When you design a piece of Branded Company Swag, you'll choose a decoration method: how your logo or artwork is applied to the product. The options you see depend on the item, and each suits a particular material and design style. You don't need to be a print expert; here's the quick version.
Who can use this: Workspace Owners and Admins on the Pro and Enterprise plans, or on any plan during the free trial. Works the same for Slack and Microsoft Teams workspaces.
For an overview of the whole feature, read the Rewards Guide.
Each product shows only the methods available for it, and the recommended option is picked to look great on that item, so it's always a safe default. Some products let you choose between methods, and the printable design area can differ between them.
Not sure which to pick?
Detailed, colorful design on a cotton tee or hoodie → DTG
Colorful, durable design across many fabrics (cotton, polyester, fleece, blends) → DTF
Bright, long-lasting design on polyester, a mug, or a bag → Dye Sublimation
A design that covers the whole item, edge to edge → All Over Print
Crisp logo or text on a flat, firm surface → Digital Printing
A premium stitched look on a hat, polo, or jacket → Embroidery
A design woven into the material, like a blanket or patch → Weaving
A permanent mark on a metal bottle or wood item → Laser Engraving
All Over Print (AOP)
Dyes are pressed into the product with heat for a seamless, edge-to-edge finish with no print borders. Best when you want the design to cover most of the item, great for polyester apparel, bags, blankets, mugs, and bold full-surface artwork.
Digital Printing
The design is printed directly onto the product's surface with professional-grade inks. Best for crisp logos, text, and colorful artwork on flat or firm surfaces, great when the product supports detailed, direct printing.
Direct to Film (DTF)
The design is printed onto a film and heat-pressed onto the product, over a white-ink base that keeps it vibrant on any fabric color. Best for colorful designs on cotton, polyester, fleece, and blends, a durable option that works well on many fabric types.
Direct to Garment (DTG)
Water-based inks are printed directly into the fabric, like an inkjet printer for clothing, for a soft finish. Best for cotton and cotton-blend apparel: soft-feeling t-shirts, hoodies, and detailed designs with lots of colors.
Dye Sublimation
Heat turns the dye into the fabric or coating so the design becomes part of the surface, for bright, long-lasting results. Best for polyester fabrics or coated hard goods, great for bright designs on mugs, bags, activewear, and all-over prints.
Embroidery
Your logo is stitched into the fabric with thread for a premium, textured finish (colors are limited to available thread shades). Best for thicker fabrics and structured items: hats, polos, jackets, and sweatshirts, when you want a premium stitched look.
Laser Engraving
A laser etches your design into the product's surface for a permanent mark (no ink). Best for hard goods like metal bottles, tumblers, and wood, when you want a subtle, durable, high-end finish.
Weaving
The design is woven into the material itself from colored yarns, rather than printed on top. Best when the design should be part of the material, great for blankets, towels, patches, labels, and textured products.
Still unsure? Go with the method recommended on the product (it's chosen to look its best on that item) and preview your design before saving.
Related: Custom Rewards and Branded company swag.