Screen printing for garments that need to last

Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh stencil, one colour at a time, directly onto the garment. Each colour needs its own screen, so the method rewards designs with a limited palette and jobs where the same artwork is repeated across many garments.

Typical uses are staff shirts, school and club kit, event T-shirts, security and construction workwear, and promotional giveaways. The ink sits as a solid, opaque layer, which is why bold logos on dark fabric look sharp and stay readable after many washes.

If your design is a full-colour photo, a gradient-heavy illustration or a very small run, another method may fit better. Have a look at DTF printing or same-day T-shirt printing, and we will tell you honestly which route suits the job.

Screen printing handles flat spot colours very well, so brand colours can be matched closely when you supply a Pantone reference. Lighter garments take standard inks; dark garments usually need a white underbase first, which adds a pass and affects timing.

• Garments: cotton and cotton-blend tees, golf shirts, hoodies, aprons and work shirts are the common choices.
• Placement: left chest, full front, back, sleeves and neck labels, often combined on one garment.
• Colour count: every extra colour adds a screen and a pass, so we quote by colours and placements.
• Fabric notes: some technical or stretch fabrics need special inks; mention the fabric when you enquire.

Vector artwork (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF or CDR) is best, because each colour is separated into its own film. If you only have a PNG or JPG, send the largest version you have and we will tell you whether it can be redrawn or cleaned up.

• Convert text to outlines before sending.
• Avoid hairline strokes and tiny text; very fine detail can fill in on fabric.
• Tell us the finished print size, for example chest width in centimetres.
• Name the Pantone colours if exact brand matching matters.

Upload up to five files with your quote request, or talk it through on chat. If your logo needs rebuilding, see artwork rescue and design.

Screen printing involves set-up before the first shirt is printed: film output, screen coating and exposure, ink mixing, then printing and curing. That is why it is usually chosen for batches rather than single items.

Fast turnaround is sometimes possible, and it depends on garment availability, job size, number of colours, approved artwork, payment and a confirmed deadline. We never assume a deadline can be met until we have confirmed it on your quote.

• Supply garments, or ask us to source them.
• Approve artwork and placement early; late changes cost the most time.
• Tell us your event date on the first message.

Finished garments can be collected from our shop at Rivonia Central, Oriental City. Please confirm the job is ready before you travel. Delivery is quoted per job and arranged on request.

Check the quantities and print placement when you collect. If something is not right, tell us straight away so we can look at it with you while the job is still fresh.