A rack of custom apparel with specialty print finishes
Printing Techniques

Every way to finish a print.

Puff, high-density, discharge, foil, glow, glitter, neon, color-changing inks and more — the specialty finishes and inks that take a design from printed to unforgettable. Not sure which effect fits your art, garment, and budget? Tell us about your project and we’ll steer you right.

01Specialty techniques
A raised, soft 3D puff print lettering on a custom t-shirt
Puff

Puff Print

A raising agent lifts the ink off the shirt for a soft, 3D, spongy finish — the retail-favorite look that begs to be touched.

Best for: Bold logos, streetwear, and text you want to feel raised.

A thick, raised high-density screen print with sharp glossy edges
High-Density

High-Density Printing

Ink built up in sharp, glossy, raised layers with crisp vertical edges — including clear high-density gloss and raised heat-transfer versions.

Best for: Premium logos, clear gloss accents, and a tactile raised edge.

A soft, faded water-based print soaked into a cotton t-shirt
Water-Based

Water-Based & Discharge Printing

Ink that soaks into the fibers instead of sitting on top — an ultra-soft, almost printless feel. Discharge does it on dark garments.

Best for: Soft-hand retail tees and vintage, broken-in prints.

An all-over sublimated design covering a polyester sports jersey
Sublimation

Sublimation Printing

Dye turned to gas bonds permanently into polyester for edge-to-edge, all-over color that never cracks, peels, or fades.

Best for: All-over prints, jerseys, and photo-real color on polyester.

A full-color, photo-realistic simulated process screen print
Process

Process & Halftone Printing

Photo-realistic artwork screen-printed with halftone dots — simulated process on darks and 4-color CMYK on whites.

Best for: Gradients, photographs, and full-color art in screen printing.

A bright gold metallic foil design pressed onto a dark shirt
Foil

Metallic & Foil Printing

Mirror-bright metallic foil bonded to an adhesive print — gold, silver, and holographic shine, as a direct print or a ready-to-press transfer.

Best for: Luxe merch, event tees, and eye-catching metallic accents.

A t-shirt design printed in glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent ink
Glow

Glow-in-the-Dark Ink

Phosphorescent ink that charges under light and glows green in the dark — a hidden second design that only shows at night.

Best for: Concerts, Halloween, camp, and safety-minded night wear.

A sparkling glitter-ink print catching the light on a shirt
Glitter

Glitter Ink

Real metallic flakes suspended in the ink give a sparkling, textured finish that catches the light from every angle.

Best for: Dance teams, spirit wear, bachelorette, and party merch.

Bright neon fluorescent ink glowing under UV blacklight
Neon

Fluorescent & Neon Ink

Electric neon inks that pop in daylight and glow bright under UV blacklight — the go-to for parties, runs, and club nights.

Best for: Blacklight parties, glow runs, and can’t-miss bright merch.

A thermochromic print revealing a hidden design as it warms
Color-Change

Color-Changing Inks

Inks that transform with heat (thermochromic) or water (hydrochromic) — a print that reveals a hidden design when it warms up or gets wet.

Best for: Novelty merch, promos, and interactive reveal designs.

A soft, stretchy silicone-ink print flexing with the fabric
Silicone

Silicone Ink Printing

Stretchy, ultra-soft silicone ink that flexes with the fabric and resists cracking — a premium, tagless-soft finish built for performance wear.

Best for: Performance apparel, tagless labels, and soft premium prints.

A crisp, bright print on a polyester athletic performance jersey
Polyester

Printing on Polyester

Special low-cure inks and blockers stop dye migration so prints stay bright and true on polyester, tri-blends, and performance fabrics.

Best for: Athletic jerseys, moisture-wicking tees, and poly blends.

Freshly pressed custom shirts coming off the heat press
DTF Transfers

DTF Printing

Direct-to-Film transfers deliver full-color, photo-detail prints on almost any fabric or color — no minimums and no color limits.

Best for: Full-color art, small runs, and mixed garment types.

Looking for a core decoration method instead? See screen printing, embroidery, DTF, DTG & vinyl →

Ready to make something great?

Get a fast, no-obligation quote — most within one business day. As few as one, no setup fees.