Screen Printing vs. Digital Printing: The Right Branding Choice
When it comes to making people know more about your brand, you have the internet and other traditional media to help you out on your tasks. However, one major opportunity you must not miss out on would be to print your logos and other signature branding images on fabric. T-shirts, large billboard-sized canvases, you name it!
The thing is, some people can't seem to decide whether they should choose screen printing or go for digital printing instead.
If you happen to be interested in picking one of those, feel free to check out our tidbits regarding the two.
What Is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is actually one of the oldest printing techniques. It involves printing your logos and other images on fabric. Screen printing is also used in other industries aside from printing on fabric. It's used for making emblems and badges, printing on paper, and even for printing on glass.
Screen printing has been around for centuries, ever since the first textile printing was done by hand. It was later on enhanced by using a press, thus giving it its modern name.
What Is Digital Printing?
As its name suggests, digital printing is now done using a computer-driven printing machine. Digital printing is done using the inkjet printing method, hence the name.
Here are the key differences between screen printing and digital printing:
How Does It Work?
Screen Printing
It involves using mesh stencils. The screen, basically, has tiny openings. The stencil is an image that you want to print on your cloth. While the screen has the printed image, the mesh stencils block the reverse side. It's similar to rubbing your hands on a screen mesh, and then you'll only feel the mesh but not the mesh openings (unless you can press right on the mesh). This is what happens in screen printing as well. When you print using this method, you'll only get the printed image on your shirt.
In other words, the stencil serves as a barrier, so the image printed won't reach the reverse side of the cloth.
Digital Printing
This is done using inkjet printers. Basically, this is done by using tiny, tiny ink droplets sprayed on a piece of paper or cloth. The printer is the one doing all the work of spraying the ink for you, of course.
These tiny ink droplets form an image in your computer. The printer will then transfer the image to your fabric.
The Difference in Pricing
Screen printing is much more cost-effective than digital printing. It only requires your basic printing materials and is also very easy to set up. That's because you can do it with your own hands.
Digital printing, on the other hand, requires a lot of money for materials and for the printer, which can run up to thousands of dollars. It also needs high-quality digital images. It'll look pixelated when printed out if it's a digital photo. The high-quality images will cost you a lot more, especially if you want to use a high-quality printer.
The Difference in Time
Screen printing is actually one of the fastest methods of printing. It's very fast in terms of setup and in terms of printing. The print speed of screen printing is quite fast as well, especially if you use automatic equipment.
On the other hand, digital printing is quite slow, in terms of setup, printing, and even image processing. The image must be of high quality, and the setup takes time.
Conclusion
Overall, it's really up to you which one to choose.
Screen printing is more cost-effective, but digital printing offers you a lot more in the way of image quality, size, and speed. It's also more suitable for those who have access to large images or files.
Make your pick and choose the method that would work best for your business.
If you are looking for the best T-shirt printing company in Denver, CO, look no further than our expertise here at Certified Print Co. Our innovative equipment guarantees a high level of detail on your prints, ensuring that your target market will never miss a glimpse of your branding. Call us today for more information about our prints and services.