Impressions - September 2018 - 46

be done as long as the seams and handles
are off the platen's edge.You may need a
7" x 8" or 10" x 12" platen to adequately
accommodate them.Totes are inexpensive
to produce and perfect for use as a promotional item to capture more business.
For example, say a boutique grocery store
has a few shirts made. Don't stop there;
wow the customer with a custom-printed
canvas tote bag, and explain why it could
be an ideal additional piece.
Patches, compression sleeves,
leather, paper, wood, etc. You can lay
these items directly on the platen without securing them with a hoop. In some
cases, you may need double-sided tape
to keep the edges from being raised, and
the only difficult part is finding where the
image will be printed on the product.The
easiest way to do this is to print directly
on the platen, then lay the product over
the general image area.Adjust each print,
then draw a template for the product.
Using Special Platens
Now, let's talk about items that require
special platens - typically aftermarket or
OEM platens that have been designed to
accomplish printing on something other

than a standard rectangular print area.
Everyone seemingly wants to print on
shoes and hats. Special platens for these
items do exist, but remember that there
are limitations on the types of shoes and
hats you can use. For example, you must
use unstructured hats. So it's important to
know the limitations and research what's
realistic with these options.
Other special platens allow for printing
on dual sleeves, pockets and long sleeves. I
have even seen under-the-bill cap platens.
Having a wide variety of these accessories to accommodate unique placements
can be helpful if the orders you receive
justify the investment. Remember not
to spend lots of money on a platen you
don't necessarily need when it may be
more cost effective to modify existing
ones to accomplish a job.
Platen modification is an affordable
and inexpensive way to print unique
placements or products. "Platen risers"
are available commercially, and some fit
aftermarket platens.They work by lifting
and isolating a specific garment portion,
and "hiding" seams, buttons or other obstructions. Essentially, you are creating
a platform to accommodate a smooth
print surface.

These are great for isolating pockets
or sleeves and can be inexpensive. A lot
of end users will make their own to help
create a smooth and obstruction-free print
area.The best way to make platen risers
is to buy thin pieces of Masonite and cut
them to fit the shape of the product you
want to print. Secure the cut template to
an existing platen with double-sided tape.
Hide the seams, buttons or obstructions
below the print surface.Then lower the
platen.
If your printer has a head-strike warning, keep raising the platen and checking
the height until the warning is deactivated,
then drop it a notch. If you don't have a
sensor, lower the platen until it is at the
correct print height.
I have seen platen risers be extremely
effective for women's V-necks, tank tops,
pockets, zippered hoodies, onesies, tote
bags and more. Get creative with platen
risers; they are inexpensive to make and
extremely versatile.
Remember, the goal with these other
printable materials is to make money. Invest wisely and analyze whether printing
on out-of-the-ordinary products will be
advantageous for your business. Having a
unique print option may set you apart from
your competition or help you evolve into
a niche specialty. Use these techniques to
have fun, make money and create amazing
things - which is part of what makes
this industry so great. 
John LeDrew is the DTG director for Melco Intl. He
has worked professionally in garment decoration
since 2006, managing accounts and overseeing
production for some of the world's largest brands
and retailers. For more information or to comment
on this article, contact John via LinkedIn.

Don't spend lots of money on a
platen you don't necessarily need
when it may be more cost effective
to modify existing platens to
accomplish a job.

Use Info*Action #16 at impressionsmag.com/infoaction See us at ISS Fort Worth

P.46

i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m SEPTEMBER 2018


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Impressions - September 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - September 2018

Impressions - September 2018
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
On Design
The New Era of Outerwear
The ‘Profit First’ Wave: Part 2
The Ticking Clock
The Design Throwback
Shop Talk
Embroidery Technique
Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Direct-To-Garment
Ad Index/Classifieds
Impressions - September 2018 - Intro
Impressions - September 2018 - CT1
Impressions - September 2018 - CT2
Impressions - September 2018 - Impressions - September 2018
Impressions - September 2018 - Cover2
Impressions - September 2018 - 1
Impressions - September 2018 - Contents
Impressions - September 2018 - 3
Impressions - September 2018 - 4
Impressions - September 2018 - 5
Impressions - September 2018 - First Impressions
Impressions - September 2018 - 7
Impressions - September 2018 - From the Show Director
Impressions - September 2018 - 9
Impressions - September 2018 - Overheard
Impressions - September 2018 - 11
Impressions - September 2018 - 12
Impressions - September 2018 - 13
Impressions - September 2018 - First Look
Impressions - September 2018 - 15
Impressions - September 2018 - 15a
Impressions - September 2018 - 15b
Impressions - September 2018 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - September 2018 - On Design
Impressions - September 2018 - The New Era of Outerwear
Impressions - September 2018 - 19
Impressions - September 2018 - 20
Impressions - September 2018 - 21
Impressions - September 2018 - 22
Impressions - September 2018 - The ‘Profit First’ Wave: Part 2
Impressions - September 2018 - 24
Impressions - September 2018 - 25
Impressions - September 2018 - 26
Impressions - September 2018 - The Ticking Clock
Impressions - September 2018 - 28
Impressions - September 2018 - 29
Impressions - September 2018 - 30
Impressions - September 2018 - The Design Throwback
Impressions - September 2018 - 32
Impressions - September 2018 - 33
Impressions - September 2018 - Shop Talk
Impressions - September 2018 - 35
Impressions - September 2018 - Embroidery Technique
Impressions - September 2018 - 37
Impressions - September 2018 - 38
Impressions - September 2018 - 39
Impressions - September 2018 - Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Impressions - September 2018 - 41
Impressions - September 2018 - 42
Impressions - September 2018 - 43
Impressions - September 2018 - 44
Impressions - September 2018 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - September 2018 - 46
Impressions - September 2018 - Ad Index/Classifieds
Impressions - September 2018 - 48
Impressions - September 2018 - Cover3
Impressions - September 2018 - Cover4
Impressions - September 2018 - IF1
Impressions - September 2018 - IF2
Impressions - September 2018 - IF3
Impressions - September 2018 - IF4
Impressions - September 2018 - IF5
Impressions - September 2018 - IF6
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
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