Methods catalog
Twenty-three printing, weaving, engraving and finishing techniques available from local shops — from screen printing and DTF to jacquard weave, sandblasted glass and die-struck metal. Every method has a substrate where it works best, a minimum volume where the per-unit cost makes sense, and an MXN price band that helps you filter before you request a quote. The index lets you see all options in one view so you choose by substrate, volume and lead time, not by the catalog photo.
Each method is described with three hard data points — the substrate where it works best, the minimum volume where the per-unit cost makes sense, and an MXN price band per unit. The prose does not describe the method in the abstract: it ties it to your merch brief, to the production order line, and to the physical lot that lands at your warehouse in CDMX, Monterrey or Guadalajara. When a method has a better substitute by volume or substrate, the card says so in the same paragraph instead of sending you to another page.
The taxonomy follows five families: flat textile (screen printing, DTF, DTG, sublimation, transfer, vinyl), relief or sewing (embroidery, patches, foil stamping), engraved hard goods (laser, sandblasting, metal), full-plane weaving (jacquard), and hybrid or specialty techniques (UV DTF, UV printing, technical transfers).
For a typical program of 1,500 to 15,000 pieces across three to ten SKUs, the most efficient mix pairs one flat textile technique for everyday apparel (DTF or embroidery) with one technique for hard goods in the welcome kit (laser engraving or pad printing). The method changes when volume rises, when the substrate is technical, or when the lot mixes metal and textile in the same order. The prose of each card aims at that decision — not at the textbook description of the technique.
Flat textile
Plastisol ink on cotton and cotton blends. The lowest per-unit cost technique for runs of 500+ pieces per color and the same art. Screen setup per color; each additional ink adds a fixed setup cost. Works best on combed cotton tees, hoodies and totes.
Flat textile
Thread on polos, dress shirts, caps, backpacks and towels. The technique with the best visual presence on medium to heavy substrates. Per-piece cost scales with stitch count, not color count — an 8,000-stitch logo costs the same in two colors as in five.
Flat textile
Print on PET film with hot-melt adhesive, heat-transferred onto the tee. The most flexible technique for short runs and full-color designs on cotton and blends. Low setup, same file for one or one hundred pieces.
Flat textile
Textile ink jetted directly onto the garment. Ideal for samples, photographic designs and runs under fifty pieces. Slower per unit than DTF, but no screens or film required.
Flat textile
Ink heat-transferred onto white or light polyester. Full color with gradients on synthetic fabric. Useful for sport tees, technical hoodies and bandanas. Does not work on dark cotton or already-pigmented colors.
Flat textile
Variant that strips the substrate color before sublimation dyeing. Achieves a white ground without sublimating dark fabric. Limited to 100% cotton and reactive dye; the per-piece cost is high.
Flat textile
Heat-pressed transfer onto the garment. The fastest technique for samples and kits personalized with a name. No per-color setup, medium wash durability when using a budget adhesive.
Flat textile
Screen printing on a transferable film that is heat-applied to the garment later. Combines the cost of screen printing with the flexibility of local-plant pressing. Useful when art is printed centrally and applied on site.
Flat textile
Printed and contour-cut vinyl, heat-applied. The most common technique for player numbers, names and ultra-short runs. Medium durability; excellent on cotton and blends.
Relief and sewing
Press-formed relief without ink on leather, paper and board. The premium technique for notebooks, card holders, gift boxes and corporate folders. No ink, only depth change on the substrate.
Relief and sewing
Polyester-thread weave on a fabric backing. The technique with the best small-logo resolution on a patch that is sewn or heat-sealed on. Lands as a sewn patch on hoodies, jackets and backpacks.
Relief and sewing
Embroidered patch on a fabric or felt backing. High visual presence on jackets, backpacks and caps. Lands sewn, heat-pressed or hook-and-loop attached.
Relief and sewing
PVC patch injection-molded with integrated color. Water-resistant, durable on tactical jackets, outdoor backpacks and industrial uniforms. Mold setup; high minimum volume.
Relief and sewing
Metallic or pigmented foil heat-pressed onto leather, paper, board and plastic. The premium finish on gift boxes, leather notebooks, hang tags and packaging.
Engraved hard goods
Material-removal mark on metal, wood, glass, acrylic and leather. The technique with the longest durability on tumblers, metal plates and leather notebooks. No ink, no wear.
Engraved hard goods
Ink transferred by silicone pad onto curved or irregular parts. The right choice for pens, USB drives, keychains, lighters and any promotional item with an irregular surface. Low per-color setup.
Engraved hard goods
Sandblasted glass, crystal and mirror with a stencil. Achieves permanent frosted glass without ink or laser. Ideal for trophies, glass tumblers, commemorative plates and premium packaging.
Relief hard goods
Metal injected into a mold with a raised logo. Pins, keychains and medals with strong presence. Nickel, brass or antique finish; high minimum volume per mold setup.
Relief hard goods
Solid metal piece cut and cold-stamped. Pins, keychains and plates with premium feel and real weight. Gold, silver or antique finish; minimum volume per die.
Relief hard goods
Transparent resin dome on top of a sticker or print. Achieves a glossy 3D finish on keychains, pins, USB drives and labels. Scratch-resistant; low volume is viable.
Full-plane weave
Full-plane weave with the design integrated into the fabric. Achieves logos, words or patterns in the cloth itself with no after-printing. The right choice for towels, blankets, woven labels and premium programs.
Hybrid hard goods
UV-cured ink jetted directly onto hard goods. Achieves full color on tumblers, phone stands, USB drives and acrylic awards without films or plates. Cures instantly under UV light.
Hybrid hard goods
UV-cured ink on a transferable film that pressure-adheres to glass, acrylic, metal and plastic. Achieves full color on curved or irregular substrates without a curing oven. Ideal for premium packaging and glass.
Identify the substrate and the volume first. If the program is combed-cotton tees across 500 or more pieces, screen printing is almost always the most cost-efficient answer. If volume is below 200 pieces or the design is full color, DTF is the flexible choice without sacrificing presentation. If the substrate is a polo, dress shirt or cap, embroidery is the industry standard and is not negotiable. If the kit includes hard goods like tumblers, notebooks and USB drives, the right mix pairs laser engraving on metal, pad printing on curved plastic, and foil stamping on packaging.
Verify substrate and method before you request a quote. A poorly built production brief is the most common cause of merch rework: embroidery on too-thin fabric lifts the stitch, pad printing on porous surfaces does not fix the ink, foil stamping on the wrong-polarity plastic peels on second use. Each card targets that decision — not the technique in the abstract. The technique changes by substrate, volume and lead time, not by aesthetic preference.
If your program does not fit any of the listed methods, let us design a mixed program together. The quote for a mixed program is built after the initial discovery and usually lands between MXN 35,000 and MXN 120,000 depending on scope, lead time and the depth of the closing file.
To execute any method or assemble a mixed program, send us the brief through the form below. We need: substrate, item number, volume, preferred method if you already have one in mind, delivery cities and contact details. We operate with CFDI 4.0, 16% IVA, Carta Porte 3.0 and LFPDPPP compliance. The Mexican desk answers during central business hours, 9:00 to 18:00 Mexico City time (UTC−6) Monday through Friday, except public holidays.
If your operation crosses the border under USMCA / T-MEC or runs under the IMMEX program, mention it in the brief — the tax regime, the creditable IVA and the pedimento shift from message 1, not when the accountant discovers them at month end.
If you want to quote one or several methods, let us talk about your program. We operate with CFDI 4.0, 16% IVA, LFPDPPP compliance and delivery across Mexico from CDMX, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Quertaro and León.