Open Read this first

Welcome!

This Guide is the shared playbook for contract partners working with Townsend through Mesh.

It covers the basics: how we work together, what to expect, and how to keep jobs moving.

If you are not a contract partner yet, start here: Apply for a contract account

What this is (and what it is not)

This Guide is:

• A simple set of expectations that makes production boring (in a good way)
• A reference for common questions
• The default answer when someone says, "Wait, how do you want this done?"

This Guide is not:

• A legal document
• A comprehensive directory of all policies
• A promise that every edge case will be handled perfectly
• A replacement for talking to us when something is unclear

Policies (rush, pricing, reprints, color matching) live on separate pages and may change over time. This Guide links to the current versions.

Who this is for

Mesh works best for shops and teams who:

• Have recurring work (repeat pro

Open Artwork + pricing tiers

Artwork + pricing tiers

The goal is simple: repeatable quality without surprises.

The big idea

• The print can’t be better than the file.
• If the files are clean and complete, jobs move fast and repeats match exactly.
• If the files are incomplete, messy, or unclear, jobs go on hold (and costs go up).

We don’t print trash. If quality doesn’t matter on your side, we won’t be a long-term fit.

How pricing tiers work (in plain English)

Pricing is tied to how production-ready your files are, and if you ask we'll always tell you what we need to get a job into Tier 1 shape.

Tiers aren’t a status symbol — they’re a shorthand for how much prepress we’re doing and how predictable the job is to run.

Tier 1 (best pricing)

• You send print-ready, separated artwork using our CTS template.
• Spot colors are named correctly.
• Underbase is included.
• Proof matches the art.
• We mostly just run production.

Open Screen print — Tier 1 Art Seps

Screen print — Tier 1 separated files

Tier 1 is for shops who send separated artwork the way we print it.

If you follow this page, you’ll get:

• fewer holds
• fewer questions
• cleaner repeat runs
• faster turnaround
• Tier 1 pricing

File format

• Adobe Illustrator (.ai)
• Save at final print size.
• Convert all fonts to outlines.
• Remove unused swatches.
• Before sending: check Separations Preview in Illustrator.

If it’s not a Spot Color, it will not print.

Use our CTS template

Use our template for placements and artboards:

• Left chest
• Full front
• Full back
• Sleeves
• Pocket / small print

Download: CTS template

Registration marks

Registration marks are not optional for Tier 1.

Requirements:

• Registration marks must be designated as Registration Color
• Marks must have proper spacing ( 0.5" from the top of the art to the bottom of the reg mark.)
• A

Open Screen print — Tier 1 raster + halftones + gradients

Screen print — raster + halftones + gradients

This page is for jobs with photos, gradients, and soft blends.

We can print photorealistic work — if the file is built correctly.

The rule

Do not send pre-halftoned/bitmapped art.

Send tones as channels. We generate halftones in our RIP so we can control dot gain and generate optimized output.

Preferred file types (when you’re not separated)

Best → worst: 1) PSD (preferred) 2) TIFF 3) PNG 4) JPEG (last resort)

Resolution

• 300 DPI (or higher) at print size
• Don’t send tiny art and expect miracles. The print won’t be better than the pixels.

Transparency + cleanup

• Use transparent backgrounds whenever possible
• Remove “almost invisible” noise
• Watch for stray 1% dots — they can print
• Use the color picker / channel view to confirm true zeros (background should be clean)

Grayscale: use Multichannel

For grayscale photos:

• Convert to Multichannel (not Bitmap)
• Adjust wi

Open Contract art — Tier 2-4

Tier 2–4 means we’re doing more prepress work (separations, cleanup, rebuilds, digitizing).

We can do it — but it changes cost, speed, and risk.

What you still must provide

Even when we do the separations, you still need:

• A customer-approved proof
• Final art assets that match the proof
• Clear placement + size
• Garment supplier + PO
• In-hands date

If proof and art disagree, the job goes on hold.

What to send us (best → worst)

• AI / PDF vector (preferred)
• PSD / TIFF (only include printing layers)
• PNG
• JPEG (last resort)

Rules:

• 300 DPI+ at print size
• Transparent background when possible
• Remove noise / stray dots
• Convert fonts to outlines (or include font files if you can’t)

Naming

If you’re sending separate placement files:

• Your_job####_front.psd
• Your_job####_back.psd
• Your_job####_sleeve_L.psd

If you have internal names, that’s fine — just include your internal job # and placement.

What happens next

• We review

Open Proofs — What we need

Proofs exist for one reason: alignment.

The proof is the reference for what gets printed and where. Most of our customers come to us already having a proofing workflow. But if you need a starter template, you can download one here.

The rule

Assume: what you send is what we print.

If the proof is wrong, the job is wrong.

