Setting Up Your Press & Staging Jobs for Mixed-Garment Orders

This time of year, many shops are busy with team stores and apparel fundraisers. These orders often include a mix of cotton tees, 50/50 blends, polyester dri-fit, and hoodies—all in one run. Without a game plan, you risk wasted time, mistakes, or costly reprints. Here’s a simple workflow to keep production efficient and stress-free.

1. Plan Your Press Setup

• Organize print order smartly: Line up screens so any color changes are minimized. This way you don’t have to tear down and reset the press mid-job.
• Use universal inks: Choose low-cure inks that work across garment types. Union Sport Victory and Rutland Chill Flex Cure are both excellent options—no swapping inks needed.
• Start with fresh pallet tape: Ensures a clean surface, avoids contamination, and helps keep lint and debris under control.

2. Stage Your Jobs in the Right Sequence

• Print performance fabrics first: Start with polyester and dri-fit garments. These are the most sensitive to heat and benefit from clean pallets.
• Work through cotton and blends next: These are more forgiving and less prone to dye migration.
• Finish with fleece: Hoodies create more lint. Printing them last prevents lint from affecting prints on lighter fabrics.

3. Match Adhesive to the Fabric

• Polyester & performance: Use a water-based adhesive designed for slick fabrics.
• Cotton & blends: Standard spray adhesive or water-based adhesive works fine.
• Fleece: Opt for a heavier spray or web adhesive to keep thick garments stable.

4. Manage Flashing & Curing Temps

• Flash carefully: Don’t overflash performance garments; keep temps low to prevent scorching or dye migration.
• Dryer settings: Set for the lowest cure temp that works across all garment types. Low-cure inks make this possible. Always test with a temp gun or donut probe to confirm full cure.

5. Stay Consistent

• Stage all jobs before you start.
• Stick to your print order to avoid backtracking.
• Keep pallets clean and adhesives fresh.

By planning ahead and staging jobs in this order, you’ll keep production smooth, reduce lint build up, and avoid costly mistakes—making mixed-garment runs as efficient as a straight cotton order.