While choosing the best printing process for you, Digital printing vs Screen printing, you have to understand the pros and cons that each process offers. Want to print a short batch? Need 50 tees printed now? Then DTG is your process to go. It offers a highly detailed image, and you can also enjoy live prints. It is an advanced technology in the printing section. In this article, Screen printing vs digital printing compares two popular textile printing methods, highlighting the differences between screen printing and digital printing, including production techniques, print quality, setup costs, and suitability for bulk or custom production.
This lasts longer and is the best option for a larger batch with thousands of items. But if you want a good print that feels good, has better appearance with extreme color vibrancy, lasts longer, then it is a suggestion for you to go with Screen printing. With some simple tools, you can print your favorite tees at home. Difference Between Screen and Digital Printing, which is known as Screen Printing vs Digital Printing.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is a new scopes of the techniques of stenciling in which a colored picture or image arise from the transfer of color through open areas in the sheet placed upon the fabric surface. The best screen printing accessories are available on Amazon.
Digital Printing
Digital Printing on fabric is the most modern and popular technique of textile printing. It is a process of printing on fabrics and garments using ink-jet technology to print colorants onto Fabric. By this technique, we can print textile material without using any block, engraved roller, or screen but with better prominence of images. Digital printing on Fabric is a new and innovative process that involves printing a design, an image, or a pattern directly from the computer onto the Fabric by way of a large-format digital printing machine
Key Difference Between Screen and Digital Printing | Screen Printing vs Digital Printing
Explore Screen Printing vs Digital Printing. Here are 15 key differences between screen and Digital Printing to clear your concept:
| Topics | Digital printing | Screen printing |
| Process | Computer aided process. Images of a variety of colors are transferred directly to the textile. | A pre-prepared stencil is used to apply a layer of inks over the textiles. With the help of ink the image is transferred to the textile. |
| Complexity | Simple process | Complex process in comparison to digital printing |
| Effort | Easy | Labor-intensive |
| Time | Quick task | Requires more time as screen preparation is an extra step |
| Product quality | Ink doesn’t absorb deeply in the textile. But a detailed image of multiple colors with sharp edges is produced. | Ink gets deeply absorbed into the textile. Better quality image. Also, a detailed image with a sharp edge is possible |
| Longevity | Fades quicker | Lasts longer |
| Suitable for | Short batch | Large batch |
| Color range | A variety of colors can be easily printed in a single image with a single stroke, but blue and violet don’t look good on an underbase. No speciality color available | Multiple colors are easily possible. But for every single color, a different screen is needed. Versatile in ink variations. Specialty colors are available, such as metallic, glow-in-the-dark, UV sensitive, etc. |
| Vibrancy of color | Slightly dull. Best on lighter colors as the ink is applied more thinly. | Bright & vibrantHigh level of vibrancy even on dark garments.Color applied thicker than DTG. |
| Ink uses | Water-based ink | Plastisol ink |
| Printable garments | 100% cotton or polyester | Cotton, polyester, nylon, coated fabrics, barlap, bamboo, etc. |
| Touch | The white garment feels soft. But in a dark garment, it requires a significant underbase to retain color, so feel a bit rubbery. | It feels like nothing is printed on garments. |
| Special products | Can’t be operated on uneven or curved items. | Printers can be manually operated so printing can be possible on uneven or curved surfaces like water bottles, koozies, mugs etc. |
| Live photo | Live photos can be printed. | Live photo print is impossible. |
| Cost effectiveness | Cost-effective. Installation investment is higher, but it is a one-time investment. This investment offers per order, so the cost is minimal. | The multicolor option requires separate screens. Cost increases with the escalation of screens |
Digital Printing vs Screen Printing or Screen Printing vs Digital Printing; Both of the printing processes are good to go, but it depends on you. Depending on the quality, time, or setup you have, you can choose which one is best for you. In our above discussion, the battle winner is clear……So I think there’s no need to mention that. You are quite knowledgeable to understand it. So what’s your process??