What a good proof includes

At minimum:

• Garment image (or blank reference)
• Your internal job number (if you have one)
• Placement(s) clearly shown (front/back/sleeve/etc.)
• Orientation (especially pockets / totes / odd placements)
• Print size (width/height)
• Ink/thread color callouts
• Pantone colors for screen print
• Maderia thread codes / names for embroidery
• Any special placement notes (obvious, not buried)

What does NOT need to be on the proof

• Ship date / in-hands date
• Workorder # Those live in Mesh.

Multi-location proofs

If the job has multiple placements, include a

Open Embroidery art

Embroidery is straightforward when files are clear.

There are two cases: already digitized or needs digitizing.

If you already have a digitized file

Send:

• The digitized file (.DST or .PXF)
• Placement + size (width/height)
• Thread color callouts (Maderia thread code / color name if you have it)
• A customer-approved proof/mockup

If we need to digitize

Send the best source you have:

Best → worst: 1) Vector (AI/PDF) 2) PSD 3) TIFF 4) PNG 5) JPEG (last resort)

Rules:

• 300 DPI+ at print size
• Transparent background when possible
• Fonts outlined (or provide font files)
• Clean edges. No fuzzy screenshots.

Proofs still apply

Embroidery still requires a customer-approved proof that shows:

• placement
• orientation
• size

Naming

• JOB####_front_embroidery.dst
• JOB####_hat_left.dst
• JOB####_back_embroidery.ai (if sending source for digitizing)

Open Blind shipping

Blind shipping is simple: your brand goes on the box.

We ship direct to your customer using the sender identity from your Mesh account — not ours.

What blind shipping means

• The shipping label can show your company name (or your blind-ship name) as the sender.
• Tracking is saved to the job in Mesh.
• If you enable it, Mesh can email tracking using your template.
• Your customer gets the package like it came from you.

This is the default for contract partners.

What we need on every order

To ship cleanly and hit dates, every order needs:

• A ship-to address that’s complete and deliverable
• An in-hands date (what your customer actually cares about)
• A ship date that leaves enough time for carrier transit
  (UPS ground maps help. When in doubt, build in buffer.)

Tracking is always saved on the job. Emails are optional.

Tracking emails

Mesh tracking emails are configurable in Settings → Shipping Emails:

• You can choose who M

Open Login + access

Mesh uses email + password. There’s no public sign‑up.

Log in

Log in here.

After you log in, you’ll land on Orders.

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Forgot your password?

Reset it here.

If the email doesn’t show up:

• check spam
• try again (make sure you used the same email on your account)
• if it still doesn’t arrive, contact us and we can reset on our side.

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Your profile

Update your name, email, address, or password in Profile

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Team

Team management lives in [Team]

Use Team to add members, resend invites, or disable access.

Open Drafts + orders

Drafts are where you build the job.
Orders are when it’s submitted and moving through production.

If you only remember one thing:

• Draft = not submitted
• Order = submitted

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Drafts

Use a Draft when you’re still figuring things out. If the customer has not approved your pricing, paid, or confirmed details, use the draft function. Feel free to use it as a scratch pad for building orders as they're in progress, submit when ready.

Drafts are for:

• Adding parts + imprint methods
• Setting sizes / colors / quantities
• Attaching files
• Designating PO's

Drafts are safe to iterate on. Nothing is “in motion” until you submit.

Orders

An Order is a Draft you’ve submitted.

Once it’s an Order:

• We treat it as live work
• We check art against your proof and input pro

Open Parts + styles + files

Multi‑part orders are one of Mesh’s strengths, they’re also where people trip up.

Here’s the rule that keeps everything clean:

The rule

If it needs a different proof, make a new part.

In Mesh:

• One part = one proof
• If the artwork changes, it belongs on a new part with a new art file

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What a “part” is

A part is a chunk of the order that prints the same way.

Same:

• artwork
• placement(s)
• imprint method
• print plan

If we can print it without stopping the press, its a part. When you add a new part, it will be automatically named alphabetically.

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Styles + size breakdowns

Inside a part, you can add one or more styles (garments).
Each style gets its own size breakdown.

That’s great — as long as the art is compatible.

Good uses of multiple styles in one part:

• same logo, same placement
• same inks
• same print size
• same gar

Open Sourcing + PO's

Sourcing is where you tell Mesh where the blanks are coming from.

Do this right and the job moves fast.
Do it wrong and everything slows down.

The goal

For every order, Mesh needs to know:

• which supplier + PO covers the blanks
• where blanks ship from
• whether blanks arrive in one shipment or split shipments
• which sizes belong to which shipment (assigned sizes)

You’ll do this on the Sourcing page.

