Unfortunately for the DTG corner, their print method is somewhat limited in this category. Screen printing vs. Digital printing – 5 key factors to consider. But DTG must be worried as the fifth round starts because this one is about durability, or how long the quality of a print lasts. Offset vs. Digital Printing. I’m here to answer that question– in the form of a 10-round fight for print method supremacy. Once DTG technology becomes more advanced, and more ubiquitous, to the point where most people don’t know the difference– then popularity might no longer be a factor. It’s just a metaphor. Both can print any digital image on glass, with the added advantage of a virtually unlimited color … SHAPCO - 2019 SOC 2 & HIPAA Security Compliance Assessment, The Importance of Brochures as a Marketing Tool. Screen vs Digital Printing Charlie SEOtool 2019-05-20T14:37:39+00:00 In recent years, DTG—direct to garment—printing has arisen as a notable rival to traditional screen printing for its low-cost appeal. Print companies and do-it-yourselfers use screen printing to reproduce designs on various surfaces, such as fabric and plastic. Screen printing is a form of stenciling that initially gained popularity in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Not many things in life are truly consistent, but when it comes to printing a run of T-shirts, we want them to look identical. However, screen printing is perfect for bulk orders (12 or more) because you don’t need to change the setup from shirt to shirt. When printing, you will print one color at a time and cure that color before applying the next color this makes full color screen printing more expensive. Currently, digital printing accounts for 16.2% of the global print market value and 2.9% of the volume. The screen printing process has many variables. Screen Printing vs. Digital Printing. Think about someone running a 5K in the summer with a thick, solid layer of plastic covering their chest. DTG, on the other hand, crushes it in the consistency department. Also, the technology to achieve these goals has been developed and expanded. It is old fashioned, dirty, smelly, unreliable, a craft, and it takes twenty years to become an ink covered expert. Screen printing has been around forever (at least since the Song Dynasty in China around 1000 AD) but exploded into modern culture during the 1960s with the popularity of Andy Warhol’s artwork, the burgeoning printed T-shirt trend, and the invention of the rotating multi-color screen printing machine. You place the t-shirt directly into the printer, and the inks are squirted directly on to it (hence the name Direct To Garment). Pad Printing vs. Screen Printing: Which is better? “the substrate” if you want to sound like an expert). Most regular screen printing jobs will be printed with a normal layer of ink, and on dark garments it will be two layers of ink, counting the required underbase. Kornit Digital offers a new philosophy for textile printing – a simple one-step print solution that coats, prints, and finishes the fabric in-line using patented technology and zero water waste. Both techniques offer different advantages, but usually cannot be used interchangeably depending on your design and printing goals. So does screen printing still hold the championship belt, or is it time for the newcomer to take the title? It will also depend on how you wash it (stay away from hot water, harsh detergents, and long times in the dryer). POPULARITY. Longer than some marriages. Offset vs. Digital Printing. DIRECT-TO-GARMENT. Digital printing can be used for near enough anything and makes it very easy to personalise, and it’s a quicker alternative to screen printing. WINNER OF THE ROUND: Want to print a short batch? WINNER OF THE ROUND: You’ll have to wait until “color matching” in round 3 to find out. Screen Printing vs. Digital Printing: The Difference. DIRECT-TO-GARMENT … 4 rounds. While screen printing supplies make use of pure colour (often Pantone), digital opts CMYK that mixes tones to … The areas to be left blank are simply covered by impermeable substances to stop the ink from flowing onto the printing surface. 0. A graduate of the Multimedia program at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, he has explored various creative pursuits, including art and design, marketing, DJing, and even producing comedy shows. The benefits offer a sustainable footprint. Or should I say opaque? Screen Printing vs Digital Printing. There have been great advancements recently in large format digital printing that are narrowing the gap in capabilities and allowing a wider variety of printable substrates including wood, glass and more. Digital printing is increasingly utilized for print jobs that were previously printing using offset, flexo or screen printing. The bar to entry for most printing companies is still fairly high. This comparison will lead you in the right direction. We also offer free design repair and rush delivery on your deadline, because happy customers are our favorites. Much of it depends on the capabilities of the print shop you’re using. When it comes to gradients with smooth transitions, subtle elements like smoke that fade into the shirt, or precise blends like those needed for skin tones, digital printing is much more reliable than screen printing. This method is capable of printing large amounts of garments much quicker and more economically than digital printing. COLOR BLENDING DTG printing has come a long way in recent years, but still has a slightly duller appearance when you compare the two. DTG has been around for barely 15 years, but in that time the advancements in technology have come at a rapid-fire pace. A well-done DTG print can potentially get dozens of washes before it starts fading a little bit. The quality of the machine, the inks used to print, the pretreatment, the underbase, and the curing all factor into it. Like most things in this business, it depends. There are two types of t-shirt printing, digital printing and screen printing. You are being directed away from Shapco.com to our online ordering site, Shapco Direct. Which means if you’re not holding it, you’re losing it. Many consider this process to be way easier than screen printing because it’s a 3 step process: 1. downloading the design onto the computer; 2. sending the design to the printer; 3. putting it into the heat press. A digital printer doesn’t need a stencil to amplify a design to your sticker. Printing a specialty job can be a trial and error at first, but once you get it, successful results are super impressive and satisfying to achieve. Digital Printing is used to print small orders. It's a good discussion to have, but ultimately the best printer depends on your product, the quantity you're looking for, and the desired application. DTG uses halftones as well, but these digital machines can print up to 1200 DPI, and use diffusion dither. With the advent of technology and its deep penetration in daily lives, people are asking more and more questions. This is a newer t-shirt printing method that’s gained a lot of popularity in recent years thanks to technological improvements in DTG printers. For example, using “puff” with “high density” and “suede” you can create a faux tackle-twill, mesh, or even embroidered look, complete with fake stitching. Because of the labor intensive process of the photo emulsion method, and the best use case being for multiple copies of a single design, screen printing with emulsion is best for pro and/or business use. Digital printing on glass is more flexible than screen printing. And screen printing comes back strong with its precision color matching capability. (This blending ability is valuable but doesn’t come into play until the next round.). To be honest: lately an attractive alternative has been created which combines the best of both worlds: direct sublimation printing. If you have files ready to upload and print, proceed to site. Screen printing is the superior process for designs that require a high level of vibrancy as the ink in screen printing is applied thicker than that in digital printing, which results in colors with more brightness and depth. Digital printing vs. offset printing. For the purposes of this post, I’m comparing traditional Plastisol screen printing with DTG. 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