While screen printing has been around for hundreds of years, it only recently burst into popular culture. Andy Warhol and his printed T-shirts made screen printing incredibly popular. Later, the rotating multi-color screen-printing machine was developed. While the process has evolved, its fundamental concept remains the same: ink is pushed through a mesh stencil into the fabric. It is a traditional method for printing on fabric that has become an indispensable part of modern culture.
The disadvantages of screen printing are that it is very expensive, and a high setup fee is necessary. In addition, screen printing requires a high volume, so you have to print a lot of shirts to break even. In many industries, a break-even point is twenty-four t-shirts. Despite the low minimum quantity, screen printing is extremely efficient when done in large quantities. However, it is important to remember that screen printing is not cost-effective for small-scale operations.
While screen printing is the traditional method of decorating custom apparel, DTG is quickly becoming a rival. Its more aggressive appearance and higher saturation make it ideal for bright, eye-catching designs. Despite the fact that DTG prints on a wider variety of fabrics, screen printing still has the advantage of creating unique and vivid images. If you need to print something that stands out in a crowd, screen printing is the way to go. But if you need something that will last for a long time, consider digital printing.
Direct-To-Garment, or DTG, is a simpler process than screen printing. The process starts by breaking down the design into individual colors. This is typically done with computer software like Photoshop. Then, the process uses stencils to apply single colors of ink at a time. In order to ensure a fully saturated color, the ink is pulled across the stencil with a blade. If the color is transferred to the surface, it is cured, which means the final product will be a high-quality product.
Another benefit of screen printing is its consistency. With the right setup, it is possible to produce identical printing across many shirts. There are so many variables that can change the resultant design. Screen tension, mesh clogging, and dot gain can all affect the way an image appears. Furthermore, flash dryer temperature and angle can affect the placement of halftones and the sharpness of the squeegee. If the settings and quality are not consistent, the final print will not look like the first.
Plastisol inks have the brightest colors, but are less efficient on smaller orders. While DTG inks are water-based and do not require any screen setting, they lack the opaqueness and vibrancy of Plastisol ink. Although DTG machines do produce a decent underbase, the final results will be less vibrant than those of screen printing. They are also less expensive than screen printing. However, if you have an unlimited budget, screen printing may be the way to go. To fin out more about screen printing ask local Tacoma printing companies in your area.