Screen Printing
What is screen printing?
Using a screen coated with emulsion, exposed, and prepared to allow ink to flow through a certain area. Almost all shirts with designs are screenprinted.
Each color, or underbase, needs its own separate screen. For a white shirt with a red and blue design, there would be a screen for the red, and a separate screen for the blue.
On dark garments, you will need an underbase to make any color ‘pop’ and be their true color. If you printed a color on a dark garment, it would look muted. But, if you print that color on top of a white ‘underbase’ print, then you would see that color for what it truly is. Think of using primer on your walls when painting, or on your car. Inkjet printers print on white paper and we see vivid colors.
When you send your art files to us, please let us know what color shirts, etc., you want as this will affect the way the items are printed.
Please check below for the different methods that we can use to print your items.
STANDARD PLASTISOL
Basic screen printing ink that is used on almost all of the shirts and garments you see at stores. This ink is included in your quote.
WATER BASED / HIGH-SOLIDS ACRYLIC
This ‘eco-friendly’ ink has a much softer feel than Plastisol ink. The ink is thinner and has a much smoother feel.
Pantone / exact color matches are more challenging with this method of printing.
This type of printing incurs a higher setup / print cost.
DISCHARGE
Discharge printing is a 2 step process: the discharge ink removes most of the color from the thread (bleaching it) and then dyes the fabric to the new color. Please note: due to variations in manufacturing and dye techniques of the manufacturer, some garments will work better than others and may yield inconsistent results.
Exact color matches are not guaranteed. Testing / samples is recommended
This type of printing incurs a higher setup / print cost.