Screen Printing

Sustainability is in our DNA and has been the basis of our business since day one. We do all we can to ensure our screen printing is as eco-friendly as possible.

We utilise some of the most advanced print technology in the industry and eco-friendly inks to ensure optimal efficiency, minimal waste, and the smallest possible environmental footprint. You can find more information on our approach to sustainable printing on our eco-friendly printing and embroidery page.

Our screen printing is done here in the UK, where our small but close-knit team are paid a fair (and living) wage with good working conditions.

This, combined with our organic and ethical product ranges, ensures that from start to finish, your order is made in accordance with the highest ethical standards.

As the old adage goes, how long is a piece of string? There are a number of variables that have an impact on the length of time it takes to print your order. However, the most important one is the Production Queue.

The production queue is the number of orders that are scheduled before your order; this is our way of ensuring every order is treated fairly. In some instances, we might be able to turn your order around in a matter of days, during busier periods it may well take a few weeks.

If you have a deadline for your bulk order, always let us know at the quoting stage, so we can ensure it can be met.

The durability of a screen printed T-shirt is often down to what inks were used and the proper application and curing of the print. Our expert team only uses the best screen print inks, ensuring optimal quality and durability.

If cared for properly and washed according to the garment’s instructions, your screen print should last as long as the clothing it is attached to. If you have had cheap screen printed T-shirts crack in the past, this may be a result of the inks used.

Screen printing vs DTG printing (digital)

One of the most frequent questions we get is “should I go for screen printing or DTG printing?”.

In regard to quality, DTG is on par with screen printing; so when it comes to choosing the right print method, it’s less about which is ‘better’ and more about which is most suitable.

Many print companies try to argue that one method is better than the other but, generally, this is because they only offer one option. The reality is that both serve different purposes and work better in different situations.

If you’re bulk printing large volumes with a simple design, then screen printing is likely the best option for you. However, if you want smaller volumes or have a very complex design, DTG may be better suited.

What lasts longer screen printing or DTG?

DTG and screen printing are both fantastic print processes and have their own unique benefits and use cases. However, one thing that is consistent is their durability, both processes should last the lifetime of the garment.

Is screen printing better than heat press?

For simple designs on large volumes, screen printing is likely a more suitable choice than heat press transfers. However, if you’re printing a complex design with lots of colours onto a small order of polyester coats or sportswear heat pressing a vinyl transfer or digital transfer would likely be the best option.

This is just one example of where the design and quantity plays a significant role in dictating the best production method. If you’re ever unsure on the best print method for your order just ask our expert team.

T-shirt screen printing and embroidery

There are a few factors that come into play when deciding between screen printing and embroidery, the first is the fabric type and design size.

If the fabric is light (such as a T-shirt), but the design is large, then we’d generally recommend screen printing. A large embroidery can be very heavy, especially on something like a T-shirt.

On sweatshirts, hoodies, coats and other heavier items, a large embroidery wouldn’t be a problem and might actually be the best option. With fabrics like fleece, screen printing isn’t possible, so embroidery is the only choice.

The second element to consider is design intricacy. For intricate designs with finer details screen printing is generally the best option as the ink pigments are far smaller than threads. With threads being a lot thicker than ink pigments, it’s harder to get the same level of detail. So if you have small intricate text or design elements it’s likely best to choose screen printing.

The last factor to consider is personal preference. In some instances, like a simple design on a cotton hoodie, both print or embroidery would work well. In that case, it’s entirely down to which one you prefer, as both decoration methods are highly durable and look great.

The minimum order for T-shirt screen printing, sweatshirts and other garments is generally 25 products per style. However, if you’re not quite ready to place an order of 25 units, it’s no problem. We have an array of other print methods like DTG and transfer printing which have no minimum order and can be purchased quickly and easily online.

If you’re unsure of what print method is right for your order quantity or the number of colours in your design you may find our help centre article explaining what print method will be used on your order helpful.

The price for a screen printed hoodie can be as low as £8.70. This price is based on our most popular ethical hoodies.

The more colours you have in your design and the smaller the order quantity, the higher the price will be. For the best price, keep your designs simple with as few colours as possible.

Most screen printing companies in the UK like us will also be able to supply you with the T-shirts for your order. You can view our full range of T-shirts online.

