Get to know over-the-zipper printing.

Due to these crevices created by the seam around the zipper, the ink will not be distributed perfectly even as the squeegee runs down the garment, and small print imperfections are to be expected when printing over a seam or zipper.

Because some print imperfections are to be expected, we always recommend designing the T-shirt or zip-up hoodie with a distressed pattern to achieve a more consistent overall look. When printing over-the-zipper, avoid fine details like color blending or intricate designs.

Black sweatshirt with red over the zipper printing

How does over-the-zipper printing work?

Caring for over-the-zipper 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

Independent Trading Co SS4500Z Midweight Zip Hoodie in Sandstone (model:male, size:medium, view:front)
Independent Trading Co SS4500Z
5.0

Midweight Zip Hoodie

Carhartt CTK122 Midweight Hooded Zip-Front Sweatshirt in Heather Grey (model:male, size:large, view:front)
Carhartt CTK122
5.0

Midweight Hooded Zip-Front Sweatshirt

Allmade AL4002 Unisex Organic French Terry Full-Zip Hoodie in Granite Grey Heather (size:medium, view:front)
Allmade AL4002

Unisex Organic French Terry Full-Zip Hoodie

econscious EC5650 Men’s Zip Hoody in Earth (model:male, size:medium, view:front)
econscious EC5650
5.0

Men’s Zip Hoody

Comfort Colors 1580 Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt in Grey (size:medium, view:front)
Comfort Colors 1580
5.0

Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt

AS Colour 5125 Stencil Half Zip Crew in Ecru (size:medium, view:front)
AS Colour 5125
5.0

Stencil Half Zip Crew

Carhartt CT102788 Women’s Clarksburg Full-Zip Hoodie in Carbon Heather (size:small, view:front)
Carhartt CT102788

Women’s Clarksburg Full-Zip Hoodie

Frequently Asked Questions

Over-the-Zipper

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

When the custom zip-up hoodies are placed on the pallet, the zipper and the pocket 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 custom zip-up hoodies with a distressed pattern to achieve a more consistent overall look.

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

  • We do not recommend printing a design closer than 1" to the seam, especially with specific garments and print styles. Why? A thick zipper can prevent the print squeegee from lying flat on the garment during printing, which can cause ink buildup, runoff, and a messy design.

Complexity: Over-the-zipper 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 zipper.

Cost: The complexity of over-the-zipper 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-zipper 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-zipper printing requires consideration of the zipper'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-zipper 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 the zipper and pocket seems, 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.