CUSTOM Puff Print Hoodies Raised and Cured in Our Own Unit
Star Faith International manufactures puff print hoodies for UK streetwear labels, teamwear brands and merch companies that want a raised, tactile graphic rather than a flat print. Because our screen room, print floor and expansion curing line all sit inside the same factory in Sialkot, Punjab, puff height and edge definition are set against your approved sample and held consistent from the first piece to the last. Minimum order: 50 pieces per design, per colourway.
How Puff Print Actually Works
Puff print is a screen printing technique that uses a special ink containing a foaming agent. The ink is printed through a mesh stencil like any other screen print, then heated so the additive expands and lifts the ink away from the fabric. The result is a soft, three-dimensional graphic with a slightly rubbery feel and clean, rounded edges.
The expansion step is what separates good puff print from poor puff print. Too little heat and the ink stays flat. Too much and it over-expands, loses its edge definition and can crack. Because the effect depends on getting temperature and dwell time right for each ink and fabric combination, it is a process that rewards a factory with its own curing line and punishes one that outsources the print stage.
Puff printing uses a foaming additive mixed into plastisol ink, which expands upward during heat-curing to lift the graphic off the fabric surface. On fleece, we extend cure time slightly compared to a lightweight tee, since the thicker garment retains heat differently during the curing pass.
What Puff Print Suits Best
Bold lettering, chunky logos, simple shapes and large graphic marks work best. The raised texture reads clearly on thicker lines and solid areas. Very fine detail, thin outlines and small text tend to lose definition as the ink expands, so we flag those elements at the quoting stage and suggest adjustments to line weight where needed.
Puff on Fleece
Fleece has more surface texture than a flat cotton tee, so the ink needs enough opacity and a stable base to expand evenly instead of sinking into the nap. Screens and pallets are set up specifically for hoodie printing rather than reused from tee production, which is where uneven puff height most often comes from on cheaper runs.
Fabric, Fit and Construction Specifications
- Base fabric: 320 to 400 GSM brushed-back fleece, 80/20 cotton-poly or 100% cotton
- Print method: Screen printed puff ink, heat expanded
- Print area: Front, back, sleeve and hood panel printing available
- Fits available: Regular, oversized, cropped (custom blocks on request)
- Standard features: Drawcord hood, kangaroo pocket, rib-knit cuffs and hem
- Size range:XS to 4XL, custom grading available
- Minimum order: 50 pieces per design, per colourway
- Lead time: 12 to 18 working days after sample approval
How We Build a Puff Print Hoodie
 1. Artwork Preparation
Your artwork is checked for line thickness, spacing between elements and overall size before any screen is made. Puff needs more room between design elements than flat print, since expansion pushes ink outward slightly and can merge details that sit too close together.
2. Screen Preparation
A screen is burned for each colour in your design. Puff is typically run as one or two colours, with the raised element printed over or alongside flat colour where the design calls for contrast.
3. Puff Sample
A physical sample is printed and expanded so you can check puff height, edge definition and feel on the actual fleece. This is the step that proves the effect works before bulk production, and it is where most height or edge adjustments are made.
4. Bulk Printing and Expansion
Once the sample is approved, the full run is printed using the same screens and ink mix, then passed through the curing line at the temperature and dwell time recorded at sampling stage. This keeps puff height consistent across the whole run instead of drifting from piece to piece.
5. Three-Stage Quality Check and Dispatch
Fabric is inspected before cutting, print registration and puff expansion are checked in-line, and every garment is checked again before packing. Orders ship to the UK on DDP terms, meaning import duty and VAT are settled before your shipment arrives, or on FOB terms if you would rather clear customs through your own forwarder.
Combining Puff Print With Other Finishes
Puff print pairs naturally with flat screen printing on the same hoodie, with a raised element for the main graphic and flat ink for supporting detail. It also works well with embroidery, for example a puff printed back graphic with a stitched chest logo, and with embroidery patchwork for layered, textural streetwear pieces. Because all of these run in-house, combining methods does not add a second vendor or an extra shipping leg to your timeline.
Washed finishes need to be sequenced correctly. An acid wash or vintage base is washed before puff printing, never after, since drum washing can crack the raised ink and flatten the effect. If you want a washed hoodie with a puff graphic, tell us at quoting stage so production is sequenced in the right order. Full detail on wash options is on our garment dye and wash line page.
If your artwork includes photographic or gradient detail that puff cannot reproduce, DTG printing can carry that part of the design while puff handles the raised branding.
Finishing is completed with woven labels and hang tags and retail-ready packaging suited to brands running their own private label range.
Combining Puff Print With Other Finishes
Puff print quality is decided by steps a buyer cannot see in a product photo: ink formulation, screen setup and expansion temperature. A trading agency sourcing this product from a third-party print shop often has no visibility into whether those steps were followed, and will not be the one dealing with a batch where the puff is flat, uneven or cracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is puff print on a hoodie?
Puff print is a screen printing method that uses an ink with a foaming additive. Once printed, the ink is heated and expands upward, creating a raised, three-dimensional graphic with a soft, slightly rubbery feel.
Does puff print crack or peel after washing?
Not when it is expanded and cured correctly. Cracking is almost always caused by over-expansion or under-curing rather than a limitation of the ink, which is why expansion temperature and dwell time are recorded against your approved sample and repeated across the run.
What kind of designs work best with puff print?
Bold lettering, chunky logos and simple, large shapes. Very fine lines, thin outlines and small text can lose definition as the ink expands, so we flag those elements at the quoting stage and suggest adjustments where needed.
What is the minimum order for custom puff print hoodies?
50 pieces per design, per colourway. That is roughly a quarter of the 200 or more piece minimum most trading agencies quote UK brands.
How long does puff print add to the lead time?
Puff print hoodies ship within the same 12 to 18 working day window as our other decoration methods, once sample approval is confirmed. Screen setup and puff sampling happen before that window starts.
Can I combine puff print with flat print on the same hoodie?
Yes, and it is one of the most common combinations we run. A raised element for the main graphic with flat ink for supporting detail gives contrast without adding a second process or vendor.
Can puff print be used on dark hoodies?
Yes. Puff ink has strong opacity, so light or bright colours show clearly on dark fleece. We confirm colour on your approved sample before bulk production.
Can I get a puff print on a washed or vintage hoodie?
Yes, but the wash has to be done first. Drum washing after puff printing can crack the raised ink and flatten the effect, so the garment is washed, then printed. Tell us at the quoting stage so production is sequenced correctly.
Do you ship puff print hoodies to the UK, and who handles customs?
Yes, the UK is one of our main export markets. We ship on DDP terms on request, meaning import duty and VAT are settled before your shipment arrives. FOB is available if you would rather clear customs through your own freight forwarder.
Can I add my own brand labels to puff print hoodies?
Yes. Woven neck labels, hang tags, care labels and retail-ready packaging can all be added through our private label service before dispatch, so garments arrive ready to sell.
Get a Quote on Puff Print Hoodies
Share your design, target quantity, and delivery country and our team will reply within one business day with pricing and lead time.
