• Needle – the device that forms stitches by carrying the thread through the fabric to interlock with a bobbin thread. Needles are available in various points and sizes, designed for the goods being embroidered.
• Needle Bar – the part of the machine that carries the needle up and down to form stitches.
• Needle Plate – located above the hook assembly of the machine, this metal plate has a hole in the center for the needle to reach the hook to form a stitch.
• Network – linking embroidery machines through a central computer and disk drive system.
• Origin – starting point of the embroidered design.
• Pantograph – the bar, rack or holder of the embroidery machine that moves the hoop to form the embroidery pattern.
• Paper Tape – paper or Mylar media containing coordinate information to control the pantograph movement.
•  Newer machines utilize computer disks instead of paper tapes.
• Pencil Rub – inexpensive sample of an embroidery design.
• Presser Foot – a metal ring around the needle that holds the fabric stationary until the hook point catches the thread loop formed by the needle; helps to minimize flagging and for loop formation.
• Pre-Tensioner – thread tension assembly that applies light tension to remove kinks in the thread prior to entering the main tensioner.
• Puckering – gathering in the fabric by the stitches causing loose hooping, incorrect density, incorrect thread tensions or insufficient backing.
• Punching – derived from old paper tape method, the process of converting artwork into a series of commands for the machine’s computer.
• Push and Pull Compensation – a degree of distortion digitally built into a design to compensate for push or pull on the fabric caused by the embroidery stitches.

For additional questions, contact us or to place an order click on Embroidery Contract

Lettering – computer generated embroidery of letters or words, also called “keyboard lettering.”

Locking Stitch – series of small stitches used to prevent unraveling. Also called “tie-in” or “tie-off.”

Lockstitch – stitch formed with needle and bobbin thread. Also referred to as ISO4915, stitch number 301.

Looping – defects on surface of embroidery usually caused by tension problems or skipped stitch. Typically occurs when polyester top thread has been improperly tensioned. Looping can also occur as the result of a skipped stitch.

Low Speed Function – setting that allows the machine to run at a lower speed than that set by the speed control knob.

Machine Language – codes and format used by different machine manufacturers, such as Barudan, Brother, Fortran, Happy, Marco, Meistergram, Melco, Pfaff, Stellar, Tajima, Toyota, Ultramatic, and ZSK.

Marking – marking of goods to help position frame and position the needle start points.

Mirror – program menu option that allows sewing of reverse imaging of a pattern.

Modular – machine system with many separate stitching heads or configurations of heads that are computer-controlled.

Monogram – embroidered design of one or more letters, usually the initials in a name. Moss Stitch – see chenille.

If you have any additional questions or would like to place an order click on Embroidery Services

The resolution and speed of Direct to Garment inkjet printers have been improved greatly in the last decade. The majority of DTG printers are computer driven with software known as a RIP (Raster Image Processor). RIP software provides several benefits: (1) it allows the use of larger volumes of ink, (2) it generates a white “underbase” for dark shirts, and (3) it provides more precise color management with color profiles.

More advanced RIP software provides the ability to drive multiple printers from one computer, advanced job queuing, ink cost calculation and advanced preview of the file prior to printing. In addition to utilizing inkjet technology, DTG involves inkjet textile inks that are applied directly to the textile. These inks are absorbed by the fibers of the garment.

The primary advantages of DTG printing include precise images with non-contact technology, lowered set-up costs and fast turnaround time. The main disadvantage of DTG is equipment maintenance and the cost of ink, but these issues are improving continually. DTG printing is simple and economical on both light and dark garments. It requires less setup time, makes less mess, and is more cost-effective.

While DTG prints best on white garments of all material types, cotton works the best. However, polyester and polyester blend garments may also be used with great results. Once you move away from white shirts and into colored or dark garments, the print quality is very dependent on material makeup. The garment must be at least 60% cotton. 100% cotton allows for the white under base to be absorbed properly. The less cotton in the garment, the worse the print outcome will be on dark garments.

Print crisp, colorful, vibrant images directly onto cotton garments without the need for coated papers, or other limiting factors. If the item lays flat, it will print. What’s more, most inkjet DTG printers will handle common graphics software such as CorelDRAW®, Illustrator®, Photoshop®, and Quark®. Finally, DTG technology is idea for short or medium runs in full color textile printing.

