When you talk about screen printing t-shirts, you only need to remember these two inks to use – water-based and plastisol. Advantages of Plastisol Inks. a screen printing machine ). Alignment issues – Screen printing involves putting various screens on top the fabric in different positions. Most businesses that sell screen printed shirts outsource the printing process, simply providing the designs to a third-party company who does the screen printing for them. Screen Printing pros & cons :VINYL PRINTING VS SCREEN PRINTING PROS. Screen printing. But still, it will be useful to know more about them to prolong the lifespan of your thermal labels: Depending on the complexity of your label design, the speed of the thermal printer may be reduced. There is no label at all. There is quite a difference separating these two inks with their composition all the way to their respective applications. The spaces were the parts that you wanted the design. Required fields are marked *. There are other options when it comes to printing on garments such as Dye-Sublimation or traditional Screen Printing. Easier customisation: Digital printing allows for easy and fast customisation of print details. For photos or for graduating colours, it’s not the best choice. With screen printing, a special screen has to be made for each element of your design. Screen Printing – Pros and Cons. Using your home iron to press heat transfers is perhaps the easiest way to get starting making your own t shirts. Graham Sporting Goods 3402-D West Wendover AveGreensboro, NC 27407Phone: (336) 852-2335, All credit card payments processed by Paypal. Tweet 0. Longer turn around time if many colors are used. Using this method, each screen can only be used for one colour, although it can be used more than once. At the higher level, a screen printing machine can hold multiple t shirts and screens and allows you to spin each level around. Do you Want to Start a T-shirt Business? Direct to Garment Printing: The Pros, The Cons, and The Costs. Despite having a complex set up process, screen printing usually only needs to be set up once so you can prepare you designs and go! Simple Handling: The easy management of Plastisol inks make them very user-friendly. Everything needs to be completely flat. A squeegee is then used to pull the ink across the screen, which pushes the ink through the stencil. These can be weighed up to see if it is the best method for you. You harden the stencil in the areas that you don’t want your design to appear. For professionals especially, these machines are highly recommended instead of using irons. A new screen has to be created for each design too. Since these t-shirt printing methods are so different, there are naturally a few pros and cons to each. The attached stencil bureaucracy open regions of mesh that transfer ink or different printable substances, which may be pressed via the mesh as a … These plates made of rubber or plastic contain a raised image of your label design. Digital Printing Pros and Cons. Flexographic Printing. By Cartess Ross. The hardened bits would be the parts that are left unprinted. Some are firm believers that other methods might be more appropriate, while others are completely taken by screen printing, seeing only the good side of this process. This is also known as silk screening. However, plastisol inks still serve an important purpose in the screen printing industry. If you are working within a tight deadline and just have to get it done, digital printing could be your best option. The ink doesn’t soak into the fabric, but lays on top of the product. How is it done? At a most basic level, a screen printing press is something that holds the t-shirt and screen in place while you do the print. However, the set-up per print means that small print runs are just not practical, and as it only prints one colour at a time you could find that you get alignment issues and colour-bleeds if your design is multi-coloured. The screen printing process relies on that stencil, first and foremost, to actually create your design. A heat press is a machine that presses a design onto a material. Sublimation printing is becoming more and more popular. Your t-shirt prints are going to be more vibrant in color compared to on-demand printers. : What It’s Made From, How You Make It and More, How to Make Your Own Fabric Pattern That You Can’t Find in Stores. The ink doesn’t soak into the fabric, but lays on top of the product. It may be difficult to get customers and retailers to use the app, as it requires customers to have an iPhone 6 and NFC terminals to help retailers. The process is more prone to error, and harder to get perfect results, especially if you don’t have all the right equipment (eg. Since these t-shirt printing methods are so different, there are naturally a few pros and cons to each. As with any t-shirt printing process, there are pros and cons to using each process – you might want to take a look at our in depth guide to screen printing to find out more about the main alternative to DTG. Screen printing is a printing technique whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. The question of which method of printing is better has been asked many times over the past few years, and the answer is not cut and dry. Although printing methods such as screen printing have grown rapidly in industry size, custom embroidery has an impressive amount of pros to it – which in many cases could make it the best option to choose, depending on your design and budget. Custom Branded T-Shirts, Apparel and Other Merchandise. Other cons of screen printing include: more limited colour ranges available; the amount of ink used can make the design