[GuaVaGrL]

My partner are going back and forth on limited edition numbering and we wanted to get the forum's thoughts on this...

When numbering a limited edition T-shirt, do you number by:

the order the shirts are actually printed in?
the order the shirts are sold in?
some other logic?

Which way do your customers think about it when they hear "limited edition" and see numbering?

Your feedback is appreciated!

 

[IYFGraphics]

My partner are going back and forth on limited edition numbering and we wanted to get the forum's thoughts on this...

When numbering a limited edition T-shirt, do you number by:

the order the shirts are actually printed in?
the order the shirts are sold in?
some other logic?

Which way do your customers think about it when they hear "limited edition" and see numbering?

Your feedback is appreciated!

It doesn't matter, the customer will have no clue as to how your numbering scheme works, only the number of the shirt they purchased vs the total number of shirts you will produce in your limited run.

Hope this helps.

 

[ShirlandDesign]

If your signing them when you sell them number as you go, otherwise after culling out any seconds sign and number at that point.

 

[GuaVaGrL]

If your signing them when you sell them number as you go, otherwise after culling out any seconds sign and number at that point.

Thanks to you both!

We're also going to have a custom care label (screen print or heat transfer, not sure yet) directly on the shirt. I'm thinking we'll reserve some space within the care label to write the numbering.

What pens/markers would work on top of a screen printed or heat transfered area?

I'm guessing Sharpies would work. If anyone has tried this, what has your experience been?

 

[red514]

Thanks to you both!

We're also going to have a custom care label (screen print or heat transfer, not sure yet) directly on the shirt. I'm thinking we'll reserve some space within the care label to write the numbering.

What pens/markers would work on top of a screen printed or heat transfered area?

I'm guessing Sharpies would work. If anyone has tried this, what has your experience been?

I did exactly that, screenprinted label with a space to write the "1/50" using a Sharpie. The only issue was that the sharpie fades slowly with washing, not a big issue imo.

 

[GuaVaGrL]

I did exactly that, screenprinted label with a space to write the "1/50" using a Sharpie. The only issue was that the sharpie fades slowly with washing, not a big issue imo.

Do you write on the screen printed surface or the T-shirt itself?

 

[Brickhouse]

We've done jonny cupcake limited edition shirts and we screen print...

1 of 100
2 of 100
3 of 100 and so on

 

[mads]

We've done jonny cupcake limited edition shirts and we screen print...

1 of 100
2 of 100
3 of 100 and so on

Wouldn't you need a screen for each number? Seems like an awful lot of work.

 

[red514]

Do you write on the screen printed surface or the T-shirt itself?

ya, i had a solid white area to write on, the print was white ink on navy shirts.

 

[red514]

Wouldn't you need a screen for each number? Seems like an awful lot of work.

it is a lot of work but you could probably get away with just one screen. 1 film with all the numbers you need ("1/100, 2/100,..) spaced out so they can easily be blocked with some tape. You would manually position and print each shirt. It's cost effective for a 'limited edition' run if you're doing the printing.. it just takes allot of time.

 

[MotoskinGraphix]

A limited edition is just that, a limited edition of something special. I just dont see it unless you are a well known designer showcasing something unique and special. In that case you wouldnt wear the art at all.

 

[red514]

A limited edition is just that, a limited edition of something special. I just dont see it unless you are a well known designer showcasing something unique and special. In that case you wouldnt wear the art at all.

"something unique and special" are the key words.

 

[MotoskinGraphix]

There are a few more....a market,valuation, collectability and probably most important a secondary market that validates the initial value and collectability.

 

[Unik Ink]

Do you write on the screen printed surface or the T-shirt itself?

I definitely wouldn't write on the shirt. The ink will bleed through the shirt, and may spread out into the fabric. A sharpie may even bleed into the plastisol. I would definitely try it out on an old shirt first.

 

[IYFGraphics]

I definitely wouldn't write on the shirt. The ink will bleed through the shirt, and may spread out into the fabric. A sharpie may even bleed into the plastisol. I would definitely try it out on an old shirt first.

The sharpie will fade out rather quickly, we did a limited edition shirt for a local race track over the winter and sold out of them, a guys that bought one of the shirts went around and had a lot of the drivers sign his shirt at the beginning of the season (April), a week or so ago I saw him wearing the shirt, while the print still looked bright all the signatures had faded to the point that some were unreadable.....some of the signatures where the driver pressed hard writing his name had bled into the fabric and looked very bad.

Hope this helps.

 

[GuaVaGrL]

I definitely wouldn't write on the shirt. The ink will bleed through the shirt, and may spread out into the fabric. A sharpie may even bleed into the plastisol. I would definitely try it out on an old shirt first.

If the sharpie doesn't work, I'll probably take a look at some fabric pens/markers. I'll see what the local Pearl Paints carries first.

FYI, I just did a quick Google search and found:
Fabric Markers Landing Page
Pilot Fabric Marker Pens

If anyone else has had any success with a fabric pens/markers, please let me know. Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

[Brickhouse]

We burn one screen with all the logos 1 of 100 / 2 of 100 and make a heat transfer...cut them out and apply.

 

[TheMannaMachine]

I have purchased a shirt with this number sequence and it was pretty cool. If I seen someone with the same tshirt we would check to see what number the other person had. I feel this is the best way to go. The sharpie idea just seems unauthentic. Good luck with everything!

We've done jonny cupcake limited edition shirts and we screen print...

1 of 100
2 of 100
3 of 100 and so on

 

[JoshEllsworth]

If you want sequentially numbered tags, you may look up someone with a solvent printer and print/cut film for apparel. The Versacamm printer has the ability to do variable data printing to print numbers in succession. Attached is a photo of a tag. A little more professional than a sharpie in my opinion.

Also - if you want to incorporate the number as part of your design, consider heat transfer vinyl to press with the screen printed design on the front of the shirt. Photo attached of this concept, but all was done with cuttable foil.