Screen printing is the process of taking a single piece of artwork and breaking it down by color. Each color is transferred onto its own nylon mesh screen, where a stencil is created to let only that color through. These screens are then aligned on a manual, hand-operated press, allowing the printer to reproduce the design consistently across hundreds (or even thousands) of garments or posters.

At A Thousand Arms, nothing is automated. Every step — from breaking down the artwork to coating and exposing screens, to aligning and registering each color — is done by hand. The art of screen printing isn’t just in the print itself, but in the setup. If that foundation isn’t right, the final product won’t be either.

That’s why providing high-quality artwork up front is essential. The better your files, the better your merch will turn out.

Start by browsing our recommended apparel options and ink colors, then fill out the online quote form with your project details. Artwork can be submitted using the WeTransfer link provided. If you're interested in apparel options outside our standard picks, just let us know in the quote form.

Once we receive your request, we’ll send over a quote and digital print mockups via our Printavo system. After the quote is approved and full payment is received, we’ll begin processing your order. If you need to make changes, just reach out by email — we’ll update the quote accordingly.

You’ll receive updates as your order progresses, along with pickup instructions (for local customers) or shipping confirmation once your project is complete.

Our minimum order is 12 pieces per design. All 12 pieces must share the same artwork and ink color setup, though you’re welcome to mix garment styles or colors as long as the print location and ink remain the same.

We offer price breaks at 24, 48, 72, 120, and 250+ pieces, with additional discounts available for high-volume orders of 500 or more.

The more you print, the better your per-piece pricing.

Important to note:
If you’re printing the same design but switching ink colors (for example, 48 shirts — 24 in white ink and 24 in gold ink), the order will be treated as two separate 24-piece jobs. Price breaks apply per ink setup, not total quantity.

Not sure how your order breakdown affects pricing? Just reach out — we’re happy to help you figure out what makes the most sense for your project and budget.

OPTIONS
Check out our Product Options page to see our recommended styles, or browse the full catalogs from our wholesale partners if you're looking for something specific.

INVENTORY STOCKING
All apparel and flatstock are ordered per project — we don’t stock inventory on-site. Because of this, standard turnaround time is two weeks or less from the time your quote is approved and payment is received. Need your items sooner? Reach out to discuss rush order options.

SAMPLES
Sometimes a digital mockup doesn’t cut it. We’re happy to order garment samples upon request. Samples can be viewed at our shop during normal business hours.

APPAREL DEFECTS & PRINTING ERRORS
We aim to execute every order flawlessly — but the reality is, occasional misprints or manufacturer defects happen. Because of this, we consider delivery of up to 5% fewer units than quoted to be acceptable. We strongly recommend ordering a few extras per size to account for this.

CLIENT-PROVIDED GARMENTS
Already have apparel you’d like us to print on? No problem — just let us know ahead of time. Garments can be dropped off during normal shop hours so we can confirm printability. While we’ll handle your items with care, we also apply a 5% acceptable error rate for client-provided garments.

OUT-OF-STOCK GARMENTS
Occasionally, wholesale garments may be backordered or discontinued. If this happens, we’ll follow up with alternative options that match your preferred style, color, and price as closely as possible.

PAPER OPTIONS
We typically use French Paper Co. for all flatstock printing jobs, though we can source other brands if your project calls for it. Standard stock weight is 100#, but French offers a range of lighter and heavier papers depending on your needs.

INKS
All flatstock is printed using water-based or acrylic inks. Please keep in mind that digital screens display colors with a level of brightness and saturation that can’t be replicated through screen printing. Slight variation in hue is normal and considered acceptable.

PLASTISOL
Our standard ink for apparel. Plastisol is oil-based and heat-cured, sitting on top of the fabric to produce bold, long-lasting prints. It can be applied in different ways depending on the desired result — just let us know what you're after.

WATER-BASED
Water-based ink soaks into the fabric for a softer, more lightweight feel. It’s great for achieving a vintage or worn-in look, though it requires longer curing and may come with a slightly higher per-unit cost.

METALLIC
Metallic ink contains reflective particles that add shine and dimension to a design. Because of their texture, metallics can’t hold fine detail and work best on bold, open areas of artwork.

We keep a wide spectrum of Pantone-based colors on hand. You can view our current stock on the Product Options page, or request a custom-mixed color if you're working with brand-specific guidelines.

