What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Cogar Printing

Name: Cogar Printing
Address: 1515 MARTIN Boulevard STE 100, Baltimore, MD, 21220, US
Telephone: +14103918888

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United States
Baltimore, MD
Cogar Printing

Keeping Print Alive
Est. 1982

08/28/2026

Following up on yesterday's post about dark vs light garments, here's a deeper look at the underbase and why it matters so much.

An underbase is a layer of white ink printed first, before any colors go down. On dark fabric, it creates a bright, opaque foundation that the color inks sit on top of. Without it, you're printing color on color (or color on black), and the result is always duller than expected.

After the white underbase is printed, it gets flash cured, which means it passes under a heat source just long enough to firm up without fully curing. Then the color layers go on top, and everything cures together at the end.

The thickness and opacity of that underbase directly affects how vibrant the final colors look. A thin or rushed underbase means colors that look faded straight out of the dryer. Getting it right takes experience and attention at the press, but it's the difference between a shirt that looks like the proof and one that falls short.

08/26/2026

Printing on a black shirt is a completely different process than printing on a white one. Here's why.

When you print on a light garment, the ink goes straight onto the fabric and the colors show up just fine. The white of the shirt does a lot of the work.

Dark garments are a different story. If you lay a colored ink directly on black fabric, the fabric wins. The color gets absorbed and looks muddy or washed out. To fix this, we print a layer of white ink first, called an underbase, let it flash cure, and then print the colors on top. That white layer acts like a canvas, letting the colors pop the way they should.

It adds a step to the process, but the difference in the final product is night and day. If you've ever gotten a dark shirt back and the colors didn't look as vibrant as the proof, a skipped or thin underbase is usually why. That's not something that happens here.

08/22/2026

Something we see more and more: companies building out custom branded apparel packages for new hires.

It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Someone's first week on the job sets the tone. Walking in and getting a polo, a hat, and a bag with the company logo does something subtle but real. It signals that you belong here. That the team takes their brand seriously. That this is a place people are proud to represent.

It doesn't have to be complicated. Even a simple two or three piece kit with consistent branding goes a long way. We've helped put these together for teams of all sizes, from small offices to large corporate departments.

If it's something you've been thinking about, it's worth a conversation.

08/20/2026

One of the most common things that slows down an order: sending us a JPG you grabbed from Google.

Screen printing requires separating your design into individual ink colors. That process works best with vector artwork, which is built from mathematical shapes that scale perfectly at any size. JPGs, PNGs, and most images you find online are raster files made of pixels. When we try to enlarge or separate them for printing, things get muddy fast.

File formats that work: AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS, and PDF with embedded vector art.

If you don't have vector files, don't stress. Our design team deals with this regularly and can usually work with what you have, redraw what's needed, or help get you to a print-ready file. It's part of the process.

08/18/2026

DTF printing has been getting a lot of buzz lately, and for good reason.

DTF stands for Direct to Film. A design is printed onto a special film, then heat-transferred directly onto a garment. The result is a full-color, detail-rich print that works on just about any fabric type.

Where it really shines:
Small quantities with no setup costs. Complex, photographic, or gradient-heavy designs. Unusual garment materials that don't play well with screen printing. Quick one-offs or samples.

Where screen printing still wins:
High volume orders. Solid color designs where you want maximum opacity and durability. That classic, slightly raised ink feel.

Neither is better than the other. They're just different tools for different jobs. If you're not sure which makes sense for your order, that's exactly the kind of thing we sort out before production starts.

08/14/2026

One of the most common questions we get: should I go with screen printing or embroidery?

Honest answer — it depends on the product and the look you're going for.

Screen printing is the move when you need a lot of pieces, have a bold graphic or multi-color design, and you're decorating t-shirts, hoodies, or flat garments. It's great for events, teams, and anything where you want big, eye-catching art.

Embroidery makes more sense for polos, hats, jackets, and bags — anything with a more polished or professional feel. It has texture, durability, and a premium look that screen printing can't replicate on structured items.

Quick cheat sheet:
T-shirts for a 5K → screen printing
Polo for your sales team → embroidery
Event hoodie → screen printing
Branded hat for a client gift → embroidery

Still not sure which direction to go? That's what we're here for — happy to talk it through.

07/31/2026

Behind the scenes. Big ideas happen here. 👀

This is where finished merch gets its final look before it heads out the door. Real people, real laughs, and a team that treats every order like it matters.

Need branded apparel or promo products for your business? Send us a message and let’s talk about what you’re building.

07/08/2026

Your promo budget should work harder.

Not sure which merch actually gets seen and used? Start with your goal, audience, and impressions, then pick the product that fits all three.

At Cogar, we help Baltimore businesses choose swag that makes sense, not just looks good. Message us for a quick promo product plan. 😊

07/03/2026

A little chaos. A lot of pride.

This is what a real production day looks like at Cogar. A client, a few laughs, and the team making sure every shirt, hat, and tote feels right before it leaves the shop.

Need a printing partner who actually knows your name? Comment "LOCAL" and we’ll reach out. 😊

07/02/2026

From plain to brand power, fast.

This Baltimore business needed merch that actually matched the quality of their work. We helped them turn basics into a clean, polished rollout that got noticed.

Brand visibility jumped 38%. Turnaround? 2 weeks. And the client said it best: "Easy to work with." 😊

Want results like this for your team? Comment "CASE" and we’ll show you what’s possible.

Address

1515 MARTIN Boulevard STE 100
Baltimore, MD
21220

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14103918888

Website

http://www.cogarprinting.com/, https://linktr.ee/cogarprinting

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