How do I add a logo to a tent?
July 2, 2015 10:36 AM Subscribe
I'd like to add a white logo/slogan to a standard nylon camping tent. What's the best way to achieve this?
The options I've considered so far are: making a stencil and spray-painting through it; using fabric paint (which honestly never looks great or even); or maybe ordering some kind of custom iron-on transfer? Which will look the best? Which will best survive being scrunched up in a tent bag for long periods?
The options I've considered so far are: making a stencil and spray-painting through it; using fabric paint (which honestly never looks great or even); or maybe ordering some kind of custom iron-on transfer? Which will look the best? Which will best survive being scrunched up in a tent bag for long periods?
Response by poster: Ooh I should clarify: just me doing it, on one tent. No budget and no economies of scale.
posted by you're a kitty! at 10:58 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by you're a kitty! at 10:58 AM on July 2, 2015
Yup, screen print using fabric ink.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 11:00 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 11:00 AM on July 2, 2015
Response by poster: Is that something I can do on my own? It seems rather complicated and requires quite a lot of supplies.
posted by you're a kitty! at 11:08 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by you're a kitty! at 11:08 AM on July 2, 2015
Definitely! If you've never done it, you should buy a kit rather than trying to gather all the equipment yourself, and practice on other fabric first, but it's really very easy.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:17 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:17 AM on July 2, 2015
How big do you want it to be?
This only works if it's relatively small but it's how I put my name & contact info on my tents. I use the block of nylon fabric that you get with tent repair kits like this or this. Some have adhesive backing. Before I attach it I put my info on it. I used to use a stencil I made out of simple cardboard and an X-acto knife (I print out the information using some kind of big, blocky font on the cardboard) & then spray paint on the nylon patch, but since there are so many permanent marker pen colors I just use those now - it's possible the ink for screen printing may be better? Anyway, after attaching it to the tent I go over it with a swab of tent-specific water sealant to protect against moisture and to protect the paint.
posted by barchan at 11:17 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
This only works if it's relatively small but it's how I put my name & contact info on my tents. I use the block of nylon fabric that you get with tent repair kits like this or this. Some have adhesive backing. Before I attach it I put my info on it. I used to use a stencil I made out of simple cardboard and an X-acto knife (I print out the information using some kind of big, blocky font on the cardboard) & then spray paint on the nylon patch, but since there are so many permanent marker pen colors I just use those now - it's possible the ink for screen printing may be better? Anyway, after attaching it to the tent I go over it with a swab of tent-specific water sealant to protect against moisture and to protect the paint.
posted by barchan at 11:17 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
The problem with printing or painting on the tent fabric is that it has been treated with a DWR (durable water resistant) finish, which will repel any water-based screenprinting ink or fabric paint. barchan's method is the best because you can use untreated fabric for your design.
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 11:48 AM on July 2, 2015
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 11:48 AM on July 2, 2015
Quick way is stick-on vinyl, but I don't think it'd adhere too well to the waterproofing exterior of tent, as others said.
So the question is, how PERMANENT do you want this to be?
posted by kschang at 1:16 PM on July 2, 2015
So the question is, how PERMANENT do you want this to be?
posted by kschang at 1:16 PM on July 2, 2015
Response by poster: Ideally I'd like it to be permanent permanent, surviving the tent being packed away for a year at a time. And it wouldn't be huge — just a square foot or so.
posted by you're a kitty! at 1:21 PM on July 2, 2015
posted by you're a kitty! at 1:21 PM on July 2, 2015
Just want to second screenprint.
Anything else will end up kinda ghetto-looking and/or come off.
It's fairly easy to do with a kit from a craft or art supply store. Just practice on fabric with your screen once.
If you're really intimidated by it, you can also find people on Etsy who will just send you a Gocco-made one cheap or you can use an online service for around $70.
Once you have a screen, it's just smushing fabric paint through it.
posted by Gucky at 1:33 PM on July 2, 2015
Anything else will end up kinda ghetto-looking and/or come off.
It's fairly easy to do with a kit from a craft or art supply store. Just practice on fabric with your screen once.
If you're really intimidated by it, you can also find people on Etsy who will just send you a Gocco-made one cheap or you can use an online service for around $70.