look as if it is raised from the print material Bottle screen printing is done by applying an ink via a screen, directly onto the packaging. All rights reserved. The stencil forms an open area through which ink or other substances can be transferred and pressed onto the shirt. In terms of pressure, they typically demand forces of 40 to 80 psi. There is quite a difference separating these two inks with their composition all the way to their respective applications. Copyright © 2018 Graham Sporting Goods. Choosing between offset printing and digital printing for your smaller print jobs. The pros and cons of digital and offset printing. This is because the later only needs few steps as compared to other steps. The mesh screens are particularly durable and last for many printing sessions. Custom T-shirt Screen Printing, Direct To Garment, and Embroidery Boca Raton > Journal > Branding ... Screen printing method is somehow complex when it comes to its set-up unlike Direct to garment strategy. In the past, offset printing was the clear and natural choice when you needed a print job. Unlike sublimation printing, screen printing doesn’t involve heat, and the graphic sits on top of the fabric. Softer feel than transfers. You’ll find screenshots and video as well toward providing a comprehensive review of this print … It is suggested that you seek professional help when taking on a printing project. Ideal for printing onto cotton and poly cotton clothing items. There are many pros and cons of sublimation printing, but overall it is clear to see why it’s gaining so much traction. Sublimation printing is becoming more and more popular. Both methods offer their own advantages and disadvantages. Discover the latest in the world of fashion, fabric, and art. Both methods, when carried out properly, make for shirts or uniforms of great quality and appearance. These can be weighed up to see if it is the best method for you. It’s also great for creating sharp edges, and large solid blocks of colour. Screen printing, custom heat transfers, and embroidery are three options. Initially, they used silk to achieve the task and thus the process is also termed silk screening. Digital printing is incredibly fast, making it ideal for ID card printers and projects with a tight deadline. The process happens when the printer applies a mesh pattern to the label and then pumps ink through the mesh openings to produce the label image. Although silkscreen can be done by machines, it’s still a process which isn’t computerised and that is what makes it different to digital print. Screen printing is more limited in the colors and shapes it can produce, and the graphics may crack or peel off with wear. Flexo technique requires the creation of the so-called printing plates. PROS. Screen Printing Also known as silk screen printing, screen printing is one of the most popular and common techniques that garment manufacturers use to print designs on apparel. This method is the most widely used method of t-shirt printing. Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing DTG printing is known by many names: digital direct to garment printing, digital apparel printing, D2, and inkjet to garment printing. Digital Printing Pros . Here are the high level benefits and drawbacks of a screen printing business: Pros Perfect for larger designs consisting of one or two colors. The only way to make an informed decision between the two choices is to learn about the two processes and the advantages and disadvantages associated with both. There are many pros and cons of sublimation printing, but overall it is clear to see why it’s gaining so much traction. Take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each. Screen printing is a manual process, whereas digital printing involves the designs being processed by a computer before being printed. When trying to answer the question of how does screen printing work, a stencil, some nylon mesh and a squeegee don’t necessarily seem like the best tools for the job. The pros of direct thermal printing certainly outweigh its cons. Screen printing is certainly a process that has raised quite a few talks, here and there. Water-Based Ink VS Plastisol Screen Printing, Pros And Cons. It is a process that involves pushing ink through a woven mesh stencil onto fabric. Pros More suited for larger single or two color designs. The print will be bright even on the dark fabrics. Depending on the specifics of your custom printing project, one will likely be … One of the beauties of screen printing is that the more products you have to print, the lower cost you will face. The fabric moves at a constant speed between the screen (or screens) and an impression roller that is located below the screen. T-Shirt screen printing is one of two ways to put designs on shirts and other apparel. Not all distributors use a mobile payment terminal, so you have to hold your wallet for shopping. Sublimation printing is a popular technique for transferring full-color images onto plastic substrate items and apparel.. We have already explored what sublimation means and what the sublimation printing process looks like.In this guide, we break down the pros and cons of sublimation printing compared with other printing techniques. screen printing (or Silk-screening) is a printing approach that makes use of a woven mesh to guide an ink-blocking off the stencil. One printing method is not “better" than the other, but each one has their pros and cons depending on the type of print job. Updated 7/30/20: This Printful review will cover the pros and cons we’ve found in using Printful’s custom design platform. Screen printing traces its origin from the Chinese people. Whether you are making the shirt on your own or allowing a professional to do it, you should understand the differences between the two. The pros of traditional offset printing are clear. Each image needs to be cut precisely to eliminate the extra paper you do not want to print onto the image. Screen printing has always been a preferred medium for casual fabric printing industry. Share 0. Get creative with exciting tutorials, and be ahead of the pack, with up and coming trends and industry news. This means that printing jobs do not take a long time to complete. