Custom Puff Print Hoodies

Short answer: a puff print hoodie is a hoodie screen printed with puff ink, a plastisol ink mixed with a foaming additive that rises in the dryer. The cured print stands up off the fleece with a soft, rounded, raised feel. We print puff in-house on cotton-face hoodies like the Independent IND4000 and SS4500. Keep the design bold and simple and it looks great.

Puff gives a logo or a word mark real texture without going to embroidery, and it works on the big front and back placements where embroidery gets expensive.

What Is Puff Print?

Puff print is not a separate kind of printing. It is regular screen printing with a puff additive mixed into plastisol ink. We mix it at about 15 to 30 percent depending on how much rise you want. Less additive gives a subtle texture. More gives a pronounced dome. When the hoodie goes through the dryer, the heat sets off the foaming agent and the ink swells up as it cures.

The result has a soft, slightly matte surface you can feel with your fingers. It is different from 3D puff embroidery, which is thread stitched over foam and is mostly used on hats. More on that below.

Best Hoodies for Puff Print

Puff sits best on a smooth, cotton-rich surface. Our two go-to hoodies, and our customers’ favorites, are from Independent Trading Co. Both have a 100% cotton face on solid colors, which gives puff ink a clean, even base.

Heather colors on both styles are a higher-poly blend, so tell us if you want a heather and we will confirm how the print will look. For fit, check the size charts before you order. The IND4000 has a more generous cut than the SS4500. For a side-by-side, read SS4500 vs IND4000.

Design Tips for Puff Print

Puff ink spreads a little as it rises, so fine detail fills in. Art that looks crisp in flat ink can turn into a blob in puff. These are the general rules we follow:

• Go bold. Block letters, thick outlines and simple shapes puff the best.
• Keep lines thick. As a rule of thumb, keep strokes at least about 1/8 inch wide. Hairlines and small serifs disappear.
• Open up gaps. Leave extra space between letters and inside counters (the holes in A, O and e) so they do not close up.
• No halftones or gradients. Puff cannot hold small dots. Use solid areas.
• Mix puff with flat ink. One or two puff colors next to flat ink gives contrast and keeps cost down.
• Send vector art. An .ai, .eps, .pdf or .svg file is best. If you only have a screenshot, our design team can redraw it.

Not sure your logo will puff well? Send it over. We will tell you straight if it needs changes or if another method fits better.

Puff Print vs 3D Puff Embroidery

Short version: puff ink for apparel, 3D puff embroidery for hats. Read the full breakdown in puff print vs 3D puff embroidery, and see how puff compares to metallic, glow and high-density inks in our specialty inks guide.

Where Puff Works on a Hoodie

• Center chest: the classic spot for a puff word mark, sitting above the pouch pocket.
• Full back: big, bold graphics with lots of surface for the raised effect.
• Left chest: works if the logo is simple. Small, detailed logos are better embroidered.
• Sleeve: ask us. Simple text runs well down a sleeve.

What Puff Print Costs

Puff is quoted as a specialty ink on top of our regular screen print rate, plus the blank hoodie. For reference, a standard one-color screen print starts at $4.85 a piece at 24, $3.79 at 48 and $2.38 at 120, plus $20 per screen. Specialty ink jobs carry a higher minimum than a standard one-color print because setup is a bigger share of the job, so tell us your quantity and we will quote it. See all hoodie pricing on custom hoodies in bulk. Standard production is 10 to 14 business days from your approved proof.

How to Care for a Puff Print Hoodie

• Turn it inside out before washing.
• Wash cold with like colors.
• Tumble dry low or hang dry. High heat is hard on puff.
• Do not iron over the print.

More tips in our apparel care guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a puff print hoodie?
It is a hoodie screen printed with puff ink. A foaming additive in the plastisol ink makes the print rise when it is heat cured, so the design stands up off the fabric with a soft, raised feel.

What is the best hoodie for puff print?
We recommend the Independent Trading Co. IND4000 for a heavy, premium hoodie and the SS4500 for a lighter, lower-cost option. Both have a 100% cotton face on solid colors, which gives puff a smooth base.

Does puff print last?
Yes, with good care. Wash it inside out in cold water and tumble dry low or hang dry. Avoid high heat and do not iron over the print.

Can any design be puff printed?
Bold designs work best. Thin lines, small text, halftones and gradients do not hold up because the ink spreads as it rises. Send your art and we will tell you if it needs changes.

Is puff print the same as 3D puff embroidery?
No. Puff print is ink, used on hoodies and shirts. 3D puff embroidery is thread stitched over foam, used mostly on hats.

How long does a puff print hoodie order take?
Standard production is 10 to 14 business days from your approved proof, plus shipping.