How to Decorate Face Masks
If you’re supplying face masks, chances are you’ll be asked to decorate them. Given the nature of the product, it’s essential to get it right. Here’s the guide on decorating face masks.
Port Authority Cotton Mask PAMASK05.
Recommended Decoration Techniques
- Pad Printing
- Heat Transfer: Use a press with smaller platens, a print perfect pad or heat press to raise the application area and transfer materials with some stretch.
- Screen Printing: Use a water-based or phthalate-free ink, face mask clamp or pocket pallet with a light tack adhesive.
Technically the decoration area for this product is slap bang in the middle of the mask, which is a lovely large flat area for decoration, but unfortunately shares that space with your mouth. So the biggest hurdle you have is ensuring that you don’t inhibit the ability to breathe.
The best way to ensure this is the case is to remove any background colour that creates a large surface area on a logo, so as not to block the front of the mask.
In the example above, in the top image, the blue background would hamper breathability and also be uncomfortable for the wearer.
In the example above, in the second image, we can see the background has been removed. Also, a one-colour version allows for breathability and will be much more comfortable for the wearer.
If the logo must stay intact, shrink its size and place it off to the side (within the decoration area) to ensure maximum breathability.
For the PAMASK05 style, you could brand it on either the left or right side, as below:
Alternatively, with the mask’s pleats being on the sides, you could brand at the top or bottom of the decoration area. As below.
District V.I.T Shaped Face Mask DTMSK01
Recommended Decoration Techniques
Pad Printing
Heat Transfer: Use a press with smaller platens, a print perfect pad or heat press to raise the application area and transfer materials with some stretch
Screen Printing: Use a water-based or phthalate-free ink, face mask clamp or pocket pallet with a light tack adhesive
The pleats on the DTMSK01 are to the top and bottom of the mask. However, the decoration placement will be similar to the PAMASK05 above, with the primary decoration spot to the front area. So again removing any background colour that may hamper breathability.
Again if you’re dealing with a dense logo that must stay intact, and you can decrease the size, that would be a good way to go.
With the pleats to the top and bottom, you’re better off moving a logo to the left and right of the decoration area, rather than top and bottom. However, if it’s a horizontal logo, such as text-based), you could still sit it to the top or bottom, as long as you’re not covering where the mouth would be.
For decoration, here are some tips & tricks from the experts:
Pad Printing
- Tips & Tricks
- Use an ink specifically for textiles
- If printing on dark colours, be sure to consult with your supplier in regard to the right equipment and ink to get bright colours
Screen Printing
- Tips & Tricks
- Use the lightest pallet glue to minimize residue on mask
- Special equipment may be required to effectively print masks and covers
- Use water-based and or phthalate-free inks.
Heat Transfer
- Tips & Tricks
- Use a transfer that has some stretch
- If printing on dark polyester colours, be sure to consult with your supplier about bleed blockers
- A heat press with small alternate platens such as a 4 x 4” is ideal. If you have an older press without this platen, please consider using a pad to lift the press area. This will allow large seams and or pleats to be below the press area.
- A hat press is a great option for masks with pleats.
Embroidery
- Tips & Tricks
- Regular tubular hoops will work but a clamping system is ideal
- Keep the logos small or with a lot of negative space to keep the piece breathable
- Use rayon thread for the softest feel
- After embroidery, reseal the area with a laminate or iron-on backing to cover the rough back of the embroidery and reseal the holes. If you are resealing a large image, a best practice is to keep the logo off to the side to keep breathability at a maximum.
You can find our range of face masks here. If you have any questions, or an enquiry regarding face masks, leave your details below and we’ll be in touch.