Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451382
1 2 G R A P H I C S P R O • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M indentations or memory cuts. Wood becomes covered in small cuts over time, which may catch the blade, while glass has a high surface tension that slowly dulls knives, he points out. Yellotools also offers tools for storage, including units for storing vinyl rolls with different sized platforms and wheels underneath. "A lot of the tools we sell come from customer frustration," Macias explains, recommending researching the quality of tools and equipment before making a purchase. "Nowadays, I've noticed more and more, a lot of our tools get copied, which is sad." He says the customer ends up buying something that's not high quality and more likely to break more quickly. "ey become discouraged from wanting to buy another tool," he adds. "Do your due diligence and check the quality of that tool." PRINTING CUSTOM APPAREL More and more sign companies are moving into printing custom apparel using direct-to-film ( DTF), direct-to-garment (DTG), or dye sublimation, capturing an audience that needs signs but also apparel to market its products and services. ese companies might opt for a boutique-style business or a 100 to 1,000-plus piece order service. e equipment will vary depending on the type of job. For high-volume orders, the tried-and-true screen-printing method will prove to be the most efficient and profitable, and DTF printers are making inroads. But for custom or smaller orders, sublimation, heat transfer, or a DTG printer may be the better solution. "e target market is starting to become one and the same," says Dan Barefoot, vice president of Graphics One in Sunnyvale, The conveyor dryer available from Lawson Screen & Digital Products is used to dry a garment after printing. (Image courtesy Lawson Screen & Digital Products) A conveyor dryer eases the screen- printing process. (Image courtesy Lawson Screen & Digital Products) " I cannot imagine running our embroidery operation without a hooping station. It ensures that we get the designs straight on the garments and in the correct location for that particular design and size of the product." — Jennifer Cox, National Network of Embroidery Professionals What's your favorite shop tool?