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Click on Garment Screen Printing to contact us

Tint – changing the color of an ink by adding another color to it.
Tonal Range – the difference between the lightest and darkest color of the image.
Transfer – term for indirect printing.
Transfer Adhesive – powdered adhesive that improves the adhesion of a transfer to a substrate.
Transfer Inks – special plastisol inks used to print cold peel and hot split transfers.
Underbase – thin coating of ink that acts as base for other colors being printed. Usually required when printing multi-colors on colored shirts, this process creates true colors and maintains opacity over dark fabric.
UV Inks – certain types of inks that will harden or cure when exposed to UV light.
Vector Art – digital art that uses continuous lines and shapes represented in mathematical algorithms.
Viscosity – the “thickness” or “thinness” of a particular ink.
Wash Test – laundering a printed garment to determine if the print is fully cured.
Water Based Ink – non-plastisol inks that can be air dried.
Wet-on-Wet Printing – printing consecutive ink colors without flash curing.

This is the end of our presentation of screen printing terms. Next, we will address embroidery terms.

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Click on Embroidery and Screen Printing to contact us

Reflective Ink – a special effect Plastisol ink with reflective elements.
Registration – lining up the screen image to the original art; also  separations on a printing press.
Resolution – the quality of an image as measured in DPI (Dots per inch).
Reverse – artwork in which the light and dark areas are inverted.
RIP – Raster Image Processing software designed to maximize film output. Screen – the platen (wooden or metal frame with tightly attached mesh for each color of the design.
Serigraphy – technical term for screen printing.
Sizing – chemical agent on fabrics that often burns off during curing.
Soft-Hand Extenders – ink additive that reduces opacity, often used on lighter colored shirts, producing a soft feel to the print.
Solvent – liquid that dissolves a solid.
Solvent Based Inks – acrylic, UV and epoxy based inks, typically used for the printing of hard goods and other non-textiles.
Spot And Dot – combination of spot color printing and halftones.
Stencil – portion of screen containing the image to be printed.
Stretch Test – stretching a garment to see if the ink cracks, used to check for proper curing of ink.
Substrate – the item that is being printed on; also the side of the screen that comes in contact with the item being printed.  

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Click on Embroidery and Sceen Printing to contact us.

Newton – the screen tension unit of measurement.
O.D. – outside screen frame dimensions.
Opacity – quality of ink meant to cover the underlying color of the substrate.
Outline – a line surrounding an inner “fill” of another color.
Overprinting – layering color on top of another color.
Paper Thermometer – paper strips that read temperature while the garment goes through a dryer or flash cure unit.
.pdf: An Adobe Acrobat file; stands for portable document format.
Phosphorescent Ink – ink that glows in the dark.
Photochromic ink – special effect Plastisol ink that displays a certain color when exposed to bright sunlight.
Photopolymer – type of emulsion that develops quickly.
Pigment – component of ink that provides color.
Pixilation – in computer graphics, an effect caused by displaying or printing a bitmap in a large size making individual pixels visible.
Plastisol – screen printing ink primarily for textile printing composed of VC (polyvinyl chloride) color pigments, and plasticizers.
Platen Adhesive – adhesive used to hold down garment on shirt board when printing.
Point – standard unit to measuring font size: 72 points = one inch.
Pre Shrinking – the process of flash curing the shirts on the pallets before printing in order to shrink the garment. This prevents registration problems due to garment shrinkage.
Print-Flash-Print (PFP) – screen printing technique that makes an opaque print result.
Process Colors – cyan, yellow, magenta and black (CMYK).
Proof – sample print; also known as a test print.
.psd – Photo Shop Document; an Adobe Photoshop file.
Puff Ink – special effect Plastisol ink that “raises up” or expands dimensionally during the curing process.

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Call us today at 954.922.2242 or click on Embroidery and Screen Printing Services

Jaggy – the pixilation that appears in bitmap images.   Keyline – the main outline of a design.

Knit – the sewing utilized to make shirts and related garments. Knits vary in texture.

Knocked Out – portions of the artwork of a design that prevents colors from over-printing

Light Integrator – the electronic component in the screen exposure unit that detects and controls changes in the intensity of light.   Light Scattering – reflective light that is unwanted.

Light Table – also known as an Exposure Unit, it shines light on the emulsion-coated screen thereby curing the emulsion in a process known as exposing or burning the screen.

