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Custom T Shirt Printing Services

Digital Screen Printing

Wholesale Digital Screen Printing In Los Angeles

Wholesale Digital Screen Printing

What is Digital Screen Printing?

Digital screen printing is a hybrid printing technology that combines traditional screen printing and digital printing into one process. Specifically, it integrates the high production speed of screen printing for the under base with the detailed graphic capabilities of digital printing for the overlay. 

Did You Know?

We've taken a hybrid approach for printing t shirts.

The digital squeegee allows for high-definition prints on garments by combining traditional screen printing methods with digital printing technology.

Custom Screen Printing

Everything You Need To Know About Digital Screen Printing

A Hybrid Approach

How Does It Work?

Utilizing a hybrid approach, our process begins with the application of a base layer of water-based softhand ink through traditional screen printing methods. This serves as the foundation for your design. Next, our innovative digital squeegee, equipped with a precision print head, glides across the screen-printed garment, seamlessly applying the intricate and vibrant design directly onto the water-based screen print underbase.

Our Opinion

Advantages of the Digital Screen Printing Process

  • Speed and Efficiency: Digital screen printing produces full sized graphics at 400 pieces per hour which allows us to offer rush orders on complex designs.
  • Large Print Area: Allows for high resolution and full color prints up to 15" x 18" in size.
  • Cost-Effective: Pricing is flat rate regardless of imprint size which is especially beneficial for medium to large scale production runs that require larger graphics.
  • Quality: Provides a high quality, durable print that can include intricate details, a wide range of colors, and photorealism production with a soft hand finish.
Expert Advice

Comparing Screen Printing and Digital Printing: Which is Better?

The two methods offer distinct advantages! It's important to note that neither service is inherently superior; they simply cater to different requirements. Screen printing involves creating stencils and using them to apply layers of ink on the printing surface. For this reason, screen printing is best when your design has 8 colors or less. Digital screen printing, on the other hand, is a process that uses a CYMK printer to apply the color, making it better for detailed and photorealistic images.  If you are uncertain which method would best suit your needs, we recommend discussing your project with one of our account representatives who can provide tailored advice.

A Comparison Chart

Digital Screen Printing vs Direct To Garment Printing: What’s Better?

Digital screen printing stands out as the superior choice over DTG for several reasons. Firstly, it provides customers with more competitive wholesale prices, thanks to its higher production output and efficiency. Secondly, garments printed with digital screen printing exhibit superior washability, ensuring that colors remain vibrant wash after wash. Moreover, the "hand," of the digital screen is notably softer and more natural with traditional screen printing which is preferred by most customers. Lastly, businesses benefit from reduced turnaround times on bulk orders, making digital screen printing the preferred option for those seeking both speed and quality on their garment decoration projects.

Features:

DTG Printing

Digital Screen Printing

Set-up Time & Cost

Low setup time and higher cost

Higher setup time and lower cost

Print Speed

Slower, suitable for small batches

Faster, suitable for large orders

Fabric Suitability

Best with 100% cotton only

Versatile, works on many fabrics types

Best For

Print On Demand & Sampling

Bulk orders, 50+ items

Print Process

Digital White Base & Digital Color Overlay

Water Base Screen Print Base & Digital Overlay

Vibrancy & Color Accuracy

Equal

Equal

Pre-Treatment

Requires pre-treatment which can stain the shirt and affect it's color

Does not use any pre-treatment or chemical in the process.

Streamlining Production

Transitioning from Direct to Garment to Digital Screen Printing for Bulk Orders

Many customers start with direct-to-garment printing to sample and refine their designs due to its low setup costs and flexibility. However, when it comes to bulk orders, they often switch to digital screen printing. This method not only enhances the quality of prints but also becomes more cost-effective at larger scales, making it ideal for growing brands looking to optimize both quality and cost.

Digital Screen Printing

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any other thoughts or questions or haven’t found what you are looking for, feel free to connect with a rep.

How durable are prints from digital screen printing?

Prints from digital screen printing are very durable as they are cured in a gas conveyor dryer for over 2 minutes and has identical washability to a traditional screen print that is properly cured.