Unless you’re placing a very large order of hundreds/thousands of products we’d advise against having multiple sizes of your design. Choosing to do that means you miss out on economies of scale.

For example, if you buy 50 T-shirts, but 25 of those items have the print at one size, and 25 have the design at a different size, you’ll end paying for two 25-unit orders and not one 50-unit one.

Ultimately people buy and wear products because they either love the brand or design, not because the design is 10mm larger than the competing brand’s design.

Please note, in almost all instances an order can be a mix of T-shirt sizes, without an impact on the price.

When screen printing T-shirts or any other clothing items, there is generally a 6 step process that is followed. After your design is received, it will be used to create a stencil. The screen will be prepared by coating the screen with a light reacting emulsion. Your design will then be placed onto the screen and exposed to a bright light. The emulsion will react to the light, causing it to harden. This will leave a clear imprint of your design on the screen, ready for the ink to be transferred through.

Your chosen printed garment will then be lay flat onto the printing board, below the screen. The screen will then be lowered down onto your garment and a squeegee will be used to pull ink along the full length of the screen.

The ink will transfer through the open areas of your stencilled design, leaving a print of it on your garment.

This process can also be referred to as silk screen printing or silkscreening.

If you want to find out even more about screen printing you may find the following blog posts a good place to start.

Pantone Colours For Screen Printed T-Shirts

Personalised Oversized T-Shirts & More – The Best Options for Your Brand

What format does artwork need to be in for screen printing?

Will print work on clothing be the same colour as on screen

To explain this we need a brief look into the history of the T-shirt. While T-shirts are a comparatively new idea, screen printing dates back to the 900s AD in China and other Asian countries. Its age is why it’s one of the most well-known print processes.

Screen printing is a relatively simple process. It works by pushing ink through a mesh surface (the screen) onto a product, adding your design.

The versatility of the process means that it isn’t just limited to garments. In fact, screen printing onto T-shirts didn’t become popular until Disney began using the technique to add its famous cartoon characters onto garments that it later sold as merchandise.

Today, the process is a little more complex with automated machinery and advanced technology but the basic principles are very much the same. Unlike with DTG, the ink is printed onto the fabric (not into it), leaving you with a slightly raised finish, this means that screen printing has a slightly texturised feel to it. This is why it is often the process of choice for branded logo T-shirts found in retail stores, band T-shirts as well as the classic university hoodies and merchandise.

If you’re unsure on whether screen printing is right for you, don’t worry, our expert team will always help advise you on the best process for your order.

The economies of scale that come with custom screen printing mean that this process is still a firm favourite for producing bulk orders of printed T-shirts. Due to the nature of the screen printing method, it is best suited to less complex designs with fewer colours, however, it becomes extremely cost-effective on orders over 50 units and can be applied to almost all types of fabric.

Additionally, we can Pantone match our inks to your requirements.

While many people want to know what “the best print method” is, it’s important to remember that there isn’t really a ‘best’. It’s more about what is fit for the purpose.

If you’re looking for small volumes or have a complex full-colour design like a photograph, DTG printing is likely a better option.

Standard Inks

As specialists in eco-friendly screen printing, we prefer plastisol as they generate far less waste and use much less energy than water-based inks. However, we can offer both options if you have a preference.

Many cheaper solvent-based inks contain harmful compounds and endocrine disruptors (phthalates) that are damaging to the environment. When you buy screen printed garments from us, you can be sure that our inks are 100% Phthalate-free.

For environmental and ecological reasons we would always recommend 100% Phthalate-free plastisol inks over water-based and special inks when screen printing T-shirts or other garments.

Speciality Inks

For larger commercial orders, we can also offer speciality inks like puff, metallic, or glow-in-the-dark, which add unique textures and effects to your designs.

Screen printing is one of the most economical print methods when printing in bulk, and with all production done here in our UK screen printing facilities, it can be one of the fastest ways to produce large orders of printed garments.

When it comes to screen printing, we can print on most types of fabric and deliver premium retail-grade quality. However, cotton is generally the best option for optimal results with screen printing.

We totally understand if you want to try a sample before investing in a bulk order. Head over to our samples article here, for more information on how to buy a screen print sample.