Screen Printing Vs Vinyl Printing

Customized t-shirts have become an all-time favorite these days. Almost every people irrespective of their age and gender loves to wear these tees. It is especially because of their unique design and comfort factor associated with putting on these.

From this, you can clearly understand that there is a rapid boom in the popularity of bespoke t-shirts. And this demand is excepted to considerably boost in the upcoming future times.

So, if you want to take the advantage of this trend, then it would a good idea to start an online tshirt printing business.

Now, if you have decided to start this business, there are high chances for you to get confused between different printing methods and techniques available in the market. Well, in such a case, reading this comprehensive guide will prove to be very helpful for you.

In this detailed guide on vinyl vs screen printing, we will mainly focus on talking about the two most commonly employed printing techniques which include vinyl printing and screen printing. We will discuss what exactly these techniques are along with their pros and cons so that you would be able to make a better decision.

So, let’s begin with it:

Discussing Screen Printing In Detail

What Is Referred To As Screen Printing?

Screen printing is known to be one of the most commonly employed printing techniques which involve transferring the images onto fabric. And this whole process requires the utilization of a silk mesh screen along with ink which has been specially designed for fabric.

To successfully carry out this printing process, you will need the right tools and equipment. If you have all the required tools, then you can do this at home. But, if you lack any or all the needed equipment, then it would be best to approach a professional web to print company that will offer you the best assistance by employing the best-in-class print shop software.

In this case, typically the mesh screen is placed over a wooden frame. And after that, the ink is applied to the side of the frame that faces you. As the screen will already possess a stencil of the design that is again transferred onto it and so, the ink will stain the image (you have selected) onto the fabric.

Pros

If you have decided to try out the screen-printing technique, then you are expected to receive several interesting benefits such as best-in-class quality, versatility, a simple learning curve, etc. It also offers you the capability so you can effortlessly manage large product batches.

• Offers Versatility

Screen printing is known to be one of the most versatile printing techniques that can be carried out both at your home and on a commercial level. From this, you can get an idea about the flexibility of this technique. Due to the high versatility of this technique, it is regarded as a most sought-after option for eCommerce vendors and small business owners.

Another best part about the screen printing method is that it lets you print onto most flat surfaces irrespective of their material. Not only that, but it is also known to work effectively on plastics, fabrics, and even wood.

So, in case you are just starting your small printing business, it is a worthy decision to invest in screen printing equipment especially due to the versatility of this technique. This versatility will help you to grow your business over time without having to invest a lot of money in costly and unnecessary tools.

• Great Option For Large Product Batches

Screen printing is undoubtedly one of the best printing techniques to employ, in case you are just starting as a small business owner. It is because the screen printing tools are comparatively cheaper than the equipment that is required to perform other types of printing. You just, need to set up the equipment once irrespective of the number of product units you are focusing to produce.

So, whenever you need to fulfill a large order, this technique will help you to save a lot of money on the equipment. Also, you will end up saving your time during the setup process.

• Produces Great Quality

Whenever you go for the screen printing technique, you are always assured to get the best-in-class quality. It aids in producing vibrant designs which can be challenging to achieve if you make use of any other printing technique.

Again, in this case, all single colors are individually layered on top of the fabric and so, it ensures that the colors can perfectly retain their hue. This property contributes to making it an exceptional technique to employ if you are looking forward to producing eye-striking and colorful designs for hoodies or t-shirts.

Due to this reason, this technique is most commonly utilized by small business owners to uniquely design a t-shirt. Again, if you are utilizing screen printing for designing different types of apparel, then you will find that the ink will not fade on washing. And thereby, the overall design remains unaffected, which is considered to be its best part.

Cons

Similar to any other technique, screen printing also comes with some limitations. Some of these include the following:

• Challenging To Set Up

Although screen printing is inexpensive and easy, the setup process can consume a lot of your time and effort.  After it has been set up, you can reproduce your design in large quantities. But, the setup is much more complicated which is known to be its biggest demerit.

• Not An Eco-Friendly Technique

In the market, you will find the easy availability of a lot of eco-friendly screens and inks, but these supplies are more costly to purchase. And, if you are operating on a constrained budget, then you may find a hard time investing in pricey tools or equipment.

Another problem with the screen printing process is that it involves the usage of a lot of water. This water is typically used for mixing your inks and washing your screens. For bigger batches, the consumption of water is even more. Again, depending on the complexity of your design, you may need to use more screens. This will lead to the usage of even more water for washing your screens.

Vinyl Printing: All That You Need To Know About This Popular Printing Technique

What Is Vinyl Printing?

