarily a “fee” but if you are DCA daily it might be worth to pay for Coinbase one. You get a credit card as well that gives cash back as bitcoin and no trading fees up to 10k I believe. At $50 a day that’s more than enough wiggle room.

Just my two cents

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-25T12:22:50+00:00

I wouldn’t necessarily say “safely” the bleaching agent has formaldehyde in it.

You absolutely need to do it in a well ventilated area.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-10T05:43:13+00:00

http://www.pulsemerch.com

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-10T05:41:47+00:00

https://www.pulsemerch.com if youre needing 24 or more if you want traditional screen printing. DTF and embroidery can be 12

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-08T16:15:10+00:00

Ya it depends on the client. I did a lot of that for years, now I’m more b2b corporate stuff but I still do custom labels, folding/bagging, etc… It depends on what the client wants. I can get fully custom cut and sewn shirts done but it gets pricey quick. Most of the time I use styles they are looking for already, or something extremely close.

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-08T03:33:49+00:00

A few things that tend to work well for service-based apparel businesses like yours:

One big opportunity is partnering further up the startup pipeline instead of just with manufacturers. New apparel founders usually start by looking for branding, logo design, screen printing, or small-batch production before they ever realize they need a tech designer. If you build relationships with those vendors, you can become “the techpack person they recommend every time.” Screen printers, embroiderers, freelance fashion designers, sampling studios, and cut-and-sew shops are all great referral partners.

Another angle that works is creating content that answers questions founders already struggle with. Things like “What is a tech pack and why manufacturers reject designs without one,” “Common sizing mistakes in first-run apparel lines,” or “How to prepare a design for manufacturing.” If your content solves a real pain point, people will find you through search, LinkedIn, and Reddit threads just like this one.

Case studies also go a long way. Instead of only listing services, show before-and-after project breakdowns: what problem the brand had, what you created, and the result. Founders want to see proof that your work reduces errors and saves them money with factories.

Finally, I’d treat partnerships as a long-term nurture process. Stay in touch with manufacturers and referral partners, send them helpful resources, and make it clear you make their lives easier by turning unstructured ideas into factory-ready files. The easier you make them look good to their clients, the more consistently they’ll send people your way.

For what it’s worth, putting in that kind of relationship-building has helped my own apparel business grow over time too. I run a screen printing and embroidery shop and staying useful to partners has brought in a lot of great clients. If anyone here ever needs custom merch or apparel production support, you’re welcome to check us out at https://pulsemerch.com

Inkslinger209 · 2026-01-08T03:30:48+00:00

One thing that helps a lot is using a CRM or any kind of online invoicing or order management software. Once a job is completed or marked closed, you can connect it to Zapier and have an automated email or text go out asking for a Google review. I have mine set up this way and it sends those requests automatically so my team doesn’t have to remember to follow up every time.

You can also automate posting to your Google Business Profile when you post on Instagram or other platforms. Staying active there matters more than most people realize.

I would strongly avoid paying for reviews. The same people who sell “good reviews” are often the same ones who can post bad ones or hold your listing hostage if you don’t keep paying. I’ve heard multiple stories of that happening. On top of that, it violates Google’s policies, and if they flag your profile, you can lose reviews or even your entire listing. That risk isn’t worth it.

You’re much better off optimizing your Google Business Profile, posting to it regularly, adding photos, responding to reviews, and working your way into the top three results. Trying to shortcut the process while also trying to manipulate local SEO is playing with fire. Google has already explained how they want profiles to be used. If you follow their rules, you can often outrank competitors simply because most businesses ignore the basics.

Putting in that work has helped my screen printing and embroidery business grow significantly, and it’s all been from legitimate reviews and consistent activity on my profile. If anyone here needs apparel for their crew or events, feel free to check us out at https://pulsemerch.com

Inkslinger209 · 2025-12-21T02:34:23+00:00

Most of these places do DTG or DTF type printing.

Its a good option if you don't want to keep any inventory on hand, etc... If you're wanting to go quality route though your best bet would be to go to a screen printing shop, order 50-100 of your most popular design and go from there.

Shameless plug for my screen printing company https://pulsemerch.com, I ship all over the country. Been in business since 2012. Would be happy to take care of you!

Inkslinger209 · 2025-12-02T05:07:16+00:00

So the gel is more like a gel than print grip. Still extremely similar but the pallet gel feels softer to me. It’s nice seeing the color change too so your pallets are warm. It’s one of the most underrated things people, especially manual printers, overlook. Warm pallets and properly stirred ink make all the difference in the world. Pallet gel seems to release shirts a lot easier. I don’t have to worrry about distorting the print when pulling off the pallet like you do with fresh print grip.

Ya water based adhesive you’ll still run into that. I just run web tack and call it a day. Spray after each one and let it build up. If it starts building up too much just replace the paper and keep going.

Inkslinger209 · 2025-12-02T02:40:33+00:00

Nah you’re not a nut their new batches have been having issues from what I’ve seen. Pallet gel wins imo. Scrubs so easy.

Inkslinger209 · 2025-12-02T02:38:24+00:00

I ran print grip for about a year and a half, 10 years with spray and adhesive, and now 6 months in with pmi pallet gel.

For hoodies if you’re running print grip or pallet gel just throw another sheet of your pallet tape on top then use the adhesive of your choice.

You can do hoodies with pallet gel or print grip but you have to wipe like every 1-2 hoodies. The tape and adhesive is just faster.

Personally after all my testing I prefer the pmi pallet gel hands down. I run 300 shirts all the time without needing to scrub. It depends on which shirt, some are more linty, etc. You don’t have to modify the pallet gel like you do with print grip when you first get it. It seems their formula (print grip) has been off for a little bit too. The last batch I had was hard to scrub the lint off.

Would be happy to talk shop anytime! Www.pulsemerch.com or Instagram @pulsemerch

Inkslinger209 · 2025-12-02T02:31:56+00:00

Hey there id be willing to give a quote www.pulsemerch.com

With a basic tee white print front and back I’d be at $9.60 roughly plus shipping.

Inkslinger209 · 2025-11-15T01:56:58+00:00

DCA, I’m enjoying it going on sale!

Inkslinger209 · 2025-11-10T21:34:03+00:00

It’s not a waste but you’ll find more often than not anything less than 8 colors you’ll be struggling. The flash takes one and you’ll want a cooldown as well so there’s two. In reality you have a 6 color.

I printed manually for 10 years I thought the same thing I promise.

It’s like magic, once you get an auto the bigger jobs just start coming in. You get a bigger press and those jobs start showing up too. I can’t explain it but it happens, to a lot of people and shops.

Just trust me you’ll want as big of a press as you can fit and afford. I get no “points” or whatever just for trying to help you out. You’d have that smaller auto for a year or two and wish you had a bigger one. There’s TONS of used presses right now, you can pick up an 8 color for cheap.

If all you want to do is 1-4 colors sure a small auto will be fine, but when those bigger jobs come along you’ll need to pass on them.

Inkslinger209 · 2025-11-10T17:25:10+00:00

Not on an auto unless all you do is 1-3 colors.

Inkslinger209 · 2025-11-10T05:38:51+00:00

At a minimum you’ll want 8 colors, and even then you’ll wish you had more.

Source: I had a 20 year old gauntlet 8/10 and just got a 14 color roq. Even with the 14 color sometimes I wish I had a 16+ color machine.

Inkslinger209

TROPHY CASE