DYE MIGRATION DISCLOSURE WAIVER
DYE MIGRATION DISCLOSURE & WAIVER
Effective date: September 3, 2015
Applies to: All Screen Printing and DTF (Direct-to-Film) orders, including customer-supplied garments.
At Twisted Swag, Inc., we take great care in handling and printing on all garments. However, when printing on customer-supplied items—especially polyester, blended, or sublimated fabrics—there are certain risks outside of our control. One of the most common is dye migration.
WHAT IS DYE MIGRATION?
Dye migration (sometimes called dye bleed) occurs when the dye used to color a garment moves up into the ink layer during or after the heating/curing step. This typically shows as a pinkish, gray, or muddy cast invading light inks—most noticeably white and light gray. Migration can appear immediately, hours later, or even after the first few washes.
WHY IT HAPPENS
• Heat from curing or DTF application can re-activate dyes in synthetic/performance fabrics (e.g., polyester).
• Different mills, colors, dye formulas, and batches behave differently.
• Two garments that look identical can react very differently to heat and ink chemistry.
KEY TAKEAWAY
There is no reliable way to know in advance whether a particular style, color, or fabric will or will not dye migrate until it is actually printed and cured. Prior experience helps, but it is not a guarantee.
GARMENTS AT HIGHER RISK
• 100% polyester or poly blends (performance/golf polos, athletic wear)
• Dark/rich and neon/safety colors (red/maroon, greens, blacks, hi-viz neons)
• Sublimated or heat-reactive fabrics
WHAT WE DO TO REDUCE (NOT ELIMINATE) RISK
• Use low-temperature cure profiles where possible
• Use bleed-resistant inks, blocker bases, or gray barriers under light inks
• Adjust ink color (e.g., mid-gray instead of bright white) when appropriate
Even with these steps, dye migration cannot be completely prevented.
IMPORTANT NOTES (PLEASE READ)
• Twisted Swag is not responsible for dye migration or discoloration that may occur during or after printing, including color shift that appears over time or after laundering.
• While we use industry-standard inks and curing practices, we cannot guarantee final print results due to unknowns in fabric dye chemistry, prior fabric treatments, or batch variation.
• No refunds, credits, or reprints will be issued for issues related to dye migration on customer-supplied apparel.
• For garments we source, we will advise best practices and lower-risk options, but we do not guarantee freedom from dye migration on high-risk fabrics.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• If unsure about a garment’s suitability, request a test print first. Provide one extra blank per style/color. (A clean test is encouraging but still not a guarantee.)
• Consider embroidery for performance polos when brand standards allow.
• Avoid printing light inks on dark/high-risk polyester colors when possible.
CUSTOMER-SUPPLIED (BYO) GARMENTS
Printing on customer-supplied items is performed at the customer’s risk. We cannot replace, refund, or credit garments that we did not source. We recommend providing one extra per size to cover potential process loss or manufacturer defects.
CARE TIPS (TO HELP MINIMIZE POST-PRINT BLEED)
• Wash cold, inside-out; tumble low or hang dry
• Avoid high heat, steam cycles, or hot irons on the print
• Do not use bleach or harsh oxidizers
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY (SCREEN PRINTING & DTF)
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Twisted Swag, Inc. is not liable for any dye migration, color shift, or related cosmetic changes that occur during or after production, whether on customer-supplied or Twisted-Swag-sourced garments. In no event shall our aggregate liability exceed the amount paid for the affected print location(s) on the specific order.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT & ACCEPTANCE
By submitting an order (online or in-store), providing garments for decoration, or approving a proof, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Dye Migration Disclosure & Waiver and you accept the risk of dye migration inherent to screen printing and DTF on heat-sensitive fabrics.
CHECKOUT ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I have read and accept the Dye Migration Disclosure & Waiver. I understand there is no guaranteed way to determine if a garment will dye migrate until it is printed and cured, and I agree Twisted Swag, Inc. is not liable for dye migration or related color shift.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HAPPY TO HELP
Need safer garment recommendations or an alternative decoration method? Contact us and we’ll guide you.
Twisted Swag, Inc. • support@twistedswag.com • (602) 482-6900
15203 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85032
Hours: Mon–Fri, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Arizona time)