Keep in mind that ink color can shift depending on the garment color it’s printed on. For dark shirts, we typically recommend a white underbase layer to help your design appear crisp and accurate.

If you're going for a specific effect — like a faded, distressed look or an ultra-soft feel — let us know in the Additional Comments section of your quote request. We’ll follow up to talk through options.

Ink colors have a way of shifting slightly depending on the color garment they are being printed on. We recommend printing a white under-base layer on darker color shirts to guarantee the colors of your design display accurately and vividly.

If you are looking for a specific effect such as faded/distressed or a softer feel, please include this in the Additional Comments section of the Quote Request Form and we can discuss these options further via email.

PANTONE MATCHING
We can mix Pantone colors accurately for both plastisol and water-based inks using manufacturer-provided mixing systems. If your project requires specific brand colors or tight consistency across products, just include your Pantone references in the quote form and we’ll make it happen.

INK SWITCHING
Switching ink colors within a print run is possible but will affect pricing and price breaks. Refer to our Order Minimums above or reach out to discuss the best setup for your project.

MAXIMUM INK COLORS
We can accommodate up to 6 colors per design for apparel printing. More complex artwork may require adjustments to suit the screen printing process — we’ll walk you through it if needed.

FILE SETUP & SPECIFICATIONS
Artwork must be submitted in print-ready condition. If your files need cleanup or modification beyond basic conversion, hourly design rates will apply. A standard setup fee is charged to separate your design and prepare it for screen printing.

We accept most file types, but we prefer:

• Vector-based .AI files

• Layered .PSD files (with clearly labeled layers)

Designs should be at least 300 DPI for raster artwork. You can send files in RGB or CMYK — color mode won’t impact the final print as long as ink choices are clear.

For halftone-based designs, please include a pre-halftone version in case adjustments are needed to match our screen mesh.

COLOR SETUP
We use our standard in-house Pantone Solid Coated ink library for most jobs. Custom Pantone mixes are available for an additional fee and will be added to our inventory for future use.

Keep in mind: ink colors can shift slightly depending on the garment material and color. If color accuracy is important to your project, just let us know — we’ll walk through options and recommendations.

CUSTOM DESIGN
If you need a design, visit our Design page to explore our roster of artists. If something fits your vibe, let us know and we’ll facilitate the connection.

Note: Design time is not included in the standard two-week turnaround.

MOCKUP APPROVAL
Before printing, we’ll send you a digital mockup showing ink colors, design placement, and approximate sizing. These mockups are built to be as accurate as possible, but slight variations in color, placement, or scale may occur due to garment inconsistencies and the nature of manual screen printing. These are considered acceptable within normal production tolerances.

Unless otherwise specified, we’ll use our experience and expertise to size your design in a way that feels balanced and appropriate for the garment. If you’d like us to print at a specific dimension, just let us know when submitting your artwork.

SCREEN MESH CONSIDERATIONS
We use a range of screen meshes depending on your artwork and desired print detail. Here’s a general breakdown:

• 110 mesh: Best for solid white underbases or bold, low-detail prints. Heavier ink deposit. Only mesh used for metallic inks. Max halftone: 22 DPI

• 158 mesh: Our standard mesh for most apparel jobs. Max halftone: 32 DPI

• 230 mesh: Used for overprinting on apparel and most flatstock jobs. Max halftone: 46 DPI

• 305 mesh: Used for high-detail ideal for flatstock but possible on apparel. Max halftone: 61 DPI

We typically use 2 pixels of trapping on overlapping or adjacent layers. White underbases are contracted by 2 pixels to avoid edge creep.

If you have resolution concerns or are unsure how your artwork will reproduce, send it over — we’re happy to take a look and advise.

Several different methods can be used to reproduce your artwork to the highest accuracy possible. We can discuss further print specifics via email once artwork has been submitted.

APPAREL IMPRINT SIZING

• Standard screen: 13” wide x 15” tall

• Large-format screen: 15” wide x 20” tall

FLATSTOCK IMPRINT SIZING

• Max print size: 18” x 27.5”

SINGLE-PASS VS DOUBLE-PASS
Depending on your artwork and the color of garment, different printing methods may be required to achieve accurate and vibrant results. Darker garments often require either a double-pass of ink or a white underbase to keep colors from appearing muted. Any additional passes or underbase layers will be noted in your print quote.

