Nothing at Stylesolen is printed until you order it. That one fact explains most of what you see on a product page: the separate production time, the color previews, and the faint rectangle behind the art on the light tees. Here is the whole process in order.
The blank
Every design goes on the same shirt, a Bella+Canvas 3001. It is a 4.2 oz unisex tee with side seams, a ribbed crew neck, and a tear-away label. Our print partner lists White and Natural as 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Ash, Heather Ice Blue, and Heather Prism Ice Blue are cotton and polyester blends. The blank is sourced from Honduras, according to our print partner. We say that on every product page because it is what we know.
The print file
Each design is a detailed painting: a cat in a straw hat, a kitten in a flag top hat, a Yorkie with a bow. Paintings like that have soft edges and gradients, so the print file keeps a solid white background instead of a cut-out edge around every whisker. That white background is the panel. On a White tee it matches the fabric and you never notice it. On the four light colors we also print on, the printer lays down that white first, and it shows as a faint rectangle behind the art. On a dark tee it would be a bright white box, which is why we only print on White and light colors. The Cat Stack design has a taller, narrower panel than the others because the art is a vertical column.
We do not hide this. Every product page shows the White tee next to the light ones, and a comparison image explains it. If you want the art alone, pick White.
DTG or DTF, chosen by the facility
Our print partner (Printify) routes each order to the facility nearest to you, usually in the United States. That facility prints with one of two methods:
- Direct-to-garment (DTG) sprays water-based ink straight into the cotton. It feels soft and almost flat, and it is the usual method for light tees.
- Direct-to-film (DTF) prints the design on a film, then heat-presses it onto the tee. It sits on top of the fabric and feels slightly thicker.
We do not choose the method per order, so we say "DTG or DTF" on the product page instead of promising one.
What the previews are
The pictures on the product pages are previews rendered from the print file by our print partner. They are accurate about placement, size, and the white panel, but they are not photographs of a finished tee. Screens also vary. Expect the printed colors to be a little softer than the preview.
The first wash
Wash cold, inside out, and tumble dry low. Skip bleach and do not iron over the print. DTG prints soften a bit after the first wash, which is normal. DTF prints stay flat if you keep the dryer on low.
Sizing questions are answered in which size to order. Where the tee comes from, and where it does not, is in where your tee comes from. Production and shipping times are on the shipping policy.