Get to Know: What is Screen Printing?

Almost everyone has owned a screen-printed tee at some point in their life. It’s a widely adopted and cost-effective method for bulk shirt printing. While screen printing is prevalent, it’s essential to explore other printing methods and understand how they compare.

Screen printing involves running ink over a screen to create a desired design or effect on a product. It’s versatile, compatible with various materials, and commonly uses Plastisol ink, particularly effective on dark garments. Screens can be made from silk or polyester.

The screen printing process starts with cutting a design from the screen, where the cut part represents the desired ink placement on the shirt. Ink is loaded onto the screen and spread across with a squeegee or brush. After pressing the ink into the shirt, it dries, and a heat gun can expedite the process. Adjusting ink thickness is possible by altering the plasticizer ratio or applying more coats. Once set up, the screen allows easy replication of the design across multiple shirts.

Sublimation, on the other hand, digitally prints an image onto a transfer sheet with dye, which is then pressed into a light-colored shirt made of 70% or more polyester. The dye transitions from a solid to a gaseous state, coloring the shirt fibers without leaving a plastic feel. While ideal for smaller batches, sublimation faces challenges in larger-scale production due to the time-consuming creation of transfer sheets.

Screen printing has its drawbacks, such as the plastic feel left by the ink and limitations on colors and design complexity. Sublimation avoids the plastic feel but is impractical for printing numerous shirts at once, restricted to light or white garments with high polyester content.

Despite their downsides, both methods have endured, with screen printing remaining a primary choice in apparel printing. To discover more about various printing methods and find the perfect one for your needs, reach out to the experienced team at Mustang Advertising Trading LLC.