We constantly get inquiries asking what the difference is between screen printing and digital t-shirt printing. So we put together a short video to explain the differences between the two methods.

If you would like to see a video of the digital t-shirt printer in action just check out this post

This video talks about the differences between screen printing and direct to garment digital t-shirt printing. Screen printing is the industry standard method of the two and was invented by the Chinese. It is applied by creating a stenciled design on a mesh screen, which is then placed on top of the shirt.  The ink for the design (either water-based or plastisol) is pushed through using a squegee. Ink used are either water-based or plastisol inks. Plastisol is the current standard in the shirt printing industry.

Direct-to-garment digital printing or DTG is a new innovation in textile printing. It makes use of a customized inkjet printer and specially formulated inks. A special white ink has also been created for textile inkjet printers, which is useful for dark-colored shirts. The white ink is used as a base on which other colors are layered to create the desired effect.

Screen printed shirts are best known for their long life and the variety of designs and inks that can be used. The printed design is expected to last as long as the shirt itself.  Moreover, it is the only quality option for retail purchases, like the ones you find at the department store. However, screen printing also has higher entry level cost because the screens have to be set up first. Longer runs decrese the price though.

Digital printing is your best option if you’re thinking of having only a few shirts designed for a special occasion or as a gift or when you are using a high-color or photographic design. However, the quality of digitally printed designs is not as good as screen printed ones, and the ink tends to fade over the life of the garment. It is best for short runs only and not for larger batches.

So how do you choose which printing method to have? Think about what you need, what you envision the shirt to be like and how you’re going to use it. Keep an eye out for online cowboys who offer only digital t-shirt printing, when in fact you may be better off with a screen-printed design. Know what you want and ask for the best method to use based on your needs and your design.

So how does it work?

Well basically it is just a large format inkjet printer…not too much from the one you would have at home to print out your photos etc. Instead of printing onto photo paper it prints on to t-shirts. It uses specially formulated inks that work on textiles. They have even developed a special white ink that prints onto coloured t-shirts. Check this video to see ours in action…(Note: The printing part of the video is sped up 600% in the video for times sake…its not a super printer)

The benefits are that it is good to print onto short runs under 10 pieces where set-up prices for screen printing would make things expensive. It also prints photographic images at a very high resolution.

There are negatives to the method though. The inks don’t have the long life of screen printing inks and will fade over time. The printing is expensive if you want larger runs done. It isn’t a retail quality product in our opinion, but does fill a gap in the market where people need one off or short run t-shirts.

The other problem is that there are a lot of people entering the t-shirt printing market with these machines. They tout them as the next big thing and promote the fact that there are no set-ups etc but don’t give the full picture of the life expectancy of the print or compare it with traditional printing methods.

It basically comes down to what you need. If you need a short run of t-shirts or photographic or high colour images and the longevity of the product isn’t a major concern then digital t-shirt printing is worth doing. If you are after a professional finish and a long lasting retail quality product then screen printing is definitely the best option.

Let me know any thoughts or questions you might have below in the comments.

By now you should know your market and have developed a suitable image and label for your T shirt printing business. Now it’s time to move on to sourcing your t-shirts and choosing a printing method which does your designs justice.

Material Sourcing:

Whatever quality of t-shirt you are looking for, you’ll find them being manufactured in china. Bear in mind that these manufacturers will charge base rates for shipping and manufacture, so the larger quantities you can buy, the better deal you will get. If you’ve got a particular cut or fabric you’d like use then send them out a sample and they will probably be able to match it quite closely.

Inks and tools for screen printing are best purchased from local suppliers who can offer after sales support and equipment. If you are providing a custom t shirt printing service then the same applies but you can get ink cartridges more cheaply from budget suppliers on the internet.

Printing:

When it comes to printing you’ve got one final choice to make: Screen printing, or digital direct to garment printing? If you are looking to design your own t shirt range then the choice will primarily depend upon the bulk and quality of the printed T shirts you require. If you want to produce t shirts from other people’s designs on demand, then the screen printing cost will be prohibitive, but Direct to Garment Digital Printing will suit your business model very nicely.

If you are screen printing, then it will be important to ensure your designs translate well to the medium; screen printing is not easy, particularly for newcomers so be prepared to experiment and have some failed prints before you get the hang of the process. If you are short of time and capital, consider getting shirts printed by an expert screen printing company to ensure your products look and feel as good as they can.

By following this guide, and researching in more detail the action points it raises, you’ll ensure a successful launch and a relatively trouble free t-shirt label. Best of luck!