Graphic
Want a Truly Pimp Result from Your Design?
Would you like your prints to look as stunning as the original design? Here are some tips to help ensure a perfect merch. Properly preparing your design and file is essential for achieving beautiful prints. Follow these guidelines to help us bring out the most in your designs.
To ensure the best production, we’d like to request a graphic file with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. (A layered PSD file is the best.) It’s ideal if we receive the files sized to your specifications so the design will be exactly as you envisioned.
Size Matters!
For band graphics, size really does matter. The bigger, the more impressive, so we maximize the print size at no extra charge for the most pimp result.
Why is a Mockup Important?
Because it shows exactly what you have in mind. It reduces misunderstandings for everyone.
What Size Should the Print Be?
“It should be the size shown in the mockup.”
Sorry, but this isn’t possible. The print size is constant, but the material size varies, so the print will look slightly different on each size. You have three options:
- 1. Size the files yourself, so they will be exactly the size you want.
- 2. Leave the sizing to us. In this case, your design will be as large as possible (within your vision. A small chest logo will remain a small chest logo, we won’t make it a full front).
- 3. Custom size: You can specify the custom sizes you want during the order process.
Naming!
Since we work with many graphics, please follow a few important rules to avoid confusion:
- Always give your designs unique names. It’s good if the name refers to the design on the t-shirt. E.g.: flower skull, world destroyer, snowman zombie
- Never give the same name to two designs! E.g.: logo t-shirt
- If you have a new logo, add the year. E.g.: logo 2024 t-shirt
- Always indicate where we should print the design. E.g.: flower skull front.psd, flower skull back.psd, flower skull right sleeve.psd
What File Formats Can I Send?
For Raster Graphics:
- RGB color space
- No Color Management
- 1:1 size
- 300 DPI resolution
- Acceptable file types: PSD, PSB, PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP
For Vector Graphics:
- RGB color space
- No Color Management
- 1:1 size
- Acceptable file types: PDF, AI, EPS, SVG
What Are the Standard Print Sizes?
These are the maximum print sizes in centimeters.
For Unisex Products:
- T-shirt: 36×50
- Tank top: 32×46 (It’s best if the top of the design isn’t too wide, otherwise it will sit very low due to the armholes.)
- Long sleeve: 36×50
- Hoodie: Back: 36×50, Front: 36×25
- Zipper: Back: 36×50, Front: 12×12 (but it depends on the design)
For Co-ed Print Sizes:
- T-shirt: 34×46
- Tank top: 30×46 (It’s best if the top of the design isn’t too wide, otherwise it will sit very low due to the armholes.)
- Long sleeve: 34×46
- Hoodie: Back: 34×46, Front: 36×25
- Zipper: Back: 34×46, Front: 12×12 (but it depends on the design)
For Kids:
- T-shirt: 24×28
- Long sleeve: 24×28
- Hoodie: Back: 24×28, Front: 24×15
- Zipper: 24×28, Front: 5×5
Special Locations:
- T-shirt sleeve: 8×8
- Long sleeve sleeve: 8×44
- Hoodie sleeve: 8×44
- Zipper sleeve: 8×44
- Hood: 15×15
Accessories:
- Canvas tote bag: 30×30
- Backpack: 25×30
- Snapback: 6×6
- Baseball cap: 6×6
What is a Co-ed Print Size?
When there are both men’s (unisex) and women’s products, we usually print the design in a size that fits on the women’s items and still looks good on the men’s. If you want different sizes for them, they count as separate designs.
How can I see the exact design on the shirt? How will the final result be the same?
If you use solid colors in your graphic, the result will be exactly the same.
However, if you want to produce very complex graphics or gradient designs, you should expect minimal variations because we break down the design into colors and use a maximum of 8 colors. Even in this case, you can rest assured that we always strive for the highest quality. If we’re not satisfied with something during the setup and see that more can be done with the design, we restart the entire process at no extra cost to achieve the best quality.
Do you use my designs?
No, we work in a very closed system to ensure they don’t leak. However, we reserve the right to publish photos of the produced items. (If you don’t want this, please inform your merch consultant.)
Textile
Not sure which fabric to choose for your T-shirts?
With our help, finding the perfect material is easy. What’s most important to you? Comfort? Quality? Durability? Value for money? Sustainability? Here are some tips to help you better understand your needs. And if you need any assistance, feel free to reach out to us—we’ll find the ideal products for you.