Vinyl printing is another well-known printing technique that is most commonly employed by eCommerce vendors and small business owners. One of the interesting things to note about this technique is that it is accomplished especially through heat transference.

Vinyl designs are typically printed and cut utilizing a cutting machine and design program. Once you are done with this step, you can focus on transferring the designs onto the material which you have selected. And finally, the vinyl is heat-pressed onto the fabric with the help of applied pressure and heat.

Pros

Below, we have enlisted some of the most important advantages that you can reap by utilizing the vinyl printing technique:

• Suitable For Small Production Batches

As already mentioned above, screen printing allows you to produce large batches. But if you are just starting your business, then vinyl screen printing can be called the ideal option for you to choose as it lets you produce small batches of products.

So, it means that you can make use of the vinyl printing technique, in case your products are made to order. Another interesting thing to note about the vinyl printing technique is that it is comparatively quick which provides your customers with a faster turnaround time than any other method of printing.

• Effortless To Create

As vinyl is a well-known printing medium and so, you will get the chance to employ tons of programs and equipment that will help you to get started. These types of programs are meant to streamline the design process. Again, these programs are not that difficult to use. Even, if you are not technically sound, then also you will find it easy to employ.

Another interesting thing to note is that the vinyl printing and cutting equipment are easily available at cost-effective pricing. So, if you are low on your budget, then also you can employ this technique. And, with the growth of your business, you can consider buying better and bigger equipment.

• More Customizable Option

As vinyl t shirt printing involves printing your design beforehand and so, it is regarded as a more customizable option to choose when compared to screen printing. This printing method lets you print your overall design at once. And so, you do not have to invest your time in layering each of the shapes or colors in your design.

Again, there are many distinct design programs that you can employ for the creation of your vinyl designs. So, it means that removing or adding either elements or colors is very easy and quick in this case.

You can also expect to save a lot of your time and money as it offers you the ability to view your design before you transfer it to your fabric. But, you will not get this option in case of screen printing.

With vinyl printing, you can easily identify any flaws in the design after it has been printed. So, it helps you to make sure that the final product is flawless.

Cons

Now, let’s have a quick look at some of the disadvantages of using the vinyl printing technique in the forthcoming section:

• Not Known To Be Durable

Although vinyl printing may look great, this particular technique is not that durable when compared to the other available methods. As the vinyl typically sits on top of the material or fabric that you have selected, it fails to adhere to the fabric properly. Vinyl-printed tees or other apparel should never be ironed.

Again, to ensure that these designs last for a longer period, you need to wash the apparel and allow these to air dry. Irrespective of how well you maintain your clothes, vinyl designs tend to peel and chip over time. So, it means that it does not have a long lifespan.

• Not Regarded As A Good Option For Large Product Batches

Vinyl printing is undoubtedly an amazing printing technique for start-up businesses but, note that it may not be a good and sustainable method to employ in the long run. Although it has a quick turnaround for small batches, you will end up spending a lot of time on larger batches.

It is because, you will require to print, cut, and finally press a new design every time, you wish to create a product. In some situations, you may even find it difficult to meet your project demand. Another problem with vinyl is that it is costly to buy. This means that your expenses will be much higher for larger batches or orders.

Which Technique To Choose In Between Screen Printing And Vinyl Printing And Is Screen Printing Better Than Vinyl?

If you just starting your business, you should necessarily have a clear idea of what types of products you wish to create. So, the choice you make between both of these printing options will depend on your unique project requirements and your personal preference.

Comparing Screen Printing With Vinyl

Both of these techniques can be carried out on a larger scale. But, for large-scale requirements, screen printing is regarded as the most suitable technique to choose when compared to vinyl printing.

Minimal equipment is required to get started with screen printing. On the other hand, to carry out vinyl printing, you will need to purchase more expensive equipment.

The setup of screen printing is more complex and time-consuming. Whereas vinyl printing is easy to set up.

In terms of durability, screen printing designs are on the advantageous side when compared to vinyl designs.

The screen printing technique is considered to be good for simple designs which involve a simple color palette along with minimal elements. On the contrary, the vinyl printing technique tends to offer more design versatility.

On A Final Note!

Now, that you have completed reading this comprehensive blog post on screen print vs vinyl, it is time to decide between these two options. We hope, now after comparing all the above-mentioned points, you would be able to make an effective choice between both these options.

Are you having any further doubts or need assistance in printing? If this is the case, then you need to approach a professional web to print company like WTPBiz. We are a leader in this industry and so, we are focused on helping you to achieve the best-in-class outcomes by utilizing our best t-shirt printing software.

Contact us today to know more.