0:033 secondsHey, it's Marshall with Shirt Lab and today I want to show you how uh we created the t-shirt design for the Shirt 0:1111 secondsLab AI Summit. Now, the AI Summit was held at the M&R manufacturing facility 0:1818 secondsin Roselle, Illinois, and we're really proud to partner with them because one of the things we were able to do was to 0:2525 secondscreate some really fun variable data inspired printed items for our attendees. So, we did three different 0:3434 secondsthings. The first thing we did was a t-shirt design, which is what you're seeing right here. And we also did using 0:4242 secondsDTF transfers on their Quattro, we did some bags that SNS Activeware provided us and everybody enjoyed them. And so 0:5151 secondsfor the t-shirt, using transfers, we did variable data on the neck labels with the sizes. And then for the main t-shirt 1:001 minutedesign, we created this image and every attendee got their logo on it. And so I want to kind of walk you through how we 1:081 minute, 8 secondsset up that file. So maybe you could do something similar for your customers. So first off, we had to like kind of figure 1:161 minute, 16 secondsout what we were going to do. So I had a lot of conversations with the team at M&R and we kind of came up with a game 1:241 minute, 24 secondsplan. And the idea here was we would have a main design and they would have a kind of a fake embroidered patch at the 1:321 minute, 32 secondsbottom and that would set up the kind of device for putting the logo on it. And so we use midjourney to create the patch 1:401 minute, 40 secondsshape. So it looks like different thread. And you can see at the bottom we've got one for shirt lab tribe, one for M&R, and then we have a blank patch. 1:491 minute, 49 secondsAnd then what I did was is I brought in the attendees logos that we asked for when they registered. And we divided 1:571 minute, 57 secondsthese up by the shirt sizes. So we would match up the correct shirt logo with the correct shirt size for the attendee. And 2:062 minutes, 6 secondsso when we're printing these, we just have to print this version for the large for Jay and then we turn this off and 2:152 minutes, 15 secondsthen we can print the large shirt for Sean. It's just that easy. And anybody who didn't order soon enough, we had a 2:242 minutes, 24 secondskind of a cut off date, they received one with just the year on it. And let me show you that. And that's what this looks like. So, everybody got something 2:322 minutes, 32 secondsdifferent, but what was really fun here is that we are able to use this technology in a unique way to make our 2:392 minutes, 39 secondsattendees happy. And I think using the M&R digital squeegee or the M&R Quattro, you could do something just like this 2:472 minutes, 47 secondsfor your customers, right? So, let's take a look about how this stuff was actually printed and manufactured. So, 2:562 minutes, 56 secondsyou've seen the file. Now, let's see this stuff in action getting printed. In order to get a great result, the first 3:043 minutes, 4 secondsstep needed is to take the file and prepare it for production. Here, Cody Corsano with M&R starts the process by 3:123 minutes, 12 secondscreating a few new files. An important task, he will make the art for separation for analog screens that will become the foundation on which the 3:213 minutes, 21 secondsdigital print is built. The underbase will print below the digital component. 3:263 minutes, 26 secondsAnd lastly, the separation layer for the overprint clear, which protects the digital print. The DS4000 digital 3:353 minutes, 35 secondssqueegee print is unique because it combines the speed and low cost of a screen printed white underbase with the 3:433 minutes, 43 secondsflexibility and high color gamut of digital printing. Today, we're printing on the jerseys 570MR 3:503 minutes, 50 secondsin black. This 4.9 ounce USA grown 100% cotton ringspun tea is perfect for a job 3:593 minutes, 59 secondslike this. The t-shirt is loaded like a traditional screen print job. The most common printing presses used in tandem 4:074 minutes, 7 secondswith the digital squeegee are the M&R Striker Challenger 3 and Gauntlet 3. 4:134 minutes, 13 secondsToday the crew is using a brand new Gauntlet 4. The first screen is a high solids acrylic water-based screen for 4:204 minutes, 20 secondsthe underbase. Because it is water-based ink, it is doublestroked. The underbase is flashed to gel the ink. 4:294 minutes, 29 secondsThen the M&R hot head applies heat and pressure to set up the underbase perfectly for the digital print. Next, 4:374 minutes, 37 secondswe're printing a puff ink screen underneath the fake embroidered patch elements of the design to give those areas a little dimension. The ability to 4:464 minutes, 46 secondsadd special effects to a digital print is one of the unique features of the M&R digital squeegee system. The puff ink is 4:544 minutes, 54 secondsflashed. The second white underbase is added. Now the fun part begins as the digital print is added. Count it in your 5:035 minutes, 3 secondshead how many seconds it takes to print this full-size t-shirt design. It's hard to tell from this action shot, but 16 digital print heads are at work here. 5:145 minutes, 14 secondsYou can see how fast it prints this particular art, but depending on the size of your image, this baby can knock 5:205 minutes, 20 secondsout up to 400 prints an hour. Our newly printed shirts are then flashed to gel cure the ink quickly. Lastly, a final 5:295 minutes, 29 secondsclear coat is added to protect the digital print and ensure washability. 