Most garments can have your logo embroidered or printed. The right choice depends on the garment, the size of the logo and how it will be worn and washed. Here is how we decide in our Hull workshop, and what we’ll recommend for each garment.
The quick answer
| Embroidery | Print (heat press: vinyl or DTF) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s done | Your logo is stitched into the fabric with thread | Your design is cut from vinyl, or printed in full colour onto film (DTF), then pressed on with heat and pressure |
| Looks | Textured, smart, raised stitching | Flat colour: solid with vinyl, full colour and fine detail with DTF |
| Best for | Chest, sleeve and neck logos on polos, sweatshirts, fleeces, softshells, caps and beanies | Large backs, T-shirts, hi-vis, names and numbers, multi-colour logos |
| Large backs | Possible, priced on a quote | Up to 30 x 40cm, our recommendation |
| Small logo price, 1 to 8 garments | £6.99 ex VAT | £6.99 ex VAT |
See every quantity price on our logo prices page.
Embroidery
Embroidery stitches your logo into the garment. It looks smart, it copes with regular washing, and it’s the standard choice for chest, sleeve and neck logos. We stitch it in our own unit on Goulton Street: read more about embroidery in Hull, or see our SWF embroidery machines.
Embroidery works best with clear shapes and lettering that isn’t too small. Very fine lines, tiny text, shading and photographs don’t stitch well at chest size. If your logo needs simplifying to stitch well, we’ll tell you, and you get an actual embroidered sample to approve before production.
DTF printing explained
Most of the logos we print are DTF (direct-to-film) transfers. Your design is printed onto film in full colour, then heat pressed onto the garment. That gives you:
- vibrant, full-colour prints, including gradients and photos, with no colour limit
- crisp fine detail, small text and thin lines
- bold colours on dark garments as well as light ones
- a soft, flexible finish that moves with the fabric
- good value from a single garment, because there are no screens to make
Choose embroidery for a raised, premium look that lasts on polos, fleeces and caps. Choose DTF when colour and detail matter most.
Most of our printing is DTF. We also use vinyl for big lettering, names and numbers on sports kits, and for hi-vis (plain or reflective):
- Vinyl: your design is cut from coloured vinyl and pressed on. It gives crisp, solid colour and suits bold logos, text, and names and numbers.
- DTF (direct-to-film): your design is printed in full colour onto a film, then pressed onto the garment. It handles fine detail, gradients and multi-colour logos, and it suits small runs because there are no screens to make.
DTF works on cotton, polyester and most blends, but some fabrics suit it better than others, so we check each garment before we print. We’ll recommend the right one for your design. We don’t offer screen printing or sublimation.
Print gives flat colour and is the better choice for large areas, so we recommend it for big back designs. It suits T-shirts, hoodies, hi-vis, and names and numbers. Read more about T-shirt and hoodie printing in Hull.
Which method for which garment
| Garment | Positions | Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Polos, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, shirts, jackets, softshells, gilets, sportswear, tunics | Left or right breast, left or right sleeve, nape, back | Embroidery or print. Chest, sleeve and nape are embroidered as standard; backs are printed as standard. |
| Fleeces | Left or right breast, sleeves, nape, back | Embroidery only (print won’t take on the pile). Embroidered backs are priced on a quote. |
| Hi-vis vests, jackets, polos and hoodies | Left or right breast, back | Print recommended, embroidery available. Never over the reflective tape. |
| Hi-vis fleeces | Left or right breast, back | Embroidery only |
| Trousers and shorts (including hi-vis) | Left thigh | Embroidery or print (print recommended on hi-vis) |
| Caps, hats and bucket hats | Cap front, cap side | Embroidery only |
| Beanies | Beanie front | Embroidery only |
| Bags | Bag front | Embroidery or print |
| Aprons | Apron chest | Embroidery or print |
| Towels, blankets, scarves and gloves | One logo | Embroidery only |
Fleece
Fleece is always embroidered. Print won’t take on the pile. That applies to hi-vis fleeces too.
Hi-vis
We usually recommend print on hi-vis vests, jackets, polos and hoodies, but embroidery is available. Wherever it goes, your logo sits above or between the reflective tape, never over it. On hi-vis trousers the logo goes on the fluorescent fabric, clear of the tape. See our hi-vis range.
Caps, beanies and hats
Headwear is embroidered. A cap front logo can be up to 10cm wide and a cap side logo up to 5cm. A beanie front logo can be up to 7cm wide. See caps and beanies.
Polos, sweatshirts, hoodies and jackets
A left-breast logo up to 10cm wide is the usual choice, embroidered as standard. Add a sleeve (up to 8cm), the nape of the neck (up to 7cm), or a large back print. See polo shirts, hoodies and softshells.
Waterproof jackets
Stitching makes holes in a garment, and that matters on a waterproof shell. Ask us before choosing embroidery on a waterproof jacket and we’ll recommend the best option for that garment.
Sending us your logo
- Best: a vector file, such as AI, EPS, SVG or PDF.
- Fine: a high-resolution PNG or JPG.
- Only have a small or blurry file? Send it anyway and we’ll advise.
- Colours: tell us your brand colours if you know them. Your sample shows how your logo will look before production.
Logo setup is free for embroidery and print. You get an actual embroidered sample to approve before production (for printed logos, an actual sample).
Looking after branded garments
Follow the care label on each garment. Embroidery copes with regular washing. For printed logos, we suggest washing the garment inside out and not ironing directly over the print.
Talk it through with us
If you’re still not sure, send us your logo and tell us what the garments are for, and we’ll recommend a method for each one. You’re welcome to call in to our workshop at Unit C2 Boulevard Factory Estate, 84 Goulton Street, Hull HU3 4BA, Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm, or call 01482 606622. We reply to quote requests within 24 hours (Mon–Fri).