Screen Print vs Digital Print : Which one suits best ?

Screen printing vs. Digital printing

Tokoencit offers 2 different methods of printing, in order to provide a process that best suits your artwork. We offer screen printing for the majority of our products, as well as digital printing on selected item. There are 2 types of digital print which are reactive digital print and sublimation. 

Screen printing involves creating a stencil (printers call this a "screen"), and then using that stencil to apply layers of ink on the printing surface. Each color is applied using a different stencil, one at a time, combined to achieve the final look. We can use any type of dyes including bronze , foil, flocking , etc. 

Reactive Digital printing is a much newer process that involves your artwork being processed by a computer, and then printed directly onto the surface of your product. Fabric is first coated with some sort of chemical so that it can absorb colour during printing. Just like your home printer , we set up the design in the computer and send it to printer. Inks are then reacted with the chemical. Reactive digital print can only be done on natural fiber, such as Tencel, Cotton ,Rayon , Linen, Silk , and other. 

Sublimation , is a heat transfer process. Printer print design on paper and then pressed together with the fabric on high heat. Inks from paper will transfer to the fabric. Sublimation is a clean process, it does not required washing , no chemical waste at all. Though it waste paper and electricity. Sublimation can only be printed on polyester based fabric. 

Each method of print is suitable for different type of design and quantities. 

Screen printing is the best option for designs that require a high level of vibrancy, when printing on dark shirts, or for specialty products. The ink in screen printing is applied thicker than digital printing, which results in brighter colors even on darker shirts. Inks can also penetrate into the fiber , so it stays longer and have deeper shades. Screen print can achieve a sharper design , but it has limitation on number of colour or screen. The expensive part of screen print is the screen itself , so when you print large quantity the cheaper it gets because screen cost will be divided into more meter. 

Digital printing, both reactive and sublimation is best used for items that require high amounts of detail, and orders of a smaller quantity. The fact that the digital printer does not use screens allows for a photographic print, with much more detail than traditional screen printing. The fact that the design is processed and printed digitally allows for a quantity of one, since there are no screens or physical setup. 

At Tokoencit we offer following minimum order for each type of print :

1. Digital print - starting 10 mtr per fabric , you can mix design

2. Screen print - starting 200 mtr per design, can combine 2 combination of colour or 2 types of fabric.

Find out more detail on our custom print page  

Hopefully this article helps you to know more about which printing method work best for you! Have a good day !