Part 1: How Generative Artificial Intelligence Works

Part 2: Generative AI Prompt Weighting and Other Tools

Part 3: Putting Midjourney Generative AI Through its Paces

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Part 1: Digitizing and Common Machine Embroidery Problems

Part 2: Finding, Correcting Faults in One’s Commercial Embroidery

Part 3: Escaped Underlay, Fill Density and other Embroidery Issues

The post Diagnosing and Preventing Embroidery Digitizing Disasters: 3-Part Series appeared first on Impressions.

Rick Roth, founder of Mirror Image Inc. and Ink Kitchen, a kind of online clearinghouse of information on all aspects of the decorated apparel industry, talks about the state of the decorated apparel industry and what he sees coming in 2024.

For more on Mirror Image Inc., mirrorimage.com.

For more on Ink Kitchen, go to inkkitchen.com.

Finally, to check out some of Roth’s “Shop Talk” series of panel discussion hosted by Impressions Expo, click HERE.

The post The State of the Decorated Apparel Industry, with Rick Roth appeared first on Impressions.

LaTonna Roberson, founder of Dallas, Texas-based Lady Print Boss, and Rick Roth, founder of New England’s Mirror Image Screenprinting & Embroidery and Ink Kitchen discuss how to grow your customer base as part of the Shop Talk education series at a recent Impressions Expo in Fort Worth, Texas.

Roberson and Roth look at how easy it is to fall into the trap of spending all of your time working inside your business, and the importance of devoting time working on the outside to gain new customers and clients. Whether you are a one-person shop or have a small team, there are multiple opportunities for client growth/retention. Roberson breaks down the steps you can take, highlighting the use of tech apps and automation to land your ideal customer.

The post Tips from the Pros on Ways to Grow Your Customer Base appeared first on Impressions.

Is Artificial Intelligence a tool or a threat to the creative side of the decorated apparel business? According to the experts, it depends on how you look at it.

In this Shop Talk session, held at Impressions Expo Long Beach, Michelle Moxley, Innovation Director at M&R Printing, and Dave Gardner from Gildan, discuss the pros and cons of using AI as part of a company’s art workflow with Rick Roth, founder of New England’s Mirror Image Screenprinting & Embroidery and Ink Kitchen.

The post Talking Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Garment Decoration appeared first on Impressions.

As part of a recent Shop Talk panel discussion at Impressions Expo Long Beach, Val and Eric Solomon of Night Owls, Danny Gruninger of DG Consulting and Tony Palmer of PalmPrint Screen Printing Consulting share their expertise with Rick Roth, founder of New England’s Mirror Image Screenprinting & Embroidery and Ink Kitchen.

The post Water-Based Apparel Screen Printing, Techniques and Tips appeared first on Impressions.

The Shop Talk presentations that take place at each Impressions Expo, thanks to the hard work of Rick Roth of the Ink Kitchen, are invariably fascinating and often inspiring. Rarely, though, are they quite as inspiring as when Roth had a chance to speak with Jed Seifert, co-founder of Stakes Manufacturing, about the benefits—and joys, literally—of hiring disable employees in the decorated apparel sector.

For those interested in learning more, in addition to watching Rick’s Shop Talk conversation with Jed, a good place to start is the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), a national organization dedicated to facilitating the full inclusion of people with disabilities into the workplace and community.

The post The Ultimate Win-win, Hiring Employees with Disabilities appeared first on Impressions.

When it comes to sustainability, the age-old proverb “waste not, want not” is heavy on the apparel industry’s mind, as it is the third largest contaminating industry in the world. Decorators and apparel suppliers alike are heeding this call, throwing their hats in the ring to combat this ever-growing problem.

During a recent Impressions Expo in Long Beach, California, Shop Talk’s Rick Roth, of the Ink Kitchen, sat down with industry veterans Zahir “Zach” Sait, John Rusk, and Adam Walterscheid, of the popular Fairweather Johnson brand, to discuss Textisle, the company’s method of recycling fabric waste to create more sustainable apparel.

The post Fairweather Johnson’s Unique Approach to Sustainability appeared first on Impressions.

In this Shop Talk, Ink Kitchen’s Rick Roth, founder of Rhode Island-based Mirror Image Screenprinting & Embroidery, chats with YouTuber and business coach Stan Banks, founder of the T-Shirt Side Hustle, about what someone needs to do when considering growing their business from a side gig to a freestanding shop.

After founding multiple businesses, Banks grew his aptly named T-Shirt Side Hustle into a thriving full-time production. Through Hustle, Banks teaches people the ins and outs of starting a T-shirt business at home.

Individuals seeking the necessary knowledge to get their feet wet in the decorated apparel industry, will find information and tools on starting a custom print shop, a T-shirt line, and/or apparel brand via Hustle’s website and corresponding social media channels. Banks also provides tips and tricks for running heat presses and screen-printing technology.

The post Transition from a Home Business to a Screen-Printing Shop appeared first on Impressions.

Whether you’re a screen printer, embroiderer or your specialty is heat pressing or digital decorating, organizing the various processes that go into running your business is vital.

In this Shop Talk discussion from Impressions Expo Atlantic City, the Ink Kitchen’s Rick Roth and Stan Banks, principal of the T-Shirt Side Hustle talk with Gavin StGeorges, CEO and founder of the business and art management software company seps.io about how to standardize everything from your production processes to billing to the way you interact with customers–all with an eye to increasing both efficiency and profits.

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