In order to choose between screen printing and sublimation, there are some important considerations that you should take into account. Sublimation is often the better choice if you’re looking to print multiple t-shirts at once, and screen printing is usually cheaper when doing so. In contrast, screen printing can take a lot of time, especially if you’re aiming to print several designs on the same shirt.

First and foremost, screen printing requires a larger number of stencils, which can increase the cost of the job. However, compared to sublimation, screen printing is more expensive and requires more effort. However, screen printing works wonders for large quantities and simple designs. While sublimation is better suited for low-volume production, screen printing can be the most cost-effective option when your design is simple.

Another advantage of screen printing over sublimation is that it’s easier to create intricate designs and colors. While the quality of screen-printed clothing is less than that of sublimated prints, gradients and other special effects can be created using this method. Additionally, screen printing produces prints that are more durable than sublimated designs. Screen printing uses thick layers of ink, which will not wash off or fade, so you can expect them to withstand years of wear and tear.

Another advantage of screen-printing over sublimation is the range of fabrics it can print on. While sublimation is most effective on polyester and synthetic garments, screen-printing is more versatile and can print on many different types of fabric. Because sublimation requires synthetic polymers for chemical dye bonding, it’s not suitable for dark colored or textured fabrics. As such, it’s best to choose screen printing when printing dark-colored t-shirts.

Another significant benefit of screen-printing over sublimation is that it’s more affordable. However, it requires more time than dye-sublimation and is less expensive. Screen printing has been improved over the years, and continues to be more advanced. If you need to change an image, you’ll need to edit the artwork file and print a new transfer. This can be tedious and time-consuming, so choosing screen printing over sublimation is the best option for many applications.

Another important difference between screen-printing and sublimation is color usage. Screen-printing requires a stencil for each color of ink, and works best for simple designs that do not have many colors. However, screen-printing is time-consuming and requires a large quantity. Screen-printing is also faster, so it’s a better choice when you need to print larger volumes of products quickly.

Screen-printing is more flexible than sublimation, because it can be used on a wider variety of fabrics. This means you can use more different fabric types. While sublimation is limited to polyester, screen printing is not limited to that. The ink used for screen-printing can create a wide variety of effects. It can also produce vivid and three-dimensional graphical prints. If you need to print multiple colors on a garment, screen-printing is the way to go. If you’re interested in a customized shirt for your next event, contact Tacoma Printing to learn more about our custom printing services.