Printing Sample Before Ordering: When It's Possible and What It Costs

A printing sample before placing an order is possible for most of our services: we prepare a digital artwork (PDF visual) free of charge within one business day, while a physical sample costs roughly from 6 EUR excl. VAT — for example, one DTF-printed T-shirt or one sheet of stickers. For technologies with set-up costs (screen printing 35 EUR, embroidery 25 EUR), a single-piece sample ends up pricier than the printing itself, so in those cases we usually recommend an alternative approach. Below you'll find specific figures and timelines by product group.

Three different things customers mean by "sample"

When talking to a customer, we first clarify exactly what needs to be checked. This determines both the price and the timeline.

• Digital artwork (visual). A PDF or JPG file showing logo placement, size in mm and position on the product. Free of charge, usually the same or the next business day. This answers the question "is the logo big enough and in the right place".
• Printed proof. An actual printed piece produced using the final technology and on the final material. This answers the question "will the colour come out as expected". Priced as a single piece according to the price list.
• Blank product sample. An unprinted mug, bottle, notebook or T-shirt from our catalogue, used to assess the material, weight and shade. Usually possible, price depends on the product.

When a physical sample is easy to arrange

Digital technologies have no set-up costs, so one piece is technically no different from a hundred. We produce samples here without hesitation:

• DTF printing on a T-shirt or sweatshirt — 6.00 EUR/pc up to A4 size plus the garment price.
• Stickers on matte or gloss vinyl — approx. 24.00 EUR/m², with the minimum calculation based on actual area; contour cutting +8.00 EUR/m².
• Posters — A2 from 6.00 EUR/pc, A1 from 9.00 EUR/pc, no set-up fee.
• Business cards — the smallest set is 100 pcs for 25.00 EUR, so a separate "single piece" sample isn't practical here; it's better to order the basic set right away.

For large-format banners, we usually produce a sample as a small cut-out (for example, a 20×30 cm piece of PVC material) to show the colour and material texture without the cost of a full-size print.

Indicative sample prices and timelines

Prices are indicative and exclude VAT. The exact amount depends on quantity, print size, number of colours and the specific product from our catalogue. You can view our full range of services and base prices in the printing services section.

When a sample isn't possible or isn't economical

Screen printing

Here most of the cost comes from screen preparation — 35.00 EUR per colour and position. A single sample therefore costs 38.50 EUR, while 50 pieces already come down to 2.50 EUR/pc. If the order is for 100 T-shirts, we usually offer one of two solutions: either we first produce a DTF sample to check the colour and placement, or we photograph the first T-shirt from the batch and send it for approval before continuing with the rest.

Embroidery

Design digitising is a one-off cost of 25.00 EUR — after that, a sample is just 5.50 EUR. If the order goes ahead, we credit the digitising fee against the final invoice. We recommend an embroidery sample almost every time, since the thread shade and the readability of small letters on fabric differ from what you see on screen. Read more about the technologies in the garment printing section.

Sublimation and thermal mugs

A sample is possible, but because of the full-coverage printing, a single piece costs close to a small batch price. In these cases, a digital artwork plus an unprinted material sample is usually enough.

How to make sure the sample is accurate

A sample is only as good as the file you send us. Practical tips:

1. Logo and text — in vector format (.ai, .eps or .pdf), colours in CMYK or specified as Pantone codes.
2. Photos and raster images — at least 300 dpi at final size; for large-format posters, 150 dpi is acceptable.
3. Let us know if the colour needs to match your brand guidelines — we'll then check it against a Pantone swatch before printing.
4. Add a 2–3 mm bleed margin and leave a safe zone for text.
5. State the planned quantity — pricing tiers start from 5 m² for stickers, 20 pcs for DTF and embroidery, and 50 pcs for screen printing and catalogues.

If the file is only a JPG or a Word document, let us know right away — vector redrawing is a separate task, and it's best to plan for it before producing samples. You can view sticker formats and materials in the stickers section.

How a sample fits into the overall timeline

Standard order fulfilment is 2–5 business days for stickers, banners and posters, and 5–10 business days for printed promotional products after artwork approval. A physical sample adds another 2–4 business days, including the time to wait for approval. This means that production planned for an event or opening that requires a sample should start around two weeks in advance. For urgent cases, we arrange things individually — sometimes a sample can also be viewed in person at Kandavas iela 29A, Riga.

Frequently asked questions

Is the digital artwork free of charge?

Yes. We prepare the artwork showing logo placement and sizes free of charge, usually within one business day of receiving your file. One or two rounds of revisions are also free.

How much does one printed T-shirt cost as a sample?

DTF printing up to A4 is 6.00 EUR/pc plus the garment price from the catalogue. For a screen printing sample, add 35.00 EUR for set-up; for an embroidery sample, add 25.00 EUR for digitising.

Is the sample cost deducted from the order?

We credit the set-up and digitising fees (for screen printing, embroidery, catalogues) against the final invoice if the order is placed using the same design. The cost of the sample's material and printing itself is not refunded.

How long does it take to get a physical sample?

2–3 business days for digital technologies, 4–6 business days for screen printing and embroidery. Once the sample is approved, production of the main batch begins, which usually takes another 2–5 business days for printed items and 5–10 business days for printed promotional products.

Can I get an unprinted product to assess its quality?

Yes, for most catalogue items — mugs, bottles, notebooks, bags, T-shirts. The price is for a single piece; for some products, we can show you a sample in person at our office with no purchase required.

Will the colour in the sample be exactly the same as in the final batch?

If the sample is produced using the same technology and on the same material, the difference is minimal. For different technologies (for example, a DTF sample versus a screen-printed batch), shades may vary slightly, so we use Pantone references for precise brand colours.

Write to info@attaprint.lv or call or message us on WhatsApp at +371 25776699 — tell us the product, quantity and attach your file, and we'll prepare a quote including the sample cost within one business day. Project manager Madara will help you decide whether a digital artwork is enough in your case or whether you need a physical sample.