5:345 minutes, 34 secondsThis is an important step and this is the reason why these prints last so long on the shirt after laundering. Then the 5:425 minutes, 42 secondsshirt is removed by the unloader and placed on the dryer conveyor belt. At the end of the dryer belt, the shirts 5:495 minutes, 49 secondsare segregated by size and stacked for the next step in the process, adding custom neck labels. The finishing touch 5:575 minutes, 57 secondsto our event shirts is adding custom neck labels. A benefit of using the jerseys 570MR 6:046 minutes, 4 secondst-shirt is that the blank comes with tear away labels. To keep the sizes organized, you'll want to do this step during the new label heat press process. 6:146 minutes, 14 secondsIn this shot, you can see the Livingston Systems tag along heat press platin, which makes this process easier. You can 6:216 minutes, 21 secondsmove the neck collar out of the way, and then the shirt's tear away label is removed. While the platin can be used as 6:286 minutes, 28 secondsa standalone tag platin, its design allows for pressing a DTF transfer on the tag and the chest at the same time. 6:386 minutes, 38 secondswhich can double output. It is worth noting that this platin can be used on your screen printing press, especially 6:456 minutes, 45 secondsif you have a tag bot installed. The heat press is a stall's Hotronics Fusion IQ, which quickly applies the neck label 6:536 minutes, 53 secondsto the garment. The transfer is a hot peel, so there is no waiting. 6:596 minutes, 59 secondsWe customize the neck labels and event bags using the digital transfer printed with the M&R Quattro. This high-speed 7:067 minutes, 6 secondssystem is perfect for creating vibrant, highquality, durable transfers that can be used for different applications such as the bags and t-shirts for this event. 7:177 minutes, 17 secondsIf you recall the first part of the video, we created the transfers to include our attendees logos in the art. 7:237 minutes, 23 secondsUsing digital transfers is a fantastic way to customize and make the event more personal. One of the items the attendees 7:317 minutes, 31 secondsreceived was the e-conscious Grove sling bag that was supplied by SNS Actinware. 7:367 minutes, 36 secondsThis is a 100% recycled polyester item and a perfect substrate for the digital transfer. To prep each bag pocket was 7:457 minutes, 45 secondsopened and the transfer pillow and hard platin were inserted. The transfer was positioned and special heat tape was added to keep the transfer in place 7:537 minutes, 53 secondsduring the heat application process. The bag is then heat pressed and the combination of heat and pressure melts the adhesive printed on the transfer 8:028 minutes, 2 secondspermanently fusing it to the surface of the bag. Thanks for watching this video. 8:088 minutes, 8 secondsContact M&R jerseys Livingston Systems or SNS Activeware for more information. 8:158 minutes, 15 secondsHuge shout outs to Cody Carano and the entire M&R Blue crew for their assistance in making this video. As 8:228 minutes, 22 secondsalways, be sure to check out the Shirt Lab tribe and join the industry's number one decorated apparel mastermind group. 8:308 minutes, 30 secondsWe're here to help.
Shirt Lab AI Summit T-shirt Design and Production
The video presented by Marshall Atkinson showcases the innovative t-shirt design and production process for the Shirt Lab AI Summit held at the M&R manufacturing facility. Shop owners can learn how to implement variable data printing and utilize digital transfer technology to enhance customer satisfaction at similar events. Atkinson emphasizes the value of unique customization techniques that can elevate the attendee experience.

"Utilizing variable data printing and digital transfers can significantly enhance customer satisfaction by personalizing products for events."
Go Deeper on This Topic
Here are a few ways to take the next step, solve a related problem, or see this from a different angle.
AI / Modern Tools
Using Creative AI Imaging In Your Workflow
If you want to bring modern tools into your shop, this shows exactly where to start and what to expect.
How Automation Is Transforming Custom Apparel Decoration
AI tools are only as good as the systems around them. This helps you understand the bigger context.
AI / Modern Tools
How AI elevates the art of graphic design
Prefer a different format? This covers the same idea in a way that may click faster for you.
AI / Modern Tools
Modernizing Art Department Workflow
This shows how technology fits into the broader strategy for scaling a modern shop.
If this is something you're dealing with right now, we can work through it together and build a plan that fits your shop.
Schedule a Call