Digital printing and screen printing are two of the most common printing techniques in the manufacturing industry. Do you know when to use digital printing and when to use screen printing?
In this article post, we will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each printing technique so you can easily identify which one to use on your project.
Digital Printing
Digital printing prints artwork or an image that has been processed by a computer directly onto a substrate.
Due to the absence of these setup and tooling fees, it is ideal for smaller quantity orders.
Although digital printing grants you the ability to print an unlimited amount of colors.
Digital printing utilizes a water-based digital textile printing ink that performs best on 100% cotton fabrics.
It lacks the flexibility that screen printing has with specialized inks and selective textures.
Digital printing works well with many substrates however certain substrates may need to have a primer coating applied first in order for the ink to achieve proper adhesion.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is done using a fine mesh screen or stencil.
Ink is applied to the substrate in layers one color at a time and a different screen is used for each color.
Because of this a limited amount of colors typically can be used but the colors are more vibrant and bold compared to digital printing.
The thicker ink used in screen printing is also great if you're required to print bright colors on a dark substrate as the original color of the substrate will not show through.
Specialty inks can be used with screen printing including metallic, mirror, pearlescent, chalkboard and much more.
You can also easily incorporate selective textures or coatings to your product using screen printing.
The fact that it also works with almost any substrate adds to screen printing is versatility.
Because of the set-up cost and the process itself, screen printing works best for high quantity orders with low-resolution images or graphics.
An extensive list of pros and cons come with each printing technology. If you are having trouble deciding which one is right for your project to be sure to consult with your manufacturer or printer before placing your order
Digital Printing
Digital printing prints artwork or an image that has been processed by a computer directly onto a substrate.
Due to the absence of these setup and tooling fees, it is ideal for smaller quantity orders.
Although digital printing grants you the ability to print an unlimited amount of colors.
Digital printing utilizes a water-based digital textile printing ink that performs best on 100% cotton fabrics.
It lacks the flexibility that screen printing has with specialized inks and selective textures.
Digital printing works well with many substrates however certain substrates may need to have a primer coating applied first in order for the ink to achieve proper adhesion.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is done using a fine mesh screen or stencil.
Ink is applied to the substrate in layers one color at a time and a different screen is used for each color.
Because of this a limited amount of colors typically can be used but the colors are more vibrant and bold compared to digital printing.
The thicker ink used in screen printing is also great if you're required to print bright colors on a dark substrate as the original color of the substrate will not show through.
Specialty inks can be used with screen printing including metallic, mirror, pearlescent, chalkboard and much more.
You can also easily incorporate selective textures or coatings to your product using screen printing.
The fact that it also works with almost any substrate adds to screen printing is versatility.
Because of the set-up cost and the process itself, screen printing works best for high quantity orders with low-resolution images or graphics.
An extensive list of pros and cons come with each printing technology. If you are having trouble deciding which one is right for your project to be sure to consult with your manufacturer or printer before placing your order
