Screen Printing on Clothing and Promotional Products

Screen printing on clothing is one of the most durable and high-quality printing methods for applying company logos and brand designs to textile products. Screen printing is especially suitable for T-shirts, hoodies and workwear, where vibrant colours and long-lasting durability are required.

This printing method is widely used for corporate clothing, promotional apparel and branded merchandise, as it provides excellent colour coverage and a professional finish that withstands repeated washing.

What is Screen Printing and How Does It Work?

Screen printing transfers an image onto a product using a mesh screen stretched over a metal frame. Historically the mesh was made from silk, which is where the name “screen printing” originates. Today, more durable synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon are commonly used.

Depending on the material of the product, the printed design and the inks used, different mesh sizes are selected.

  • Fine mesh screens allow printing of small details and thin lines.

  • Coarser mesh screens are used for thicker inks or specific materials.

The maximum print size depends on the size of the printing frame.

Different materials require different types of inks. For example, inks used for cotton textiles, synthetic fabrics, metals or ceramics are all different.

Screen Printing Process

To print your logo on a product, several steps are required:

  1. Design preparation
    Every print job starts with artwork preparation. If the customer provides a suitable design file with the logo, colours and placement, production can begin immediately. If necessary, our design team can prepare the artwork.

  2. Colour separation
    Each colour in the design is separated and printed onto a film. A separate screen and film is required for each colour.

  3. Screen preparation
    The mesh screen is coated with light-sensitive emulsion. The film is placed on the screen and exposed to UV light. The areas blocked by the design are washed out, leaving the printable image on the screen.

  4. Screen setup on the printing carousel
    The prepared screens are installed on the printing machine and precisely aligned. Accurate positioning ensures that multiple colours print exactly on top of each other.

  5. Printing
    The product is fixed to the printing table using a special adhesive to prevent movement. Ink is pushed through the mesh using a squeegee to transfer the design onto the product.

  6. Drying between colours
    Each colour layer must be dried before the next colour is printed.

  7. Final curing
    The printed product passes through a tunnel dryer where the ink permanently bonds to the fabric, providing wash and wear resistance.

Advantages of Screen Printing

  • Bright and vibrant colours

  • Excellent coverage and durability

  • Highly resistant to washing and wear

  • Suitable for large print areas

  • Cost-effective for larger quantities

  • Up to 6 spot colours or full CMYK printing

Limitations of Screen Printing

Screen printing is not always the best solution for very small quantities or complex photo-style graphics. In such cases DTF printing may be a better option.

Products Suitable for Screen Printing

Screen printing can be used on a wide range of products and materials. We mainly print on textiles and clothing, including:

  • T-shirts

  • Hoodies and sweatshirts

  • Jackets

  • Bags

  • Workwear

  • Umbrellas

It is also possible to print on hard surface products, such as:

  • folders

  • boxes

  • notebooks

  • paper bags

  • greeting cards

  • business cards

Screen printing can also be applied to cylindrical items, such as mugs, glasses, thermoses and pens.

The final print quality depends largely on the product surface. Smooth surfaces generally produce sharper and more consistent results.

Artwork Requirements

For screen printing we require vector artwork files. Accepted formats include:

  • .PDF

  • .AI

  • .EPS

  • .CDR

Text should be converted to outlines and colours defined using Pantone (PMS) colour references.

For photographic designs printed using CMYK printing, raster files are also accepted:

  • .TIF

  • .PSD

  • .JPG

  • .PNG

Files should be provided in CMYK colour mode, at 1:1 size, with a resolution of 200–300 dpi.

If you do not have suitable artwork, our design team can assist with vectorising logos or creating new designs.

How to Order Screen Printing

Send us your design and we will review it, recommend the best printing solution and prepare a quotation.

To calculate the price we need the following information:

  • Quantity of products

  • Product type and material composition

  • Number of colours in the design

  • Information about any additional work (for example opening lining seams, sewing patches or attaching printed emblems)

Send us your design. We will review it, offer the best solution to fulfill the screen print order and put together a price estimate.