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 color broken into its own layer/plate (the way we actually print it).
• Plastisol — The standard screen print ink we use for most jobs.
• Registration marks Alignment marks that keep colors lined up. -Underbase (white underbase) A white layer printed first on dark garments so colors stay bright. -Highlight white An additional white layer printed on top (or partially on top) to make details pop. Used when you want brighter whites or sharper highlights. -Flash A quick cure between layers so ink dries. Required for underbases on dark colors -PFP (Print / Flash / Print) Print a layer, flash it, then print again. Used to build opacity/brightness of white ink. A PFP'd base can often skew the brightness of overprint colors to appear brighter.

Art terms #

• Raster image — Pixel-based art (doesn’t scale cleanly). Example: JPG/PNG.
• Vector image — Path-based art (scales cleanly). Example: AI/PDF/EPS.
• Proof — The visual plan: placement, size, colors, and what’s printing where.
• Print-ready art — Final art that matches the proof and can go straight to production.

File types you’ll see #

• .AI file — Adobe Illustrator file.
• .PSD file — Adobe Photoshop file.
• .PNG file — Image format often used for previews/mockups (not ideal for true separations).
• .TIFF file — High-quality raster format (often used for print imagery).
• .DST file — Embroidery stitch file (machine format).
• .PXF file — Embroidery working/production format used by some digitizing systems.

Embroidery #

• Digitizing — Turning art into stitches (the file your embroidery machine actually runs).

Shipping + fulfillment #

• 3rd party shipping — Shipping billed to your carrier account (not ours).
• BYOCA account — “Bring your own carrier account.” You connect UPS in Settings so labels bill to your UPS account.
• Pack-out — Final count + check before shipping (the last gate before it leaves).
• Packing slip — The paper inside the box that tells the story of what’s in the shipment.

Shop tools #

• CTS — “Computer-to-screen.” How screens are imaged. It’s why we’re picky about separations + marks.
• CTS template — Our Illustrator template for placements, alignment, and clean handoff.