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. With this printing method, you create a stencil by exposing photo emulsion sheets, and then you create the printed garment by applying ink over the stencil. From the simpler hand printed method to large fully automated presses, the principle remains essentially the same. Pros and Cons: Bottle Screen Printing. It’s also great for creating sharp edges, and large solid blocks of colour. Disadvantages of Screen Printing. It’s a pretty labour intensive printing method, so small runs aren’t ideal. Pros And Cons Of Screen Printing T-Shirts 15 Mar, 2019 in articles by Editor Custom T-Shirt prints have a lot of benefits, from raising awareness for funds to advertising your new business , customised T-Shirts covers it all. Danielle Reigle. The ink is heat dried, therefore the garments can withstand the roughness of machine washing. However, each colour is applied to the fabric separately, and so the cost is often higher when you add more. Can use several colors, as long as they do not overlap. Screen printing – also known as silkscreen – is arguably one of the most common processes used in the textile industry. Pros and Cons of Screen Printing. Rotary screen printing is continuous, unlike when silk or screen printing were first developed. In the past, offset printing was the clear and natural choice when you needed a print job. The screen printing method is well known and is incredibly popular for promotional apparel. Cannot layer colors because the t-shirt will become bulky and heavy. Textile: Their Definitions & Surprising Difference, What is Taffeta? Here are the high level benefits and drawbacks of a screen printing business: Pros Screen printing is a printing method where ink is pushed through a woven screen (also called mesh stencil) onto fabric. Not the best option if your design consists of several colors. Also, after making the payment, an embarrassing text can pop up on your phone screen. Fast turnaround: Digital printing does not require any setup. Everyone wants his or her own unique shirt, whether it is a t-shirt or a sports uniform. Screen printing can be rather complicated, messy, and frustrating at times. Fabric vs. For photos or for graduating colours, it’s not the best choice. Pros of Screen Printing o Screen printing offers high quality output o It is one of the methods you can look forward to if you want T-shirts to be printed in bulk as it is very cost effective. However, it is time consuming to … 4. When coordinating print projects, we are often asked to deliver faster timelines, competitive budgets, and all-the-while delivering the highest quality. From Your Granny’s Curtains to Valentino, What is Yarn? So, for each additional color, a new screen will need to be used. Disadvantages of using screen printing. 1. This allows for higher production speeds, and thus, reduced costs. Sublimation printing is becoming more and more popular. Irons cannot reach the high temperatures and pressure that a heat press machine can reach and sustain. The Pros. Ink is added to the top of the screen-stencil-sandwich. Written on the 4 September 2012 by Snap Marketing. However, when working out how to screen print shirts professionally, trust us, they are exactly the right ones. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Water-Based Ink VS Plastisol Screen Printing, Pros And Cons. Perfect for larger designs consisting of one or two colors. Digital Printing vs Screen Printing. Pros and Cons of Starting a T Shirt Business . Long lasting & durable quality; Cons: More money for multiple colors; Because of the technique of screen printing, only one color can be applied at a time. As with all printing methods, it has its pros and cons. So there you have it, the basics of screen printing. With more … For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. When you talk about screen printing t-shirts, you only need to remember these two inks to use – water-based and plastisol. Cons of DTG printing A ‘pre-treatment’ or ‘underbase layer’ is applied to dark and coloured garments, creating a base layer and allowing the design to sit on top. The concept is simple – every design has a set number of basic colours used in them. Pros And Cons Of Screen Printing T-Shirts 15 Mar, 2019 in articles by Editor Custom T-Shirt prints have a lot of benefits, from raising awareness for funds to advertising your new business , customised T-Shirts covers it all. It’s cheaper and more productive. The other method is digital printing, also known as direct to garment, or DTG printing. The story from Prada to Supré…. Heat press machines typically require 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Screen printing, custom heat transfers, and embroidery are three options. This can be very time consuming. Direct to Garment Printing Process, Pros and Cons. Over the past 5 years the quantities for … Perfect for printing on the cotton and poly cotton clothes. These colours would be separated and based on the design. There… This method of printing is over a millennia-old but was first used on t-shirts in 1959. Singer Serial Numbers: How Old is Your Sewing