Breathability
People often forget that if a decoration or logo covers the majority of a mask or the mouth-region of the mask, breathability is affected. If it’s difficult to breathe in your mask, you wouldn’t want to wear it, right? This is why it’s important to take into consideration the placement of your decoration to allow for comfortable breathability while still providing protection.
1)
Remove any background color fills
While it’s not recommended to
place a logo in the center of a mask, it is better to have it be an outlined
logo than a full color filled logo to help prevent breathing difficulty.
2)
Off-center placement
Placing your logo on the left or
right side of a mask is always the best bet for maximum breathability,
especially if your logo must have a color fill.
Decorating Techniques
Two-ply face masks offer better protection than single ply
and thinner options, however, these types of masks require a specific
decorating technique that plays a large role in the decoration limitations.
While being decorated, two-ply (and sometimes single-play) masks are held in
place with a special clamping pallet, and because these clamping systems take
up space, the whole area of the mask sometimes isn’t equally available for
decoration. However, depending on the equipment being used, a larger
decoration size may be achievable – so always ask us first!
Check out these general guidelines for ideal printing areas
that account for clamping systems, hopping areas, and heat press platen sizes!
Decorating Types
Because it is always best to keep temperatures as low as possible when decorating masks, the best and most recommended methods of decoration are the following:
- Pad Printing - Uses a silicone pad to transfer an image onto an item
- Heat Transfer - Uses a cap press and/or a small platen
- Screen Printing - Uses water-based inks, a facemask clamp or a pocket pallet with light tack
- Embroidery - Seals the backing with a laminate seal
- Direct-to-Garment - Sprays the ink onto the garment
If you have any questions about mask decorations, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at NorthPoint, and we can help you to achieve both a functional and creatively designed mask that will be appreciated by all!