Screen Printing for Custom Apparel
Screen printing is a tried-and-true method for producing vibrant, long-lasting prints on custom apparel, clothing and branded merch. At The Colour Cartel, we help you turn your designs into high-quality apparel and merch using this versatile technique, ideal for t-shirts, hoodies, workwear, accessories and more.
Known for bold, opaque colours and durable results, screen printing has been around for centuries and for good reason. It is perfect for designs with solid areas of colour, sharp details and multi-colour layering.
How Screen Printing Works
Screen printing is a hands-on process that delivers consistent, high-quality results on a wide range of garments. It’s probably the most well known print method, largely because it’s been around for a really, really long time. We’re talking since the year 960 AD. Here is how it works:
Preparing the Screens
Each colour in your design requires its own mesh stencil or ‘screen’. This means if your design has three colours, we’ll create three screens.
Applying the Ink
The screens are placed on the garment, and ink is pulled evenly across the mesh using a squeegee. This transfers the design onto the fabric, layer by layer for multi-colour artwork.
Curing the Print
Once each colour is applied, the garment is dried and cured with heat. This bonds the ink to the fabric for a durable, long-lasting print.
Finished Garment
The result is a bold, high-quality print that withstands repeated wear and washing, keeping your apparel or merch looking fresh.
Ink Options & Specialty Finishes
Plastisol
The standard retail printing ink for clothing. Sits on top of the fabric and produces a solid, opaque print layer with a tough, durable finish. The print can be felt on the garment when it’s worn, particularly when new. Plastisol printing is best suited for bold designs on general street wear (tees, hoodies, vests etc) and promo gear.
Discharge
Discharge ink replaces the original garment dye in the fabric with the graphic’s pigment. The result is a soft-feel, breathable, weightless finish that blends seamlessly with the cloth for a near-zero hand feel on the garment. Discharge printing especially suits natural fibres like cotton and is a good option for premium tees and similar clothing.
Specialty Finishes
Specialty finishes add textured visual effects to a graphic. Ask us about using something like metallic ink for high contrast logos; raised puff or 3D high-density inks for block typography; or glitter or glow-in-the-dark logo components for your event merchandise. Or discuss some of our other speciality finishes with our team.
Screen Printing for Apparel, Clothing & Branded Merch
Screen printing works on a wide variety of garments and products, including:
- T-shirts, long sleeves and hoodies
- Crew necks, jumpers and workwear
- Tote bags and fabric accessories
- Promotional clothing and branded merchandise
It is the go-to option for businesses, brands, events and creators who want bold, eye-catching designs with excellent longevity.
With our Volume Discounts, Screen printing is especially cost-effective for larger runs, making it ideal for bulk orders, company apparel, event merch and branded giveaways.
Customise Apparel & Accessories
Screen Printing vs DTF Printing
Two different methods, two different strengths. Here’s how to choose the right one for your artwork, garment and quantity.
Screen Printing |
Direct to Film |
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Uniform programs, merchandise runs, event tees, workwear and retail brands ordering 20+ garments. |
Small runs, one-off prints, samples, staff uniforms, full-colour artwork and variable designs. |
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20 garments |
1 garment |
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Best suited to 1-12 spot colours. Ideal for logos, bold graphics and designs with block colours. |
Unlimited colours, gradients, shading and photographic artwork. |
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Lower cost per garment, with efficiency improving as order size increases. |
Higher cost per garment, with improved efficiency as order size increases. |
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Ink is printed directly into the garment, creating a soft, long-lasting finish. |
Produces a slightly raised print as the film is placed on top of the fabric. |
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Works exceptionally well on cotton tees, hoodies, jumpers and most standard apparel. Unsuitable for: hats, polar fleece, puffer jackets and highly textured or uneven surfaces. Unable to print over seams, zips or pockets. |
Suitable for a wider range of garments, including hats and some coated fabrics. Unsuitable for: polar fleece, deep-pile fabrics and heavily textured materials. Unable to print over seams, zips or pockets. |
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10-15 business days |
10-15 business days |
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You want the best value on larger orders, maximum longevity and a premium retail-quality finish. |
You need small quantities, highly detailed artwork or flexibility across multiple garment styles. |
Not Sure Which Is Right For You?
Choose Screen Printing if:
- You're ordering 20+ garments
- Your artwork uses 1-12 colours
- You want the most cost-effective option for larger runs
- You're printing uniforms, merch or retail apparel that will be reordered regularly
Choose DTF if:
- You need fewer than 20 garments
- Your artwork contains gradients, photos or lots of colours
- You're printing across different garment styles and colours
- You need names, numbers or variable artwork on each garment
Thinking about screen printing for your next order?
Reach out and we’ll show you how screen printing can be a cost-effective solution for your custom apparel and branded merchandise.
Already know it’s the right method? Simply choose screen printing when placing your order online!
A returning customer over the years and without a doubt will be for the future as well! Daniel and his team are incredible! Their products are high quality, they deliver quickly on their orders and no job has ever been too difficult for them to do! Thank you TCC for your services! Could not recommend you enough, absolute legends!
Screen Printing FAQs
Have a question that's not listed here? Shoot our team an email & we’ll get back to you ASAP.
What is the minimum order for screen printing?
What is the minimum order for screen printing?
Minimum order for screen printing is 20 units per design. Smaller runs are not economical because screen printing involves multiple individual screen set-up processes and costs, plus cleaning costs.
If your order is less than 20 units, Direct to Film (DTF) is the recommended alternative.
How long does screen printing take?
How long does screen printing take?
Standard production time takes 1-15 business days from the date of artwork approval to your finished garments. If you require a faster turnaround, please talk to our team.
For more information, check out Turnaround & Delivery.
Will the print crack or fade over time?
Will the print crack or fade over time?
No, a properly cured screen print will last the physical life of the garment without cracking or fading.
Curing applies heat to bond the ink permanently to the fabric to produce a long-lasting, non-fading print. You can also help maximise the life of your print by washing the garment inside out using a cold water cycle.
Can you print on dark garments?
Can you print on dark garments?
Yes, we can print on dark garments. However, it usually requires a light-coloured under base layer, which counts as one of the print colours and thus affects pricing.
If a softer feel is required, we can also use Simpro, halftone, or discharge processes that either lay down less ink, or chemically absorb the ink into the fabric.
How many colours can I have in my design?
How many colours can I have in my design?
You can have up to 12 spot colours in your design. Note though that each colour needs its own screen and each screen incurs separate set up costs, although we can reduce screens using various techniques like artwork adjust, wet on wet, shared screens, or half-tones. Regardless, simpler designs with fewer colours remain more economical for smaller runs.
What artwork do you need from me?
What artwork do you need from me?
We prefer vector artwork supplied in AI, EPS, or PDF format with all text converted to outlines. High-resolution raster files are also acceptable for certain types of designs.
If you only have a rough concept, our design team can help design and prepare production-ready files for you.
Can I see a sample before the full run?
Can I see a sample before the full run?
Yes, we can produce a sample for you before full runs of 200 or more units.
Is screen printing the right method for my job?
Is screen printing the right method for my job?
Yes, screen printing is ideal for most standard jobs with print runs of 20 units or more. It is extremely versatile and can be used to produce a wide range of prints from simple spot colours to photorealistic Simpro designs.