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Suppliers & Purchase Orders

Add the supplier + PO that covers the blanks for this job. If you haven't already, you can setup frequently used vendors on the settings page so they are easily accessible.

What matters most:

• the supplier name
• the PO identifier we’ll recognize later
• clarity on what that PO covers
• important when ordering blank garments from your vendor, you must designate the same PO with them that you give to us** If you have multiple suppliers for the sam

Open Status + holds

Status (what it means)

Every order moves through a simple flow.

• Pending review — we received it and we’re checking the basics
• Art approved — art, proof, and pricing are set and ready to run
• Blanks received — blanks are here and staged for production
• Pre‑production — setup work (screens, ink, thread + planning)
• In production — actively printing / stitching
• Shipped — label created + package left
• Delivered — carrier delivered it

You’ll see the status at the top of the order page.

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Holds (what they mean)

Holds are normal. They prevent mistakes.
Hold requests aren’t guaranteed if the job is already in motion.

You’ll see one of these hold labels:

• Hold requested
• On hold (customer)
• On hold (art)
• On hold (receiving)
• On hold (pre‑production)
• On hold (production)

If you see an Action required panel, start the

Open Files + messages

Messages and files in Mesh are not chat.

They’re how we keep the job clean:

• the right file in the right place
• the decision written down
• the hold cleared the right way

Where files live (there is no “Files” tab)

On an order page, files show up in a few places:

• Inside each part under Original uploaded art files
• In Message Center → Messages (attachments show up in the timeline)
• Inside Action required flows (receiving / pack‑out decisions)

So if you’re looking for a “Files” tab… it doesn’t exist.

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Uploading files on drafts (and right after submit)

Drafts are the easiest time to manage files.

Drafts

• You can add proof/art files to each part.
• You can also remove files from parts (draft-only).

Submitted orders (short edit window)

After you submit, there’s still a short window where you can add files to parts.

• Y

Open Settings

Settings is where you set up shipping + branding for your account. Tracking emails, tax forms, and suppliers are also set here.

This page is account-wide. Changes here affect future orders and apply to the whole team.

Getting to Settings

• Click the gear in the top nav
• Choose Settings

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Branding (logo)

Upload your logo once so shipments and paperwork (packing slips) look like your brand.

What to do:

• Upload logo
• Click Save settings

Recommendations:

• .png is best.
  
• Transparent background, 1200 x 300 px or 1000 x 250 px
• Horizontal layout
• Minimal padding

Note: This is not a per-user preference. It’s for the whole account.

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UPS billing (required for UPS labels)

If you ship UPS through Mesh, you need one of these set up.

Option A — UPS BYOCA (recommended)

BYOCA connects your UPS account so labels bill to your UPS account using your negotiated rates.

What to do:

1. Add your **UPS account #

Open Address verification + tracking

Bad addresses cause delays. Good addresses ship quick.

Shipping address

You enter shipping while you build the order (draft).

After submit, full order edits are only available for a short window (20 mins). Shipping/contact details, including the address can usually still be edited until production starts. After that, address changes need to happen through a hold request.

What this means:

• Before submit: get it right the first time.
• Right after submit: fix any obvious mistakes fast.
• Later: request a hold and tell us what to change.

Remember -- holds are not always guaranteed depending on where your order is in the production cycle. Read more about holds here.

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Address verification

Address verification happens on the order page in the Shipping card.

After you submit, Mesh checks the address with the carrier. If you change an address later, manually click verify address ag

Open Courier + local pickup

Local pickup and courier are the two non‑UPS options in Mesh.

Use them when the order is staying local or being handed off directly.

Choose the delivery method on the order

You choose this in the normal shipping section while building the order.

In Carrier, choose:

• Courier
• Local pickup

Mesh will set the matching service:

• Local Courier
• Customer Pickup

Still enter real contact info

Even for pickup and courier, enter a real contact and destination.

That means:

• company / recipient
• address
• email
• phone (when available)

Why?

Because Mesh still uses this information for handoff, delivery notes, customer records, and internal checks. And if shipping with our courier, they will need the address.

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Address verification still matters

Courier and pickup use the same Shipping card as other orders.

After submit, open the order and check the Shipping card.

If you see:

• Verify address — click it
• **Use c

Open Receiving reports

Receiving reports

We count every order twice.

1) Receiving — what showed up from your supplier
2) Pack‑out — what leaves our building

The receiving report is the record of that first count.

It answers one question: “What did you send us (and what did we actually receive)?”

Where to find it

On the order page:

• Reports → Receiving report

If there’s a receiving issue, you’ll also see Action required and a quick link like Review receiving report. Read more about holds.

What you’ll see

Typical sections:

• Short / wrong items (anything missing or incorrect)
• Overages (extras)
• Messages & events (the paper trail)

When you need to do something

If the report shows Action required — Receiving discrepancy, we need a decision before the order can move forward.

