What’s the difference between hand printing and machine printing?

There are subtle differences throughout the ordering process for both methods of printing.

Printing: Our hand printed tees are printed by us in-house from a linocut block that Sara hand-carved to create this design. With this method there will be slight variations in printing, making each shirt one-of-a-kind and giving it that great handmade feel that’s also perfect for adding that special touch to a gift or a statement piece.

Our machine printed tees are printed at a professional lab from a digital version of this design. Machine printers are great at providing very consistent, uniform prints that are extra durable and hold up well.

Shipping: Our hand printed tees are packaged with care in sustainable packaging and shipped to you directly from us. To further limit our environmental impact we generally keep limited inventory on hand so nothing goes unused. Because of that, depending on our stock levels at the time of your order it may take 4-7 days to get your order printed, dried and ready to be shipped to you.

Our machine printed tees will be shipped to you directly from the print lab to limit the amount of transit and to get to you ASAP. The packaging is generally minimal, but is not as sustainable as the packaging straight from us. Shipping times tend to be quickest with this method, generally getting to you 3-5 days after your order is placed.

Care: Both printing methods are durable and hold up well. Hand printing is always going to be slightly more delicate than a machine print, so we recommend being a little more mindful with using and washing them. For longevity we recommend washing both versions on cold when possible and tumble drying on a lower heat setting.

Cliff notes: If you love handmade goods, want that extra small business feel and don’t mind a slightly longer shipping time, definitely go with the hand printed option. If you’re in a rush and need your item ASAP or if you want to be able to be extra hard on the print the machine printed option is perfect for that.

If you're interested in customization or different variations please feel free to send us a message so we can start brainstorming the possibilities together!

Our Wild Puget Sound was born out of a pure love for Puget Sound and an insatiable curiosity for exploring all the ways we’re connected to these wild waters. We use art + modern storytelling to highlight the vast life, work and ecology sustained by the Puget Sound watershed and our shop is where we get to have fun and celebrate this watershed with tangible day-to-day products.

We’re proud members of 1% For the Planet and a portion of every dollar we make goes straight to organizations that work hard every day to protect the Salish Sea for generations to come.