What’s available in the EU is available with us too.
We work with the largest European distributors, so we can easily source anything. Plus, one of the market-leading wholesale companies, UTT Europe, is right here locally, so we get products from them lightning-fast and can handle refills at an incredible speed.
We look for the best value textiles to ensure you get the best margins on your merch. Additionally, stylish cuts and high-quality materials are important to us.
We look for the best value textiles to ensure you get the best margins on your merch. Additionally, stylish cuts and high-quality materials are important to us.
Our favorite brands:
- Gildan
- Kariban
- Sol’s
- Native Spirit
- AWD
- Russel
- B&C
100% cotton is our favorite, but if you’re open to exploring more expensive materials, we wholeheartedly recommend organic cotton.
If you don’t specify an exact material, these are our usual recommendations:
- T-shirt: GI64000 Gildan Softstyle
- Tank top: GI64200 Gildan Softstyle
- Long-sleeve shirt: GI2400 Gildan Ultra Cotton
- Hoodie: JH001 AWD College Hoodie
- Zip hoodie: JH050 AWD Zoodie
- Beanie: B045 Beachfield Original Cuffed Beanie
- Canvas bag: W101 Westford Mill Bag with Long Handles
- Backpack: W110 Westford Mill Gymsack
What is the difference between cotton and organic cotton?
The difference between cotton and organic cotton lies in the growing and processing methods. Traditional cotton farming often involves the use of chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides), whereas organic cotton is grown without chemicals, using environmentally friendly methods, and often comes from certified sustainable sources. However, the story is not black and white, as their cultivation requires a lot of water and they yield less. Therefore, producing the same amount of cotton requires more land and resources, which can increase the environmental impact.
What is polyester?
Polyester is a man-made textile fiber often derived from petroleum-based compounds and created through a chemical reaction. The result is a strong, durable fiber that dries quickly and wrinkles less. However, natural materials are always better, so cotton is much more Pimp.
Why is cotton better than polyester?
Cotton is natural and environmentally friendly, while polyester is synthetic and harmful to the environment. Additionally, polyester often irritates the skin and doesn’t breathe well. Good ventilation is essential, especially after an intense concert.
Inks
What types of inks do we use?
What’s the difference between the ink types? What are their advantages and disadvantages? These are essential factors when producing merch. After extensive research and testing, we’ve found our favorites, so you don’t have to worry about which one to choose for a stunning result.
We Swear by Plastisol Inks
They provide incredibly durable results with vibrant and truly pimp colors. Plus, they look fantastic on black backgrounds, which is essential for metal merch.
Additionally, we also use a new type of water-based ink that is eco-friendly and has the benefits of discharge inks.
What is plastisol ink?
Plastisol ink is a PVC-based, oil-based type of ink commonly used in screen printing. The prints are incredibly vibrant and durable, and they last a long time. They withstand washing well and don’t fade or wear out even after years. Moreover, they cover dark fabrics excellently, which is crucial given that about 98% of materials are black.
What is water-based ink?
This is an eco-friendly water-based ink that allows for soft-touch prints. Unfortunately, it is not very effective on dark fabrics, as it has much less coverage. (We are working on making the results fabulous even on these.) Additionally, it is less durable than plastisol. So, this solution is not the best friend of metal bands.
What is hybrid waterbased ink? (Coming soon.)
This is a very new and innovative ink type on the market. We are currently testing it and it seems very promising so far, so it will be available soon. It’s completely eco-friendly and the prints are significantly softer with it. It doesn’t clog the textile fibers, so your skin can breathe better when wearing t-shirts made with this ink. Basically, these inks combine the best properties of water-based inks and solvent-based inks. They typically contain water-soluble acrylic or polyurethane resins, as well as smaller amounts of solvents.
What is discharge ink?
Discharge ink removes the color from the fabric and replaces it with the color of the ink, saturating the treated area. As the ink can remove the original color of the fabric, it provides a soft touch and excellent coverage. Unfortunately, it is extremely harmful to the environment, releasing toxic gases during heat treatment. Therefore, special protective equipment is required. The safety of our colleagues is highly important to us, so we do not expose them to this. Additionally, it is not very reliable, as results can vary depending on the type and composition of the fabric. We like to promise certainty to the bands.
Which type of ink is the best?