Keep it simple:

• If items are short / wrong / damaged → you’ll choose bet

Open Pack-out + replacements

Pack‑out report + replacements

We count every order twice:

1) Receiving — what arrived
2) Pack‑out — what ships

The pack‑out report is the record of the second count.

It answers one question: “What is actually going in the box?”

Where to find it

On the order page:

• Reports → Pack‑out report

Also: if there’s a pack‑out problem, you may see the decision card directly on the order page in Message Center. Start there if it says Action required.

What you’ll see

• Pack‑out totals (what was packed)
• Any discrepancy notes
• The production event log for that discrepancy

When you need to do something

If there’s a pack‑out discrepancy, Mesh will show:

Pack‑out discrepancy — Action required

You’ll make one decision:

• Approve ship short
  Use this when you want us to ship what’s ready right now.

• Request reprint/replacement
  Use this when you need exact counts and want missing items remade/replaced.

Open Billing + tax

Billing in Mesh is per order. We typically bill contract customers monthly, unless volume is extroadinarily high or low.

There isn’t a “billing dashboard” with invoices you pay inside the app. Mesh is where you see the numbers tied to each work order. Actual invoices are sent and paid via Quickbooks online.

We prefer Echeck for contract payments. We hate fees! If you must we can take a card but will add a 3% processing fee to cover your reward points 💳️

View billing details (per order)

Open any order and look for the Order totals card.

Click View billing details.

That page is the canonical “what is this order costing” view. It includes:

• work order info (WO, job number if present, PO if present)
• part-by-part breakdown (what’s being produced)
• totals:
  • Subtotal
  • Sales tax (when applicable)
  • Shipping
  • Total

Sales tax (and tax exemption)

If you see Sales tax on an order and you believe your account should be exempt, ch

Open Reports + exports

Reports in Mesh are simple: right now there’s one primary report customers use.

We plan on adding additional customer facing reports as we build. If there are additional reports you'd like to see, submit it as a feature request ticket, and we might add it just for you.

Where to find Reports

Go to the gear menu → Reports.

You’ll land on a page that currently shows:

• Billing report → View

Billing report (account-wide)

The Billing report is for reconciliation.

It’s a single table of orders with rollups like:

• status
• subtotal / sales tax / shipping
• billable amount

This report is account-wide (your whole team sees the same data).

Filters (keep it simple)

Use the mode that matches the question you’re answering:

• Billable — what should be counted for billing (including certain canceled orders with a final due)
• Shipped only — what left
• Delivered only — what arrived
• All statuses — everything (useful for audits and ed

Open Support tickets

Support tickets are for anything that isn’t already handled by an Action required panel on an order.

If the order is on hold and Mesh is asking you for a decision, handle it on the order first.

If you have a question, issue, or request outside that flow, open a ticket.

Where to find Support

Gear menu → Support → New ticket

What to include (so we can help fast)

A good ticket has:

• Category (pick one)
• Subject (one line)
• Message (the full context)
• Optional: Related order (under Advanced (optional))

If it’s about a specific job, always include:

• WO #
• what you want to happen
• any deadlines that matter

Categories (what they mean)

These are the categories you can choose:

• Bug report — something is broken or behaving wrong
• Feature request — you want a new capability
• Feedback — product/process feedback
• Other — everything else

Attachments

Attachments are supported on both ticket creation and r

Open Glossary

If you see a term in this guide and think “wait… what?”, start here.

Orders + sourcing

• Workorder (WO #) — The Mesh job number. Include it in messages and support tickets so we can find the job fast.
• PO number — Your purchase order number with your garment supplier. We use it to receive blanks and track replacements. -Job Number — Your internal job number if your run your own management system and need to attach it to our internal number for easy reference.

Color language

• Pantone color — A color reference system (Pantone). Used as a target when you want a specific match.
• PMS color — Same idea as Pantone. PMS = Pantone Matching System.
• Pantone “match” — A request for us to mix ink to match a Pantone reference (not a “default shelf ink”).

Screen print terms

• Screen — The stencil used to print one ink/color.
• Mesh count — Screen “tightness.” Higher mesh can hold finer detail (but it depends on ink + art).
• Separations — Each printed

Open Resources

Resources

Everything that’s handy to have open while you build orders.

Mesh Assets (requires login)

These are the exact files we use for contract production.
If you’re not logged in, Mesh will prompt you.

• Assets library
• CTS Template (Illustrator)
• Registration marks script (Illustrator)
• Separation labels script (Illustrator)

Ink references (public)

• Standard ink colors (recommended defaults)
• In‑stock ink list (what we currently have on the shelf)

Policies (public)

• Rush policy

Support

• Open a support ticket