Line Art – refers to black and white artwork that has no halftones or colors.

Loupe – magnifying glass utilized in the business to examine artwork, a print or a screen mesh.

Magenta – a purplish red and one of the process print colors.

Mesh or Fabric – the polyester material that is stretched over a frame through which ink passes.

Mesh Count – the size of the openings between the filaments of thread in the mesh. Higher mesh sizes produce softer feel to the print.

Metallic Ink – a particular Plastisol ink base that contains metallic particles.

Monofilament – a screen fabric that is woven from single strand threads.

Multifilament – a screen fabric that is woven from multiple strand threads.

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Call us today at 954.922.2242 or click on Screen Printing Services to contact us

Ganging – inserting multiple images on one screen.
Gelling – partially curing Plastisol ink by raising the temperature to 175 – 240º F.
Gray Scale – a continuous (colorless) tone image of white to black shadings.
Halftone – an image converted into large and small dots.
Halftone Dot Shapes – the ideal dot shape for screen printing is elliptical; round, square and diamond shapes are also used.
Halftone Line Count – number of lines per inch; common halftone line counts for screen printing range from 35 LPI to 65 LPI.
Hand – the feel of a print, normally described as soft or rough.
Heat Transfer – reverse image on special paper transferred to the garment with a heat transfer press.
High Density – “lenticular” printing that provides special effect of depth.
Hot Split Transfer – used on light colored garments to provide soft hand by limiting ink transfer.
Halftone or Grayscale – like newsprint, artwork that reproduces tones by printing small dots in varying spaces and densities.
Image Area – area that contains the image on a screen.
Index Color Printing – method of image representation that limits the color palette and prints colors separately, and in specific order.
Infrared – heat producing wavelengths typically used in a flash cure unit or textile dryer. Ink – term for print-making substance; in textile printing, most commonly Plastisol.
Ink Additives – chemical agents added to improve printing properties.

For additional information or to contact us click on Screen Printing Wholesale Contract

Atlas Embroidery provides consistently simple processes for ordering. From submittal of the purchase order, the artwork, the credit card authorization all the way to the shipping request form, we walk you through each step. The processes are virtually the same for embroidery and screen printing, except for the artwork submittal requirements.

Atlas Embroidery is well known for its consistently high quality production services, which not only ensure the best quality embellishment services, but also deliver all products properly folded and packaged.

Atlas Embroidery has invested in the latest in cutting-edge technology to consistently provide all the latest embroidery and screen printing formats, special effects and colors.

At Atlas Embroidery & Screen Printing, we pride ourselves for our consistently impeccable customer service, a company culture that is one of the most important hallmarks of our business.

Finally, by virtue of its size and strength, Atlas Embroidery consistently provides economies of scale that other companies simply cannot, which enables us to produce large orders quickly and at fair and competitive pricing.

Happy Holidays to everyone from Atlas Embroidery & Screen Printing!

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Call us today at 954.922.2242 or visit www.atlasembroidery.com.

Today, we will address this subject a bit differently. Atlas Embroidery & Screen Printing sets itself apart in the contract wholesale embellishment industry in more ways than are obvious at first. Today, we’ll talk about the employees of Atlas Embroidery.

The employees of Atlas will collaborate with you – the promotional products specialist – to ensure that you get exactly what you need and more. We will share all of our experience and know-how with you to deliver the best possible embellishment services available anywhere in the industry today. Our collaborative approach adds considerable value to our transactions with our customers.

We jump right on every embellishment project that we get. Your orders never get lost somewhere in an unwieldy system. We treat every single order with the same urgency to deliver the best service in a timely and organized fashion to ensure that our wholesale customers deliver to their customers a product they can be extra proud of, every single time.  

It is our mission to embellish every single wholesale contract item in the country. Ambitious? Yes, it may be, but at the rate we’re going, it’s not unrealistic! We provide the level of service and competitive pricing that others simply cannot match. 

And, yes, we are passionate about what we do. We can’t wait to get to work every day to fulfill volume orders for embellishment services for our customers. We have fire in our bellies. This passion gives us the impetus to approach every order that we receive as the most important one. Why? Because it is the most important.

Happy Holidays to everyone from Atlas Embroidery & Screen Printing!

Do you have questions? Or, do you wish to place an order? Call us today at 954.922.2242 or visit www.atlasembroidery.com.