Custom Graphic T-Shirt Sampling Before Bulk Production
A front photo can tell you whether a graphic tee looks right at first glance. The order decision takes more. Will the artwork sit at the right height when the shirt is worn? Will the smallest details stay readable on fabric? Will the collar and shoulder give the tee the shape you intended? Those are the details worth settling before you commit to a full run.
This tee’s stone arch graphic extends across much of the lower front, leaving open space above it. The finished garment, its construction details, and three measurement photos show what a buyer can review before approving bulk production.
Front view showing the artwork’s scale and placement on the body.
Print detail showing the arch, masonry texture, and lower edge of the graphic.
Set Print Placement on the Garment
A graphic can look balanced in a mockup and sit too low once it is placed on the shirt. Start with the full front. At KELLOGG, we review the artwork against the garment measurements so you can approve the print width and its distance from the hem. If the same print size will be used across several garment sizes, agree on how the layout should look on the smallest and largest sizes before bulk. Record the dimensions and placement in your apparel tech pack.
Check the Details That Carry the Artwork
The close-up lets you see where the arch opens and how the stone texture reads on the fabric. For artwork like this, we use the sample to review the darkest areas, fine details, and contrast against the base color. If a detail gets lost or a dark area closes up, the sample gives you a specific change to request before signing off. For a new style, compare fabric weights and fit options in our custom T-shirt range.
KELLOGG / SAMPLE APPROVAL
Ribbed neckline showing the collar shape and attachment stitching.
Shoulder and sleeve close-up showing the seam and stitching.
Approve the Collar and Shoulder Separately
The neckline and shoulder photos show details the graphic can distract from. The collar image gives you a close view of the rib and how it joins the body. The shoulder image shows where the sleeve is set and how the seam is stitched. During sampling and product development, we review neckline shape, shoulder width, and sleeve proportions against your fit reference or size spec. Check collar recovery and print durability on the physical sample after washing.
Check Fabric Weight and Shrinkage Before Bulk
A tee can meet the fit brief when it is new and measure differently after washing. For this sample, KELLOGG recorded the fabric weight before washing and after two drying methods. The fabric was 82.57% cotton and 17.43% polyester.
Recorded shrinkage for this sample was 3%. Fabric weight is measured per unit area. Use the post-wash garment measurements to judge whether the fit stays within your agreed tolerance.
KELLOGG / SAMPLE MEASUREMENTS
Measure the Sample at Agreed Points
Measuring length on the laid-flat sample.
Taking a width measurement across the body.
Taking a width measurement near the hem.
Watch how we measure this graphic T-shirt sample laid flat, checking body length and width at the agreed points before bulk production.
We use consistent measurement points on the laid-flat garment so the buyer and production team can compare the same dimensions. Before approving bulk, agree on the wash and dry method, the points to measure, and the tolerances for each point.
Give Production the Same Reference You Approved
When a sample needs a revision, record it in terms the production team can follow. For this style, that could mean a measured distance from the hem to the graphic, a close-up marking the detail to preserve, or an updated collar specification. Use the approved sample and written measurements together as the reference for bulk. Confirm the minimum order by style and color, the size breakdown, and the production schedule before committing to the run. See how we applied this approach in a case study on sample-to-bulk consistency.
FAQ
Q1. What should I approve on a graphic T-shirt sample before bulk production?
A: Approve the fit, collar and shoulder construction, artwork detail, print size and placement, and the measurements after washing. Record the agreed tolerances and use the approved sample and final tech pack together as the bulk production reference.
Q2. How do you check that a large front print sits in the right place?
A: Check the print width and its distance from the hem on the laid-flat sample. If one print size will be used across the range, review the placement on the smallest and largest sizes. For garment measurements, agree on where to measure body length, body width, and hem width.
Q3. Why did the fabric GSM increase after washing?
A: GSM is weight per unit area, so fabric that contracts can have a higher GSM after washing. This cotton-polyester sample measured 200 GSM before washing, 213 GSM after washing and hang drying, and 222 GSM after washing and tumble drying. Compare readings taken under the same care and drying conditions when approving a fabric specification.
Q4. What does the 3% shrinkage figure mean for my order?
A: The 3% figure was recorded for this sample. For your own style, agree on the wash and dry method, then measure length and width at the same points before and after laundering. Set a separate tolerance for each measurement you want to control in bulk.
Start With Your Artwork and Fit Reference
Developing a graphic T-shirt for your next collection? Send us your artwork, tech pack or reference garment, target quantity, and intended launch date. We can review which details to settle in sampling and which specifications to carry into bulk production.
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