Custom Imprints in Baltimore: Screen Printing for Small Orders and Corporate Runs
Custom Imprints is a full-service screen printing and direct-to-garment operation in Baltimore that handles everything from single promotional shirts to bulk corporate orders, positioning itself between mall kiosks and industrial production shops.
What Custom Imprints actually is
Located in Baltimore's commercial corridor, Custom Imprints operates a mixed-method shop where most work happens through screen printing (the workhorse for high-volume, color-stable orders) and DTG (direct-to-garment) printing for smaller runs and photo-quality designs. The shop handles apparel beyond T-shirts: hoodies, hats, tote bags, and outerwear. Unlike franchise embroidery shops, Custom Imprints does not embroider. Turnaround and pricing shift based on method, order size, and design complexity, making it necessary to request a quote rather than rely on a posted menu.
Services and pricing
Screen printing costs depend on number of colors, garment base price, and quantity. A single-color design on a standard T-shirt typically runs $8 to $12 per unit for orders of 25 or more; two-color jobs land around $10 to $15. Smaller orders (5-24 pieces) carry a setup fee of roughly $30 to $50 per color, plus per-unit cost; verify current fees by contacting the shop directly, as these adjust seasonally.
DTG printing bypasses setup fees and works for orders as small as one. Pricing for DTG on a standard tee ranges from $15 to $25 per shirt, depending on design size and color density. Photographic or highly detailed artwork costs more on DTG; simple vector logos are cheaper.
Custom Imprints also offers decoration of pre-made items customers provide, which can save money if you source blanks yourself. Caps and structured hats command higher per-unit costs than apparel, typically $5 to $8 in addition to garment cost.
Rush orders (3- to 5-day turnaround instead of standard 7 to 10 days) incur a 25% surcharge. Confirm current pricing before placing an order.
How it compares to other Baltimore screen printers
Baltimore has no shortage of screen printing options, but they break into distinct tiers. Mall and mall-adjacent kiosks (found at Security Square, Towson Town Center, and inner-harbor tourist areas) handle walk-in custom tees quickly (often same-day or next-day) for $15 to $25 per shirt, but offer limited design consultation and only basic color matching. Choose these if you need one or two shirts in a few hours and do not care about precision.
Online print-on-demand services like Printful and Bonfire handle design upload and fulfill orders starting at single units; they ship from central warehouses, so Baltimore location offers no speed advantage. Use these for one-off designs or small fundraising runs where you do not have a warehouse relationship.
Larger Baltimore screen printers who focus on apparel decoration for nonprofits and events (like those serving schools and rec leagues) typically require minimum orders of 50 to 100 units and negotiate pricing by volume. Choose these if you are running a large campaign and can buy in bulk.
Custom Imprints occupies the middle: it accepts small orders (5-24 pieces) without extreme per-unit penalties, quotes fast (usually within 24 hours), maintains design oversight, and works with customers to refine artwork before production. It suits businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who need flexibility and reasonable per-unit costs on orders smaller than 50 but do not want mall-kiosk speed at the expense of quality.
Who it suits and who it does not
Custom Imprints works well for small business owners creating branded merch, nonprofits running merchandise tables at fundraisers, event planners ordering staff tees or attendee gifts, and groups coordinating team apparel. The DTG option makes sense if your design includes photos, gradients, or fine detail that screen printing would muddy.
Custom Imprints is not ideal if you need items in 4 hours, if you are ordering more than 500 pieces (industrial printers offer better per-unit rates), or if you need embroidery instead of printing.
What the first visit involves
Call or visit in person with a design file (PDF, PNG, or JPG preferred) or a sketch of what you want. The shop reviews artwork for printability, discusses color choices and garment options, and quotes the job. If the design needs adjustment (a logo too small to read, or colors that will not separate cleanly for screen printing), staff point that out during the quote call rather than after payment. Most customers finalize details by email or phone and approve a pre-production mockup before printing begins.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Custom Imprints operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking is available in a shared lot adjacent to the building. The shop does not offer shipping, so customers pick up orders in-person or arrange local delivery through a third party. Confirm current hours before visiting, as seasonal closures or staffing changes may shift Saturday availability.
Custom Imprints fills the gap for Baltimore businesses and organizations that need more control over design and lower minimums than industrial printers demand, but faster turnaround and better per-unit pricing than mall kiosks offer.
