Things to Consider

This type of printing effectively expands the available canvas for showcasing artwork by extending designs across seams. This allows designers to create larger, more intricate designs that cover a significant portion of the garment. When screen printing over uneven surfaces like seams, imperfections are common. To minimize these, use darker ink on lighter fabrics and design with vintage or distressed elements that camouflage minor irregularities.

close up of a pink print going over the seams of a t-shirt

How do I care for my over-the-seam printed apparel?

Caring for over-the-seam printed apparel is essential to maintain the integrity and longevity of the prints.

Orange letters H and A printed on white hoodie over the seam

Apparel for Over-the-Seam

AS Colour 5001 Staple Tee in Mushroom (model:male, size:medium, view:front)
AS Colour 5001
4.9

Staple Tee

Lane Seven LS16005 Heavy Pigment Tee in Burro (model:male, size:medium, view:front)
Lane Seven LS16005
4.5

Heavy Pigment Tee

AS Colour 5026 Classic Tee in Sand (model:male, size:medium, view:front)
AS Colour 5026
4.9

Classic Tee

Lane Seven LS15000 Deluxe Tee in Mushroom (model:male, size:medium, view:front)
Lane Seven LS15000

Deluxe Tee

Frequently Asked Questions

Over-the-Seams

Yes, an additional three days is expected with an over-the-seam printing style.

When the garments for oversized printing are placed on the pallet, the seams are not level with the rest of the garment. Due to the crevices created, the ink will not be distributed perfectly even as the squeegee runs down the garment, and small print imperfections are expected when printing over a seam or zipper.

  • We always recommend designing with a distressed pattern for a more consistent look.

  • Avoid fine details like color blending or intricate designs when printing over the seam.

Complexity: Over-the-seam or oversized printing can be more complex and technically challenging than traditional printing methods. Specialized equipment and expertise may be required to ensure accurate alignment and proper printing across the seam.

Cost: The complexity of over-the-seam printing may result in higher production costs than traditional printing methods. Additional time and resources may be needed to prepare and execute the printing process effectively.

Limited Availability: Over-the-sean printing may only be widely available from some custom apparel printers. Finding a printer with the necessary expertise and equipment to execute this technique may require research and potentially higher costs.

Design Limitations: Designing for over-the-seam printing requires consideration of the seam's placement and functionality.

Certain design elements may need to be adjusted or omitted to ensure compatibility with the printing process.



Quality Control: Over-the-seam printing requires meticulous attention to detail and quality control to achieve consistent, high-quality results. Any errors or misalignments in the printing process can detract from the overall appearance and impact of the design.

When printing over seams, inconsistencies and/or distortion are considered acceptable. As such, goods with these inconsistencies will not be considered misprints.

Other Specialty Printing

Create extraordinary custom apparel with foil, metallic, over-the-zipper, glow-in-the-dark, and specialty printing styles.

man wearing a black t-shirt - holding sunglasses

Simulated Process Printing

Use sim-process printing for designs with a lot of color blending, like gradients or photorealistic prints.

close-up of tonal printing style

Tonal Printing

Tonal printing is a subtle print style that is ideal for creating a more vintage look and feel to your shirts.

a detailed image printed using metallic ink

Metallic Printing

Metallic ink screen printing is used in the custom apparel industry to create shiny, metallic effects on garments of all kinds.