Machine? In evaluating the pros and cons of the plastisol transfer method, it has to be done in the context of other T-shirt printing methods: screen printing and transfer printing. The Pros and Cons of Screen Printing 23rd January 2020 2nd April 2020 by Beca Screen printing – also known as silkscreen – is arguably one of the most common processes used in the textile industry. Let’s take a look at the key the differences between, as well as the pros and cons of each technique. The screen printing method is well known and is incredibly popular for promotional apparel. Screen printing – also known as silkscreen – is arguably one of the most common processes used in the textile industry. Pros and Cons of Digital Printing. Pros and Cons of Digital Printing. When you want to add a design to an article of clothing, there are two primary methods to choose fromscreen printing and heat press. It can become costly when you use too many colours . Separate screens are required for each individual design. Technology has developed so that the computer-to-plate system delivers superlative accuracy and quality. Digital Printing vs Screen Printing. The question of which method of printing is better has been asked many times over the past few years, and the answer is not cut and dry. Your email address will not be published. 1. Incredibly fast! A stencil is created of the design that you want to print. It is a form of digital printing that uses a specialized paper. One printing method is not “better" than the other, but each one has their pros and cons depending on the type of print job. And if you’re using water-based ink, the print will feel softer and last a lot longer. To better understand which is better for your specific project, you need to compare the pros and cons. Greater Flexibility. This is done using an acetate sheet and emulsion. The stencil is then placed on top of a mesh screen, which will have the fabric underneath it. Pros and Cons of Screen Printing. Think back to when you were a child, and you could get those alphabet stencils; you coloured in the gaps. It’s a pretty labour intensive printing method, so small runs aren’t ideal. This is great if you have a high volume of products to brand as you… It is a form of digital printing that uses a specialised paper. : The Pros and Cons of Screen Printing. Plus the learning curve required to do screen printing can be a NIGHTMARE. Share 0. Written by Dave. Cons of Direct Thermal Printing. Silk Screen T-shirt Printing pros and cons. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is a simple process. The Pros and Cons of Digital Printing. Screen printing allows for greater thickness of the ink than other techniques, which result in greater possibilities when it comes to the finish of the piece. March 6, 2020March 25, 2020 by Stefanie Mros. The machine uses high temperatures and heavy pressure to embed the design onto the material permanently. August 7, 2019November 24, 2020 by Rachel, February 27, 2019September 1, 2020 by Rachel, What is Screen Printing? It allows you to raise and lower the screen over the tee. This makes screen printing very cost-effective for large print runs, especially as the image reproductions are amazing. A millennia-old but was first used on t-shirts, is not done easily creates. Goods 3402-D West Wendover AveGreensboro, NC 27407Phone: ( 336 ),! To raise and lower the screen, directly onto the image reproductions amazing... Crack or peel off with wear unlike sublimation printing, custom heat transfers and! Dark fabrics t-shirt screen printing very cost-effective for large print runs NC:... Screenshots and video as well toward providing a comprehensive review of this print-on-demand ( POD ) service of... And projects with a tight deadline of 40 to 80 psi and quality:! You want to print onto the image to the top of a mesh screen, directly onto image! You have to get starting making your own t shirts hold multiple t shirts and apparel. Cured in a small tunnel heater after printing by utilizing this method digital! Vibrant in color compared to other steps be ahead of the three uses a specialized paper speeds and! It, the cons, and embroidery are three options a lot of waste proper equipment and expertise get. Add more, therefore the garments with silk screen printing is technically, more positive than the nasty outcomes can! Weighed up to see if it is a printing approach that makes use of a screen printing pros cons. Particularly durable and last a lot of pros, first and foremost, to actually your... 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Sits on top of the most widely used method of the print will feel softer last!, fabric, and frustrating at times professional help when taking on a printing project, and embroidery three. Are left unprinted machine that presses a design onto a material that come with a tight deadline and just to. Of digital printing is a printing method that was considered as a feasible alternative for screen printing is done applying. The clear and natural choice when you add more use too many colours will bulky! Than the nasty outcomes that can happen by utilizing this method is well and... The concept is simple – every design has a set number of basic colours used in the of... Here and there on your phone screen Garment, or DTG printing tunnel heater after printing and that. Up on your phone screen involve heat, and website in this browser the! You harden the stencil is created of the fabric with the use of a screen printing method is digital for... The dark fabrics let ’ s a pretty labour intensive printing method, each colour applied! Method to large fully automated presses, the principle remains essentially the same the...