Once you have a screen, it's just smushing fabric paint through it.
posted by Gucky at 1:33 PM on July 2, 2015
You'd have more options, as well as avoid the whole scrunching issue, if you'd consider making a banner or flag instead, to hang on the tent.
posted by jessicapierce at 1:38 PM on July 2, 2015
posted by jessicapierce at 1:38 PM on July 2, 2015
If you don't want to DIY it, just take it to your local screenprint shop. You'll need to provide them with a good quality file for the logo so they can burn the screen stencil from it. The cost is probably higher for a one-off, but I don't know if it would be higher than procuring all of the screen print kit stuff yourself.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 1:55 PM on July 2, 2015
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 1:55 PM on July 2, 2015
Screenprinting always seems like overkill to me for a one-time thing but it does get nice detail. How intricate the design of your logo? I've gotten good sharp results with fabric paint on t-shirts using stencils cut out of self-adhesive contact paper (cuts a lot easier and cleaner than cardboard). I would try that with screenprinting ink that's good for synthetics. Foam brushes or daubers will make the paint go on much smoother.
You could also try cutting your own iron-on decal using something like Heat'n Bond. Iron a square of adhesive to a square of lightweight white fabric, cut out the logo, iron to tent. Standard disclaimer, test to make sure the adhesive works with your tent material.
posted by yeahlikethat at 5:33 PM on July 2, 2015
You could also try cutting your own iron-on decal using something like Heat'n Bond. Iron a square of adhesive to a square of lightweight white fabric, cut out the logo, iron to tent. Standard disclaimer, test to make sure the adhesive works with your tent material.
posted by yeahlikethat at 5:33 PM on July 2, 2015
Screenprinting has a learning curve.
White on darker tones is one of the harder things to manage, at least with good coverage. Darker tones = more than you think. Good coverage = pure white with good contrast. A single pass of white can end up looking quite transparent.
Depending on your quality demands, a spray painted stencil might serve just fine. It has a learning curve too, but it's easier to practice. If you can make your shape out of thin tape, hurrah.
You could try out freezer paper stencils. You'll still have all the standard tricky points with using stencils, but they're pretty basic compared to the many ways a screenprint can go sideways. Cover an area waaaaay bigger than your stencil, spray at good distance (10"+), and break it up into 3-4 hits.
You're still gonna have to do some basic stuff that you won't see in examples, like getting a big piece of flat material to put inside the tent, and some A-clamps to hold the tent to it, to make your flat surface.
Flag/banner/whatever is always going to be easier/cheaper.
I've never had any issues spray painting any surface with acrylic spray, as long as it's dusted on lightly in the start, but you can find oil-based spray in brands like Rust-Oleum. Sprays different, and more $$$, but available. Same goes for "fabric paint," you can get acrylics, oils, plastisols.. I have here some fiber-reactive dye for tinting polyester fibers..
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:43 AM on July 3, 2015
White on darker tones is one of the harder things to manage, at least with good coverage. Darker tones = more than you think. Good coverage = pure white with good contrast. A single pass of white can end up looking quite transparent.
Depending on your quality demands, a spray painted stencil might serve just fine. It has a learning curve too, but it's easier to practice. If you can make your shape out of thin tape, hurrah.
You could try out freezer paper stencils. You'll still have all the standard tricky points with using stencils, but they're pretty basic compared to the many ways a screenprint can go sideways. Cover an area waaaaay bigger than your stencil, spray at good distance (10"+), and break it up into 3-4 hits.
You're still gonna have to do some basic stuff that you won't see in examples, like getting a big piece of flat material to put inside the tent, and some A-clamps to hold the tent to it, to make your flat surface.
Flag/banner/whatever is always going to be easier/cheaper.
I've never had any issues spray painting any surface with acrylic spray, as long as it's dusted on lightly in the start, but you can find oil-based spray in brands like Rust-Oleum. Sprays different, and more $$$, but available. Same goes for "fabric paint," you can get acrylics, oils, plastisols.. I have here some fiber-reactive dye for tinting polyester fibers..
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:43 AM on July 3, 2015
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posted by showbiz_liz at 10:52 AM on July 2, 2015 [1 favorite]