Frequently asked questions
Apparel
What is the apparel minimum?
$100 minimum. That usually covers three or four shirts depending on graphics and garment type. Per-piece cost drops drastically as quantity increases.
What drives the price on apparel?
Each graphic, no matter how small, requires its own press. That count is the main driver of price. Graphic size and garment type/quality come next. We draft a custom quote for every job and can provide multiple pricing options.
What are typical graphic sizes for a shirt?
A chest logo is usually 3" to 4" wide. A standard full front graphic is around 9" wide. A full back or oversized front runs closer to 11" wide. We can go up to 14"x18", but prices scale very quickly at larger sizes. (A 12x12 graphic is almost DOUBLE the area of a 9x9!)
What blanks do you use?
Gildan is our standard offering. Comfort Colors is our premium line. We order per job and are happy to source other brands for your specific needs.
Can I mix garment types in one order?
Yes! Sticking to one or two colors or garment types per order keeps production and pricing straightforward. However, we are happy to mix and match to build your ideal production run.
Do you offer polos and aprons?
Yes! We print onto polos and aprons as well as other garments, bags, and soft goods. We order blanks per job and can source your specialty items.
What about sleeve prints or inside tags?
We can do sleeves and inside-neck tags. They count as additional graphics and will raise the price accordingly.
Do you stock every size?
We order blanks per job. Extended sizes (2XL and up) are available but carry a surcharge from the blank supplier. Tell us your size breakdown and we will provide an accurate quote.
Stickers
What is the sticker minimum?
$50 minimum. Small runs cost more per sticker because proofing and setup are a larger share of the job than the materials.
Die-cut vs kiss-cut?
Die-cut stickers are individual pieces cut to shape and punched out of the backing sheet. Kiss-cut stickers stay on a backing sheet you can peel from. We do not offer sticker rolls but can cut sheets to your preferred size.
Are your stickers waterproof?
Our standard vinyl stickers are durable and hold up well in normal use, including outdoor exposure. Lamination is available when you specifically need extra protection.
How big can a sticker be?
Most jobs land stickers in the 2"–4" range, but we print and cut in house on wide-format equipment. Tell us the size you need and we will confirm it fits.
Signs
What is the sign minimum?
$50 minimum. Small runs or a single smaller sign cost more because proofing and setup are a larger share of the job than the materials.
What sign types do you handle?
Window vinyl, banners, coroplast yard signs, vehicle vinyl, magnets and other large format items. Quoted from your measurements and graphics files.
How large can you print?
We have a 48" maximum print width on our 54" wide-format printer. This means that the 'short side' can be up to 48" but the other dimension can be much larger.
Order process & artwork
How does a job start?
Fill out the quote form or email info@capthreads.com. Tell us what you need, roughly how many, and when you need it. Attach art when you have it but it is not required to start the conversation.
What happens after I submit a quote?
We reach out the way you asked: call, text, or email, same business day. We talk through the job, clean up your file if needed, and send a digital proof. Nothing prints until you approve the proof and pay a deposit (typically 50%).
How long do orders take?
After final graphics are approved, the quote is confirmed, and the deposit is paid, our typical turnaround is 7–10 calendar days. Stickers are usually the fastest as apparel waits on blank delivery and signs often require specialty work or materials.
How do I pay?
We accept cash, check, Venmo, Cashapp, and Zelle for no fees other than 6% MD sales tax. Credit cards incur a 4% surcharge. We take a 50% deposit up front to cover material costs, then the balance before pickup or delivery.
Do you do rush jobs?
Whenever possible! Rush fees are case-by-case and start at $100. Put a hard date on the quote form. We will tell you yes or no based on our calendar as we would rather say no than miss your deadline.
Pickup, delivery, or shipping?
Pickup in Kensington is standard. Local delivery is often available. We ship only when necessary.
What about restocks?
We keep the file. Reorders with the same graphics are simpler than the first job and priced similarly. No graphics charge on a straight reorder.
Does the file have to be perfect?
No, but it has to be workable. We resize, tidy edges, remove backgrounds, add borders, and tweak colors as part of normal setup when the file allows. Additional design work is quoted separately from the printing.
What file types do you accept?
AI, EPS, PDF, and SVG for vector artwork. PNG can be used if 300 DPI and sized for printing. PNG, JPG, and TIFF for raster art. Email files to info@capthreads.com after you submit the quote form.
Vector or raster, which do I need?
Vector required for logos, typography, and cartoon-style graphics — these need clean paths for printing and cutting. Raster is fine for photographs or art that relies on texture and shading. Raster files should be 300 DPI at the final printed size, not upscaled from a small screen grab.
What is included in setup vs a graphics charge?
Normal setup covers sizing, solid color background removal, and border addition as needed on a file you already have. Adding new wording (a phone number, a date, a slogan you did not send) triggers a graphics fee. Extensive art builds are quoted separately.
What should I check on the proof?
Spelling: company names, website URLs, phone numbers, and slogan wording. Graphic dimensions: we will provide the print sizes in our email with the quote attached. Confirm the sizes match what you asked for before you approve.