What is screen printing?

Screen printing is a time-tested process of transferring ink onto various items through the use of “screens,” or cut-out designs with open spaces in the desired area for the ink to be printed in. Think of these as stencils, with each color in a design representing a different stencil over the ink to be applied. The more colors, the more screens are necessary to complete the design. Screen printing can be done on a number of objects and, when done correctly, creates a vibrant design that will not wash off for a very long time. 

What is the difference between screen & digital printing?

The screen printing process is an older process that predates computers and it can be done by hand using pre-made screens and ink. These days, the screen printing process is aided by computers but still uses ink and screens. Digital printing is, as it sounds like, an actual print done by a computer directly onto the item. While digital printing has its advantages, screen printing still produces the brightest colors and is the preferred method for printing t-shirts, especially in large quantities.

What is our screen printing process?

Our screen printing process starts by ensuring the proper files are made for your print. We use vector files, often made by programs like Adobe Illustrator, to create our screens digitally. From there, the number of colors in your design determines how many screens will need to be made. Once completed, the screens are used with special, heat-treated ink to ensure a bright and long-lasting print and then the process of imprinting the design on the item begins, color by color until the entire design is complete. 

What material is used in screen printing?

Rather than do the entire process by hand, we use an automatic screen printing machine. This machine uses pre-made screens to imprint each shirt over and over until all the colors are added. As for the ink itself, we use a special heat-treated ink that becomes permanent upon drying. Screen printing can be performed on any number of products, even though t-shirts are the most popular. Any cloth item can be screen printed, and it’s even used for paper printing when a certain look is desired for the final product.

What are some benefits of screen printing?

Screen printing allows for large quantities of items to be printed quickly. As opposed to digital printing, once the screens are created our automatic screen printing machine can efficiently create hundreds of shirts in a short time. In addition, screen printing provides better and more vibrant colors than any other type of printing on cloth material. Have screen printing needs in the East Bay Area, including Fremont, San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, or Sunnyvale? Give us a call if you have any further questions or if you’re ready to print, we would be glad to help!