For us, plastisol is absolutely the best. Prints are beautiful and incredibly durable with it, they work great on black backgrounds, and they don’t harm the health of our colleagues.
ORDER
Questions about placing an order
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding orders. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Since we work with screen printing, the minimum is 50 pieces per design. If you want to order less, it’s better to choose a DTG manufacturer.
What are the pricing tiers?
The more products you order with the same print, the cheaper the initial costs become, allowing us to offer better prices at certain quantities. Our price breaks are: 100, 300, 500, 5000
(This requires the print position and color to remain unchanged. For example, a front chest print cannot be moved to the back of the garment at the neck. However, it doesn’t matter if the print is on the front or back of the item.)
What is the most popular t-shirt material among bands?
Gildan Softstyle, followed closely by Gildan Heavy Cotton.
I can’t find the material I want. Can you source it?
We work with the largest European distributors, so anything available in the EU is available to us. Send us an email, and we’ll check it out for you.
Do you have large-sized materials? 3XL, 4XL or 5XL
Certain items are only available in standard sizes (S-2XL). However, some products, like Gildan Softstyle and Heavy Cotton, are available in these larger sizes. Please specify in your quote request if you need these, and we’ll plan accordingly.
Do you have extra small materials? XS or 2XS
These are available from certain brands, so always indicate in your quote request if you need these sizes, so we can include them in the calculations.
Are all sizes of materials the same price?
Unfortunately, no. Generally, the price for materials is the same from S-2XL. However, from 3XL onwards, due to the larger amount of textile, manufacturers charge more. Therefore, we usually add an extra cost for these sizes to cover the difference.
How is the price for screen printing determined?
Material + number of prints per item + quantity ordered per design + number of colors per design.
So the more colors in the design and the more prints on an item, the more expensive it is. However, you can always reduce costs by ordering larger quantities at once. If you want to be cost-effective, use designs with a few colors and one or two prints. We also offer discounts if you want more than one print on an item, so the price doesn’t stop you making it as Pimp as possible.
We have no hidden costs (like films or screens). The quoted price includes your finished product.
Unlike most screen printing companies, we DO NOT charge extra for underbase or for special inks like fluorescent and metallic.
Is your quote negotiable?
Since premium quality is our top priority, we already offer the most competitive prices to maintain this standard. We’re not the cheapest, but you can always count on us.
Your contact person will assist you throughout the entire ordering process, and we do our best to accommodate even last-minute orders, even if we’re busy.
If you encounter any issues with shipping, we’ll try to resolve and expedite the matter with the courier company.
Additionally (though this is extremely rare), if you’re not satisfied with your ordered product, we’ll do everything to rectify the issue.
Anyway, if you have doubts about the prices, but you want the highest quality, let us know and we will try to help.
Can I order different products within one order?
Yes. The key is to meet the minimum quantity or pricing tiers. Within these, you can order t-shirts, long sleeves, tank tops, or even hoodies. Just ensure that the print remains the same in every way. If the print changes, it counts as a new product.
Can I choose different colors of materials within one order?
Of course. However, if you don’t want to keep the same price, the print must remain the same on all materials. If the print changes, it counts as a new product.
Can I specify multiple sizes within one order?
Absolutely. The minimum quantity and pricing tiers only apply to the total ordered product. You can easily distribute this across different sizes.
I want men’s, women’s, and kids’ t-shirts. I saw that the minimum is 50 pieces per design. Can I split it this way within the limit?
Yes, but we only recommend this if your graphic is small. As one screen set is made for it, the print will be the same size on all items. So, what looks large on a kids’ t-shirt (because the material is much smaller) will look very small on a men’s 3XL.
How long does production take?
Screen printing usually takes 7-10 working days. However, if possible, please allow more time for production. Since we don’t charge extra for quick refills for touring bands, we always try to organize production so everyone gets their merch on time for the best sales. Extras like accessories, woven labels, individual folding or individual packaging may take more time.
PRODUCTION
Get to know the production details
Want to gain a better understanding of the production process? We’ve compiled some frequently asked questions to help you navigate this topic with ease.
How long does production take?
Screen printing usually takes 7-10 working days. However, if possible, please allow more time for production. Since we don’t charge extra for quick refills for touring bands, we always try to organize production so everyone gets their merch on time for the best sales.
Extras like accessories, woven labels, individual folding or individual packaging may take more time.