SEAMS, COLLARS AND ZIPPERS
If requested, we can print over seams, collars, or zippers — but keep in mind these areas can create uneven contact between the screen and garment, which may result in variations in ink coverage. We’re happy to accommodate these requests when possible, but any inconsistencies caused by printing across uneven surfaces will be considered part of the finished product.

IMAGE PLACEMENT
We’ll match image location and sizing as closely as possible to the approved digital proof. That said, digital mockups are a reference tool — and small shifts may occur based on garment size or construction. If you have specific placement instructions, let us know during the order process. Otherwise, we’ll use our best judgment to ensure the print looks balanced and intentional.

PRINT SIZES
All garments in a print run receive the same size graphic, regardless of shirt size. This means a design may appear larger on a small shirt and smaller on a 2XL. We generally recommend 11” wide for chest prints, but you can go larger if your design allows — just be aware that printing too close to seams or hems can cause distortion, especially on smaller sizes.

If you require different print sizes for different shirt sizes, each version will be treated as a separate job and will require an additional screen setup.

REPRINTS & MISPRINTS
We strive for consistency across every print, but if something seems off with your order, let us know. We’ll assess the issue and — if it falls outside of accepted variation — we’ll offer a reprint or a fair resolution.

These finishing options can help give your merch a more polished, retail-ready presentation. Just let us know what you need in the Additional Comments section of the Quote Request Form.

TAG REMOVAL & CUSTOM TAG PRINTING
If the garment includes a tear-away tag, we can remove it and print a custom graphic inside the neck. We offer a standard A Thousand Arms print that includes required sizing and material info, or you can provide your own design.

Custom printed tags are subject to standard screen setup fees and must include legal sizing and fabric content information to meet labeling requirements.

HANG-TAGS
We apply a standard A Thousand Arms Printing hang-tag to all outgoing orders. If you prefer to skip this or use your own branded tags, let us know. We’re happy to apply your custom tags for an additional fee.

FOLDING
All orders are folded in half by size and boxed for easy sorting. If you have specific folding instructions beyond this, we’re happy to accommodate — just note that additional charges may apply.

ROLLING & RUBBER BANDING
If you're prepping for a tour or event, we can roll each shirt and secure it with a rubber band for quick, compact handling. Just let us know if you’d prefer this option over standard folding.

PAYMENT TERMS
Full payment is required before we can begin production. Once your quote and digital mockup are approved, we’ll send an invoice with payment options.

We accept payment via credit/debit card, ACH transfer, PayPal, or Venmo. Cash and check payments can also be accommodated upon request.

REFUNDS
We do not offer refunds. If you're unsatisfied with your order due to an issue not already covered in the policies above, we’re happy to review the situation. If the problem falls outside the scope of accepted print variation and we’re at fault, we’ll gladly reprint the job to make it right.

TURNAROUND TIME
Our standard turnaround time is two weeks or less from the time your quote is approved and payment is received. Garments will not be ordered until both of these steps are complete.

While we do our best to meet this timeline, please note that turnaround may vary depending on overall workload, supplier delays, or unforeseen circumstances (like weather or supply chain issues). We’ll keep you updated if anything shifts.

IN-HAND DATE / RUSH ORDERS
If you need your order by a specific date, please mention it in the Additional Comments section of the Quote Request Form.

If that date falls within the standard two-week window, the job will be considered a rush order and may incur an additional fee.

SHIPPING
We ship worldwide via UPS or USPS, depending on the size and nature of your order. Domestic orders ship standard ground by default, but expedited shipping is available if needed — just let us know your preference.

SCREEN-STORAGE / SETUP FEES
We charge a standard $50 setup fee, which includes the first screen. Each additional screen needed for your job is $25.

Screens are stored for 1 year from the time of your first print. If you place a reorder within that timeframe, you won’t be charged another setup fee. After one year, screens are reclaimed and setup fees will apply again for reorders.

SOCIAL SHARING
We regularly document projects in progress and share them on our social media accounts — often tagging or collaborating with the band or brand involved. While we can’t guarantee coverage of every job, if you’d like us to prioritize content creation for your project, just let us know in the Additional Comments section of the Quote Request Form. We’ll do our best to capture something that positively represents your work and ours.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES
A Thousand Arms offers additional support beyond printing — including product fulfillment and online store management to help with distribution and sales.

Visit www.athousandarms.com to learn more about our fulfillment services.