New article from atkinsontshirt.com. Do your employees passionately care about a currently trending topic? 
You know, what the talking heads are blathering about on television, writing about in the newspaper, or most currently, what’s filling up your social media feed with stances one way or another?  This could be a local issue or something that’s being debated on a national level.  And it’s getting ugly.
Here’s a question one of my consulting clients asked me recently, and I’m paraphrasing a bit to make the issue neutral, but it went like this:

Saving money is a constant challenge for screen printing shops of all sizes. However, in some areas of your budget, it’s worth spending a few extra dollars to avoid long-term headaches. This is certainly the case when it comes to sourcing tape for your screens. Although it may seem cheaper and more convenient to use plain old shipping tape found in office supply stores, this money-saving move might actually end up costing you more in the long run. 

To design effectively on headwear, the particular decoration area and the challenges involved in decorating the given type must be taken into account. With baseball caps, the most important thing to be aware of is the horizontal aspect of the embroidery area. 

Much has happened in direct-to-garment (DTG) inkjet printing since we last examined the technology two years ago. Newer inks provide better color gamut, improved washability, and adhesion to a growing range of pretreated fabrics.

New article from atkinsontshirt.com. Do you use Photoshop for creating the image for t-shirts either digitally or with traditional screen-printing?  How adept are you at setting up a foundation for amazing print results with just a few simple clicks?
Many creative digital artists struggle with Photoshop because there are too many choices to adjust the image; they simply don’t know the tools or get caught in a rut when processing their files.
Like working with pizza dough, they simply overwork the image.  (Sorry, but you do not need a lens flare.  Just stop it.)
What if I told you there was some secret Photoshop magic, that’s easy to use, has only two steps and takes two minutes or less to get to amazing results? Today you are in luck, as we are going to unleash the power of the LAB channel.
Say what?

In some circumstances, additives can help optimize the results of water-based inks. These additives change the chemistry of the inks and cannot be placed back into the original bucket, so use only when needed.

Some key additives include:

Purchasing an automatic press is a large investment for any shop, especially if you are running a small business. Before you get a nasty case of sticker shock, it is important to understand the benefits of owning this machine. There is a general misconception that you have to run an automatic all day every day to afford it. That is not true.

New article from atkinsontshirt.com. Have you ever tasted a bowl of freshly served gumbo, hot and steaming and brimming with so much goodness you can’t wait to shove your spoon in and take a bite?  That rich and savory deliciousness starts dripping down your chin, as you can’t even eat the right way it’s so fantastic.
Mmmmm.  I’ll need an extra napkin please.
A great business is just like devouring that bowl of gumbo.  People are excited about doing business with them, and will always tell  their friends about their experience.

Many screen printers have a moment where they realize their shops can’t keep up with a requested turnaround time. That’s when some will start to look for an automatic screen-printing press that they can fit into their shop setup to increase their production. But, when it comes to finding a press to suit their shop’s needs, some owners might know where to start. 

New article from atkinsontshirt.com. There is a quote attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius that reads, “He who chases two rabbits, catches neither.”  Meaning, it’s vital that you

focus your attention on one primary target.
Think about your shop for a second and your customer base.
Are you chasing one rabbit, or a field full of customers hopping all around?  Imagine how much simpler and easier your business might be if you winnow down your customer base to just one type.
One rabbit to chase.
That rabbit could look or move anyway it wanted…but it’s going to be easier to hunt as the distractions of all of the other types of rabbits will fade away.  It will become your core focus.