BSN SPORTS: Elevating Apparel Decoration Through Color Management and AI

Kevin Goettsch

In the world of print, there is always something to learn. Sure, screen printing at its core has been around for centuries. But today’s screen printing isn’t what it was even five or six years ago.

Just like direct-to-garment (DTG) printing isn’t what it was eight years ago.

Just like heat transfers aren’t what they were 10 years ago.

With the advent of better color management, automation platforms, fulfillment and the print-on-demand revolution, and yes, artificial intelligence (AI), the apparel decorating industry requires printers stay sharp and up-to-date on the latest technology.

That’s part of what drew Kevin Goettsch, product development for apparel decoration at BSN SPORTS, to the iLEARNING+ platform. But beyond pursuing continuing knowledge in apparel decoration technologies specifically, Kevin also realized he wanted to learn more about topics such as color management, AI, and even PDF creation. The platform allowed him to pursue a wide variety of topics, with plenty more opportunity to learn in the future.

Building Technical Expertise

Kevin got his start in screen printing in 1996, cleaning screens and folding shirts off the dryer for his high school baseball coach’s team sports business. Fast forward to the COVID-19 pandemic time: BSN SPORTS acquired a company he was running production for in February 2020, and that’s what ultimately brought him to his current role.

“I test decoration equipment, consumables, software, fabrics, and processes to determine how they fit within the BSN SPORTS business model and whether they can be scaled to meet our operational needs,” Kevin explains. “I partner closely with vendors and manufacturers to develop structured testing plans specific to each product or process. If testing is successful, I work with onsite management, training, and engineering teams to define the production workflow, assist in developing training plans, and establish KPI metrics to ensure consistent execution.”

As one might imagine, that entails thorough technical knowledge not only of equipment and blanks, but of processes and data. After BSN’s VP of decoration, Trent Smith, signed the company up for a PRINTING United Alliance membership, Kevin discovered iLEARNING+. “As I reviewed the available courses, I identified several that I felt would be beneficial not only for myself but also for other production leaders,” he says.

Kevin evaluates the output from a DTF printer. Credit: Kevin Goettsch/Jadyn Goettsch

This largely grew from his desire to improve on the deep roots he already has in the industry. “Although I had a background in screen printing, I was relatively new to large-scale digital printing,” Kevin notes. “When we launched DTF (direct-to-film) in 2022, much of my education was hands-on with … our manufacturer. I wanted to deepen my technical understanding in this space, particularly in color management, which led me to the class offered by the iLEARNING+ platform.”

Ultimately, it led to three different interactions with the platform. To date, Kevin has taken the “AI and Color Management” and “Creating PDFs for Print Production” courses. On top of that, he has completed the “Color Management Professional: Fundamentals Certification.”

“With AI becoming more prominent, I was interested in exploring how it might support color workflows and automation,” he explains. “I took the Color Management Professional course in preparation for the G7+ certification. … The PDF course ensured that we are sending optimized files to our internal print rooms — files that can achieve the best possible color accuracy, gradients, and overall quality for our DTF transfers.”

As Kevin sees it, leaning heavily into advancing his color knowledge is part of implementing better, more efficient processes in BSN’s workflow. “Previously, when colors shifted, we would manually reprofile individual colors until they were back within tolerance,” he says. “This process was labor-intensive and could be affected by other variables in the workflow. After learning more about linearization and structured color management processes, we now have the ability to quickly and systematically reprofile all printers across our network if colors begin to drift. This has significantly improved both efficiency and consistency.”

A Continuous Drive to Improve

It doesn’t stop at just these courses, just this education, or even just with Kevin. Other BSN teammates have also taken some courses. “It’s important for multiple team members to invest in continuing education because it strengthens the entire team — not just the individual,” Kevin believes. “When several people are learning and growing at the same time, it creates shared language, shared frameworks, and a stronger foundation for collaboration.”

That stronger foundation is providing great ground for BSN to keep growing and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. And part of that means they don’t plan to stop learning.

“Continuing education is important to me because it helps me stay current, improve efficiency, and bring new ideas back to the team,” Kevin says. One course that he has on the list to take in the near future is “Print Meets AI: Simple Tools for Smarter Work.”

Kevin applies his color management training to continuously improve operations. Credit: Kevin Goettsch/Jadyn Goettsch

“I’m interested in this class because AI is rapidly changing how we approach workflows, content creation, and production processes,” he notes. “Understanding practical, real-world AI tools that can enhance print and operational efficiency will allow me to work smarter, identify automation opportunities, and support innovation within our team.”

Now more than ever, this is crucial in the apparel decorating community. As one that constantly grows, Kevin and BSN plan to do so alongside it. “In garment decoration, the landscape is constantly evolving — whether it’s new decoration techniques, equipment advancements, software, or shifting customer expectations,” he says. “Having a dedicated hub where we can access relevant, industry-specific education makes a significant difference.”