We get the request to print the United States flag on shirts on a regular basis (want shirts printed with the U.S. flag on it? Order custom shirts here).
When we first started printing, we didn’t think much of this request. However, after we hired a veteran of the Navy, we learned there is more to printing the flag than we had originally thought.
If you search online, there are a lot of guidelines for flag usage.
Using the American Flag correctly on apparel is important because it's a sign of respect and admiration for former and current members of the military.
We're going to help explain and simplify the guidelines for you. In this article you'll learn:
- Which direction the American flag should face when printed on a shirt sleeve
- The true colors of the American flag
The Two Important Rules for Printing the American Flag on Shirts
Some of them are a bit vague, others don't account for all current and potential uses, but there are two really important guidelines for screen printing the American flag on shirts - ‘stars before bars’ and the official colors.
The most common placement for the U.S. flag on a shirt is a sleeve. You can print the flag on either sleeve. The right or left are both fine and you commonly see the flag on either.
However, the direction the flag faces is important.
As our Navy vet was fond of saying, ‘stars before bars’. Once we heard this phrase, we never had an issue with it again. What he means is that the stars on the flag should be towards the front of the body and the "bars" or stripes on the flag follow behind.
It is meant to mimic the way the flag would be positioned as it was held aloft and carried into battle.
If the flag is not printed on the sleeve, the direction it points is up to the discretion of the customer.
What are the Official Pantone Colors in the Flag?
Everyone knows that the American flag is red, white, and blue. That's easy.
But it gets complicated when you acknowledge that colors are subjective. Red to one person is different than another.
Blue can be interpreted as royal blue, light blue, navy, or any other variation.
Additionally, people interpret colors differently and lighting can change. This can lead to varying expectations for a print.
That's where Pantone colors come into play. Using Pantone colors helps us establish consistent expectations and values for colors.
For the U.S. flag, there are specific Pantone colors for the red and blue.
- The red in the flag is PMS 193
- The blue in the flag is PMS 282
The red is pretty traditional, but the blue is a bit surprising for some people because it is navy, not royal.
Now that you know these colors, you'll never have to worry about using the correct colors again.
Other Uses for the American Flag and Colors
In addition to printing the U.S. flag on shirts, we often get the request to use the red, white, and blue colors and stars and stripes in non-traditional ways.
In these instances, when a business is trying to emulate the look of the flag or identify as proudly American, we follow the same rules and guidelines we explained above.
This is a very common request in safety apparel for construction companies and contractors.
You can see in the above photo that while their logo is not the U.S. flag, it has the same elements - stars, stripes, and red, white, and blue colors.
When we print a design like this, we talk to the customer about the appropriate colors to use and why we recommend them.
When we get a request to print the U.S. flag, these are the two standards that guide us and we make sure our customer understands before we print.
And if you're looking for an American made shirt blank to use for your order, check out our five recommendations for best American made shirts to use for custom orders and 4 Really Good Reasons You Should Buy American-Made Shirts.
Order Custom Screen Printed Shirts for Your Organization
Here’s what Michael had to say after ordering custom shirts:
"Very impressed by the speed and quality of my company's shirt orders. They got our order done in less than a week (70+ shirts) and they came out perfectly fabulous. Thank you for your customer service."
Custom screen printed shirts can make a big impression for your business, school, or event.
We print shirts for landscaping companies, non-profits, schools, sports teams, restaurants, and manufacturing companies on a weekly basis.
At fancysweetstx we have the experience, design skills, and equipment to provide high-quality branded merchfor your business.
If you need custom shirts printed with or without the American flag, reach out to fancysweetstx today!
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