What kind of ink does digital screen printing use?

It uses specially formulated digital inks that are designed to be compatible with the water based screen printing underbase. These inks ensure the best durability and color vibrancy.

What are the limitations of digital screen printing?

A limitation of digital screen printing is that it can not pantone color match. A plastisol spot color can be placed on the machine to overcome this limitation.

Are there times I shouldn't use this process?

If your artwork is a simple 1-4 color vector design, we recommend using traditional screen printing methods for your order. 

What is your maximum print dimensions?

We can print your artwork as large as 15" x 18"

Our Opinion

I've never heard of digital screen printing. Is it new?

This technology, established over five years ago, is not new. Globally, only about 100 units of this advanced machinery are in operation due to the size of investment it requires. Despite its superior capabilities, it remains largely unrecognized because it is exclusive to only a handful of companies.

Garment Decor is among the first companies in California with this technology. Connect with an account representative to learn more about the process!

Tips for Placing a
Digital Screen Printing Order

Placing an order involves several key considerations to ensure that the final products meet your expectations. Here are some essential tips to guide you through the process of ordering screen printed items, whether they are T-shirts, hoodies, or other types of apparel:

1. Prepare Your Design

  • File Format: Provide your artwork in as high of a quality file you have, preferably vector format (such as AI, EPS, or PDF) to ensure that your design can be scaled without loss of quality. 
  • Design Details: Consider the complexity and number of colors in your design to determine if digital screen printing is the best process for it. 
  • Size and Placement: Know where on the garment you want your design placed and how large you want it printed. 

2. Choose the Right Blank Garment

  • Material Quality: Select the quality of the blank garment. Options range from basic to premium and it's important you pick what is best for you.
  • Style and Fit: Decide on the style and fit of the garment. This includes choices between unisex, heavyweight & drop shoulder, fitted cuts, youth sizes, and more. Each choice may affect how your design will appear on the finished product.
  • Volume Discounts: Ordering larger quantities across multiple styles (like combining T-shirts and hoodies) can often qualify for volume discounts. 

3. Proofing and Timelines

  • Proof Review: Before the full run, you'll always review a digital proof and a physical sample if necessary. This step is vital to ensure that your design looks as expected on the actual garment.
  • Approval Process: Approve proofs promptly to avoid delays in production. Be thorough in your review to catch any potential errors.
  • Deadline: Clearly communicate the deadline for when you need your order. Consider any events or launches that align with the arrival of your goods.
Expert Advice

What is RBG and CMYK?

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is used for digital displays and is what you see when you design graphics on a computer. However, for digital screen printing, it’s crucial to convert these designs to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key—black), which digital printers convert to when printing. We suggest converting your file in advance to ensure what you see on your computer matches what you see printed on your custom apparel.

If the terminology or process seems complex, don't worry! We meticulously triple check all orders to guarantee that the final product faithfully matches your original vision. Focus on your designs, and leave the printing specifics to us

In Summary

Digital
Screen Printing

When you want the quality of screen printing but the full color capabilities of digital, now you have it wrapped under one process. It’s called digital screen printing.

Feels Like Screen Printing

We use a white water-based screen print to lay down the under base.

Looks Like Digital Printing

We print your design in full color using our digital squeegee.

Play Video
Digital Screen Printing

Advantages of Digital

A person holding up a blue t-shirt with a colorful graphic design featuring the text "beverly hugs sugarhill horror show.

Full Color

For designs that require lots of color and blending.

A row of folded white t-shirts with a colorful print design displayed on a table.

Cost Effective

The most affordable way to print your design

An animated character with button eyes and a stitched body, appearing to be crafted from various fabrics.

High Resolution

Print up to 300 DPI with limited to no half tones required.

Industrial screen printing machine applying purple ink to a white product.

Hybrid Process

Add in spot colors with screen printing for a true hybrid process.

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Connect With A Rep

Whether you have questions, want to explore products, or interested in placing an order, our account reps are here to help. Let us guide you along.

We look forward to speaking with you!

Our average reply time is 2 hours.

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