Updated By TeckWrap Craft On June 29, 2024
How To Put Your Logo On A Hat? Cap Printing 101!
Are you thinking of printing caps with a company logo? Perhaps you want to create custom hats for your own clothing brand? Then read this post on how to put your logo on hat. To give you an idea, there are several printing techniques for cap printing.
There’s the sublimation technique on trucker hats. Or you can print heat transfer vinyl or transfer paper on baseball caps. Then there are embroidered hats where you can use iron on embroidery transfers for more elegant-looking logo hats, just like New Era Hats. Keep reading further so you can learn how to print your own logo on hats, sun visors, dad hats, baseball caps, and even beanies.
Supplies Needed For Printing Custom Hats
Cap printing is not like your usual t-shirt printing process. You’ll need specific machines and supplies to create your own custom hats. Here are the easiest supplies you should have to print custom logo hats:
- Heat Press Machine: It is best to invest in a cap heat press machine that has a curved rubber pad where you can easily keep the printable part of the cap. If you don’t have the budget for it, a Mini Heat Press Machine will also do but you can’t use it for sublimation printing as this may cause ghosting.
- Thermal Tape: This is placed on the sides of the print to prevent the material from moving. It’s heat-resistant and is particularly important if you’re using a mini heat press machine.
How Do You Make Custom Logo Hats?
There are different types of printing techniques when creating a custom hat. You can do screen printing or opt for custom embroidered hats. However, both techniques are costly, because you’ll be needing big machines and a wide space to accommodate these machines.
That’s why if it’s your first time creating custom baseball caps and want to opt for the easier and cheaper way, sublimation, heat transfer vinyl and transfer paper printing are the better options. All three printing processes will be thoroughly explained below.
Cap Printing Using Sublimation Technique
The easiest and cheapest way to customize hats is through sublimation printing. If you plan on giving out promotional hats, then this printing technique is best for you. However, there are limitations when it comes to sublimation cap printing, here’s what you need to remember:
- You can only sublimate on special sublimation caps with the white printable area. Sublimation caps are like trucker hats like what you can see in the image below. The printable area of the sublimation caps is made of polyester. As a general rule, you cannot sublimate on 100% cotton garments.
- You can only use a cap heat press machine when sublimating on a cap. You cannot use a mini heat press machine as this may result in ghosting of the print.
- You cannot sublimate on a dark-colored baseball cap. You cannot sublimate on regular baseball hats.
Supplies Needed For Sublimation Printing On Caps
Whether you want to start a custom apparel line with your own logo on the cap, or want to print a brand logo on the cap, sublimating is an easy printing technique to try out. The first step is to gather the supplies you need:
- Cap heat press machine
- Sublimation cap or sublimation pre-curved visor
- Sublimation paper
- Inkjet printer with sublimation ink
- Thermal tape
- Scissors
How To Sublimate Print On A cap
- Print your design on the sublimation paper. Don’t forget to mirror the design.
- Cut the excess part of the sublimation paper, the part of the paper without the print.
- Start with placing the cap on the cap heat press machine.
- Make sure to secure the keep in place so it won’t move while pressing.
- Set the cap heat press machine temperature at 375-400° F and the press time is 60 seconds
- Pre-press the cap for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Secure the sublimation print in place using thermal tape.
- Press the hat for 60 seconds.
- Remove the transfer tape and sublimation print.
- Then you’re done!
Once you’ve mastered sublimating on caps, you can create customized hats easily and flawlessly. Whether it be your own hat, promotional caps with your business logo, or for gift ideas, the sublimation technique for cap printing is a surefire easy way to custom hats.
Cap Printing Using Heat Transfer Vinyl
If you want to custom logo hats with vibrant colors, then you can opt for heat transfer vinyl printing. The good news with printing customized hats using heat transfer vinyl is you can use a mini heat press machine. Furthermore, you can print heat transfer vinyl on any kind of baseball cap regardless of color.
If you want to print monogram logos or minimalistic design layouts on a cap, the heat transfer vinyl printing is the printing technique of choice. Not only that, but HTV printing on caps are the go-to choice for many clothing brands if custom embroidered printing is not available.