What is the difference between screen printing and DTG?
DTG (direct to garment) is a digital printing technology where the graphic is printed directly onto the textile. This is a much more expensive and slower solution, suitable only for very small print runs. We believe this technology isn’t Pimp enough yet, because the prints have a sticker-like feel, aren’t as durable and aren’t as vibrant. In contrast, screen printing is more cost-effective for larger quantities as the initial costs are spread across more items. Additionally, screen printing allows for precise color mixing, making the graphic colors more consistent. Plus, they are more durable than those made with DTG.
What is an underbase?
If the graphic color is lighter than the material color, it’s worth placing a halftone under the design. A halftone is a light-colored print that allows the colors to be vibrant and consistent.
Most screen printing companies charge extra for this, but with us, it’s absolutely free.
What makes a print silky?
If it receives a silicone after-treatment. This is an extra service you can request if you want silky prints.
How do you avoid a sticker-like print?
By having us do the production. Also, by avoiding designs made of large solid color blocks.
How durable is the print?
Screen printing produces one of the most durable results for t-shirt designs.
How should I wash screen-printed items?
Always turn them inside out and wash at a maximum of 30 degrees with similar colors. Never use bleach or a dryer! It’s also best to avoid ironing, but if you must, don’t iron over the print!
PAYMENT, INVOICING, SHIPPING
FAQs to make everything clear
Curious about these details? Here are some frequently asked questions that will likely answer everything you need to know on the topic.
How can I pay for my order?
You can pay your invoice with a bank transfer after scheduling your order.
Do I have to pay in advance? Can’t I pay later?
To offer the best price to our bands, we also pay our suppliers in advance. Therefore, you can only pay by prepayment.
When can I order VAT-free?
If you’re an EU company and your merch needs to be shipped out of the production country. In this case the merch must leave Hungary.
If you’re ordering from outside the EU (whether a company or an individual) and we need to ship your merch to a non-EU country. In this case, there’s no VAT, but you will have to pay customs duty.
What is your VAT rate?
27%. We know, it’s a lot, and we struggle with it too, but that’s how it is. In return, we offer incredible quality and a dream of a customer service experience.
Do you have an EU VAT number?
Of course: HU26561543
How can I receive my products?
You can pick them up in person at the Real Pimp workshop or have them delivered by a courier to the address you specify.
Do you charge extra for urgent orders?
Since this is our specialty, we generally do not. We try to rearrange the work to fit in the production. However, if all current orders have tight deadlines, we can only manage the work through overtime, and in that case, we have to charge extra to compensate our colleagues. (We’ll quietly mention that we solve 99% of these situations without extra charges, but in extreme cases, overtime may be necessary.)
How do you package the products?
Orders are folded by size in groups of 10. We always label the boxes with Real Pimp stickers indicating exactly what’s inside.
If you want individual folding or packaging, please indicate this in your quote request.
Why did I receive fewer or more items than I ordered?
Despite the utmost care, defective products can occur during production. The issue may stem from the material itself (color errors, holes, miscuts, wrong sizes) or the printing process. Although we order extra materials for production, there may not be enough to replace all defects. Conversely, a smooth production process may result in more items than ordered.
If you receive fewer items than ordered, we will credit the difference on your next order. If everything went smoothly, the extra items are a gift to you.
I’m not satisfied with my product. What should I do?
Since we pay close attention to quality, if we’re not satisfied during test printing, we restart the whole process without notifying the band or charging extra.
So, it’s as rare for someone to be dissatisfied with us as a white raven. If this does happen, get in touch with your merch consultant as soon as possible, and we’ll resolve the issue. Don’t worry, we prioritize these rare cases, so we’ll find a solution quickly.
Availability
Opening Hours and Holidays
We strive to maintain a work-life balance, so outside of tours, you can reach us during the following hours. If you’re on tour, we’ll make every effort to accommodate your needs as flexible as possible.
What are your opening hours?
We are open on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. We do not work in the evenings or on weekends because we want our colleagues to enjoy their personal lives and spend time with their families after work hours. Therefore, we are also closed on holidays. For personal pickups, you can come by 4:00 PM at the latest.
Do you work on holidays?
No, these are chilling periods for everyone. Additionally, we are closed every year between Christmas and New Year’s.
Hungarian holidays:
- March 15
- May 1
- August 20
- October 23
- November 1
