Screen Printing
Is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer
ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A fill blade or squeegee is moved
across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink into the mesh openings for transfer by capillary action during the squeegee stroke.
You want to order screen printed shirts for an upcoming event but you don't understand how they are priced. What is the pricing based on? Screen printing pricing is based on a number of factors: Shirt style, Shirt color, Number of shirts, Number of prints per shirt, Sizes ordered, Screen/ film charges, Artwork charges
First, get a general idea of how many shirts you need. You'll have to order at least a minimum quantity, this quantity will be 36 or more items with
the same printing.
Next decide what style T-shirt you need. If you want basic T's you must decide if you want cotton or a cotton/ polyester blend. Cotton T's will be cooler.
If you decide to use a cotton T, you might want to choose a Hanes Beefy T. Although these T's are more expensive, the Beefy T's are made form ringspun
cotton, a cotton that is softer to the touch and will last longer because it is made from longer fibers.
Next determine how many colors are in each print. You'll be charged for each color in printing and screen/film charges. So, if you're trying to keep your cost down, its better to eliminate unnecessary colors. If you're uncertain about what to eliminate ask us.
Light Or Dark Shirts?
Another factor in your pricing is whether you are using light or dark colored shirts. If you're printing a light color on dark shirts colored expect to pay more
to have a white underbase printed underneath your design. Without this underbase, your colors will look faded against the dark shirt.
Another factor that effects pricing is whether you need extended sizes. Sizes 2X and larger will be more expensive.
After you've determined your general needs, check our quantity price breakdowns to determine what is your best buy. Example, if you need 69 shirts and the price breakdown is a 72 shirts, it may be more economical to order 72 shirts because your cost will be cheaper per shirt.
Screen Printing Artwork
Don't forget artwork fees. Don't assume that you printer can print from any computer file. Unless you have a realistic design that can be taken directly from a
photograph or a high resolution bitmap most likely your artwork will need to be converted into vector format (line art). Charges for vectorization can vary greatly
depending on how detailed your design is.
Set-up charges, otherwise know as screen/film charges, must also be considered. We have a given charge per screen with the total amount determined the number of colors or screens needed to print a design
Its important to remember to total all your charges when ordering screen printed T-shirts. Some printers will charge for every item while others will roll the costs into the shirt charge.