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Screen Printing Information

Screen Printing for Custom Apparel: What You Need to Know

If you're planning a custom t-shirt order in Toronto and wondering if screen printing is the right method, you're in the right place. Screen printing has been a go-to option for decades thanks to its durability and vibrant colour output. Whether you're ordering tees for a business, band, school, or event, screen printing might be exactly what you need.

Let’s walk through what screen printing is, its pros and cons, how it compares to other methods like DTG and DTF, and what you need to know before submitting your artwork.

What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing (also called silkscreen printing) is a process where ink is pushed through a mesh screen stencil directly onto the garment. Each colour in the design requires a separate screen, which makes it best for bold, simple designs and bulk orders.

Best for:

Bulk orders
Solid colours and bold graphics
Durable prints on cotton and blends

Pros of Screen Printing

Vibrant Colours – Especially effective for bold logos, solid designs, and brand colors.

Long-Lasting Prints – The ink sits thickly on top of the fabric and is built to last through wash after wash.

Cost-Effective for Bulk Orders – Once screens are created, printing large quantities is fast and economical.

Works on Various Apparel Types – Great for t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and more.

Cons of Screen Printing

Not Ideal for Photo-Quality Artwork – Complex gradients or high-detail designs are better suited for DTG.

Higher Setup Costs – Each colour needs its own screen, making it less cost-effective for small runs.

Limited Colours per Design – Typically best for designs with 1–6 solid colours.

When to Choose Screen Printing

You need 50+ shirts with the same design
Your design has solid colors or bold logos
You want the most durable print possible

For example, if you're ordering shirts for a school spirit event, company uniforms, or band merch in Toronto, screen printing offers high impact and long-lasting quality.

Screen Printing vs. DTG/DTF

Feature

Screen Printing

DTG

DTF

Best For

Bulk, bold designs

Small runs, detailed prints

Versatile fabrics, vibrant colours

Colour Complexity

Limited

Unlimited

Fabric Types

Cotton & Blends

Cotton Only

Cotton, polyester, blends

Durability

Very High

Medium

High

Cost for small runs

Higher

Lower

Artwork Guidelines for Screen Printing

To get the best results with screen printing, your artwork needs to be set up just right:

File Types:

Vector files (.AI, .EPS, .PDF) are best
High-resolution PNGs (300 DPI minimum) if vector isn't available

Color Setup:

Each color in your design will be printed separately, so keep it simple
Avoid gradients and shadows unless using halftones (we can help with that!)

Font Tips:

Convert all text to outlines
Or include the font files used

Need help? We can assist with separating colors and prepping your design for screen printing!

Screen Printing Types: Standard, Vintage, Specialty Inks

Standard Screen Printing

Pros of Standard Screen Printing

Opaque: Standard printing is opaque which means we can achienve bright, vibrant colours

Pantone matching: We can mix and print in any colour that you need.

Durable: It will not wear away from multiple washes. Additionally, plastisol ink can High level of detail: Eeasily achieve thin lines, halftone patterns, and small, delicate text.

Cons of Standard Screen Printing

Thick feel: Thick or heavy to the touch. This is especially so when printing bright colours on dark garments.

Vintage Style Screen Printing

Pros of Vintage Style Print

Soft-hand feel: The inks are thinned out so that the end result is soft and translucent.

Vintage look: This soft print can be used to give your shirts a distinctive pre-worn or vintage look.

Durable: Although vintage style printing is thinner and softer than standard ink it just as durable and has the added benefit from being too thin to crack as it ages.

Cons of Vintage Style Print

Muted Colours: Cannot achieve bright opaque colours as it is translucent and will always show the colour and texture of the fabric below it.

No colour matching: Due to reduced opacity the colours less accurate and we can't colour match to a Pantone or specific colour, especially on darker garments.

Specialty Screen Printing: Metallic, Neon, Glow-in-the-Dark Ink

Pros of Specialty Ink

Unique Aesthetic: Gives your design an added visual touch.

Cons of Specialty Ink

No Fine Detail: Metallic prints contain reflective particles which get caught in screens with high detail. Specialty inks also require a base print which limits the amount of details as well.

Cost: Speicaly inks are an added cost.

Durability: More fragile prints that can be affected more strongly by washing processes.

Heavy feel: Heavy texture with an end result that can feel quite thick especially in larger designs with wide areas of colour.

Screen Printing for Custom Apparel: What You Need to Know