You want your appearance to reflect who you are. You want to bring yourself into your outfit. And what better way to do that than with some unique graphics on your custom logo hats? Custom hats are an open canvas for your creativity, and creating your own logo is the pillar of customization options. And there’s no better place for Elgin to design it than Hat.Co.
Our designers are ready to put your logo concept onto paper. You just need to tell us your concept, and we will help you tailor the design for your custom hat. If you’re ready to dive in, you can talk to a team member at (636) 926-2777, reach out to us online, or try out our design studio to start designing today.
On this page, you can read about the reasons Elgin, IL residents are getting custom logo hats, methods you can use to get your logo onto your hat, advice to guide you while creating, and other things to keep in mind while designing your hat/logo combination. You can navigate to a specific section via the links below:
- Reasons People in Elgin, IL Get Custom Logo Hats
- 3 Custom Logo Design Pro Tips for Elgin, IL, Hats
- Custom Logo Hats — Image Options
- What Else To Consider When Designing a Custom Logo
- Get Started With Custom Logo Hats Today
Reasons People in Elgin, IL Get Custom Logo Hats
There are few better ways to give your brand exposure than by using custom logo hats, whether it’s for your Elgin, IL, business, a team, or just for you. In some cases, you might have a preexisting logo that you’re thinking about putting on a hat, but doing so could unintentionally take away from your design.
Hats (as opposed to shirts) have unique aspects that are important to consider. You’ll want to take the time to think about the following:
- The size of the logo on the hat
- Where it will be placed
- The type of hat and the material it will be made of
- Whether your design is fairly detailed or simpler
We’ll talk about pro tips for some custom logo hats next, but before you get started there, it’s important to be aware that a current logo may not be the right fit for a new custom hat. At Hat.Co, we can help either create a new logo from scratch or convert an existing one to fit Elgin, IL, style perfectly.
Bonus: Particularly if you create a variation on an existing logo, custom designs are an excellent way to showcase a special event and make a keepsake to remember it by.
3 Custom Logo Design Pro Tips for Elgin, IL, Hats
If you want to get the most out of your custom logo hats while designing them, keep in mind the following:
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 1: Use a Bold, Simple Logo
There’s one thing that every custom logo hat has in common: The medium the logo is going on. Hats are prominent in Elgin, IL, but don’t give you as much area to work with as a billboard or even a custom t-shirt. This is all the more reason to make your design stand out.
If it’s going on a hat, stick with bold designs and avoid complication. Instead of having someone struggle to read your design, you want them to be able to make it out without squinting.
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 2: Avoid Fine Details
Finely detailed art can be incredible, but only in the right medium. A design that looks great on a poster can lose its aesthetic when it’s shrunk down. This is why it’s worth considering an update on an preexisting logo before putting it on a hat.
A more minimalist design is helpful in and of its own right, but it has an added benefit that is related to the previous pro tip — a more straightforward, striking design keeps things understandible plus it distinguishes your hat from the crowd in Elgin, IL.
Custom Logo Hats Pro Tip 3: Consider Adding a Back Design
We spoke above about how hats don’t have a large amount of display space. However, you can also add something to the back of your hat to distinguish your design further.
It’s common for designers to don’t give much attention to the back of the hat, which is something you can turn to your advantage. With a rear logo, you can add something that distinguishes your team, give exposure to a secondary logo, or add a slogan.
Elgin, IL, Custom Logo Hats — Artwork Options
Either before or after you design the logo, you’ll need to pick a way to put it onto the hats. The four typical ways this is done are Embroidery, Patches, Screen Printing, and Direct-to-Film(DTF)/Heat Transfer. Each method has its place, and we’re discussing them in detail below to help you figure out the best one for your custom logo hats:
DTF/Heat Transfer:
DTF/Heat transfer is a game-changer for custom logo hats. It gives creators more options than ever before when it comes to finishes and overall designs. Below are some of the main benefits of using DTF/Heat Transfer:
- Accessible pricing, particularly for smaller orders
- Very high number of color options and unique printing options, such as iridescent prints
- Swift turnarounds, for help when you need your custom hats ASAP
Screen Printing:
Screen Printing is the traditional method for putting a custom logo on your hat. As the name implies, it involves using screens as guides to paint layers of ink onto the fabric of your hat. Following are some reasons why people choose screen printing:
- You logo will last for a while, as long as it is properly cared for
- Vivid colors that stand out strongly on the fabric
- Extremely cost-effective for large orders
Embroidery:
Embroidery doesn’t involve any printing, and instead uses thread. This thread is stitched into the body of your hat, creating a distinctive effect for your logo and giving it texture. If you go with Embroidery, here’s what you have to look forward to:
- A textured, one-of-a-kind effect that makes your logo stand out from the rest in Elgin, IL
- A quintessential style with a lot of history behind it
- durable logos, since the design is integrated into the hat materials
Patches:
Patches, last but not least, are different from the rest in that they start out separate from the hat. You could get leather patches, PVC patches, or even special embroidered patches. Custom logo hats in Elgin, IL use patches for the following reasons:
- Custom patches come in many different types
- Because of their strong materials, they are the most durable and long-lasting logo option
- If you go with patches, you’ll have the option to get extra and use them for more
As you can see above, there’s no universally correct solution for how to put your logo onto your hat. Custom logo hats are, as the name suggests, unique. And you should go with a method that will make your logo stand out. If you’re not sure which method to go with, call us, and our team will offer insight based on our years of experience. And as an added bonus, we save your artwork so you can reorder the same custom hat later and/or get matching apparel.
Other Hat Customization Aspects to Keep in Mind
Your logo artwork is set — great job! But you’ve still got the hat itself to figure out. It’s important to give your design a solid base, and the two main factors you’ll want to consider are the hat’s type and color(s):
Hat Styles:
While many hat styles can be customized in Elgin, IL, not every one is a good fit for every logo. A custom dad hat gives a very different impression than a custom fitted hat. Below, you can read an overview of the major hat styles available in Elgin and a bit about each of them:
- Baseball Caps: Baseball caps are classics with a long history, and are adequate for nearly any logo.
- Trucker Hats: Trucker hats feature a large, foam front which displays screen printing and DTF well, but the mesh back isn’t as convenient for logos.
- Snapback Hats: Snapbacks have large fronts like trucker hats, but also have lots of space in the rear.
- Dad Hats: The unstructured nature of a dad hat makes embroidery a good fit, with its timeless look and pliable nature.
- Flexfit Hats: Flexfits are great for activewear, and a hyper-durable logo like a patch should stand up to the increased wear.
- Beanie Hats: Without a brim, beanies are pliable and flexible, and are worn outside. Patches and embroidery are the two most common decorations for beanies.
Color Theory:
Researching a bit of color theory is a good idea for both your design and the hat it will be on. The fabric behind the design will either boost or hamper it. Using the right background color will maximize your logo’s visibility.
You don’t need a full art degree to pick out your colors, though. Complementary color schemes will help your logo pop. Complementary colors help each other stand out, adding to your design’s boldness.
One final color tip — try out a color wheel to check out your colors before you decide on them. Then, you can design the whole hat in complementary fashion.
Need Custom Logo Hats in Elgin, IL? Call Hat.Co
If you’re in Elgin, IL and need custom logo hats, you want to work with the best to get them made. Hat.Co is ready for your project. We’ve been in the custom apparel industry for over 50 years, and we offer high-quality, union printing services.
If you’re looking for help with creating custom logo hats, or if there’s another hat project you’ve always wanted to do, we’re ready to help you out. Talk to a Hat.Co representative at (636) 926-2777 or request a quote online now to get started.