Screen vs Digital - Which Type of Printing Should I Choose

Whether you need to print materials, stickers or shirts for your business, you'll also have to think about the process of printing that’s best suited to your needs, aside from coming up with the design. There are two common printing processes you can choose from, and most people have a difficult time differentiating them. These two printing processes are screen printing and digital printing.

To give you a bit of an overview, let's quickly differentiate screen printing and digital printing. With screen printing, the design or image you want to use is turned into a stencil or screen. After that, the screen is placed on the surface you want the design to stay on. The printer then swipes ink over the screen to allow the image to transfer to the surface. As for digital printing, stencils and screens aren't needed. In this process, the image transfer is done through devices like an inkjet printer, which can do an awesome job of producing quality graphics.

If you're confused about which printing style you should choose, we can help you out. This article will help you understand these printing processes and guide you to choose which works best for your needs.

Screen Printing

If your company needs to mass-produce and print hundreds of materials with your logo on the surface, your company will benefit greatly from screen printing.

A notable advantage of screen printing is that it does an amazing job with colour matching. In this process, they use "true colour" so you get the exact shade you desire. Another benefit is that you can work with most materials when you opt for screen printing, such as fabric, paper and more.

As mentioned earlier, one of the advantages of screen printing is its high-volume capabilities. If you're looking to mass-print over a hundred thousand items, this printing process is your most cost-effective option.

Digital Printing

Just like screen printing, digital printing has its own set of advantages, depending on the tasks and output you need.

One of the advantages of digital printing is its speed. With this process, you are guaranteed excellent output even if you have rush orders. Using a digital printing process is also suitable for orders in small quantities. This is ideal for small batches of goodies and gifts you can give out for birthdays and holidays.

Digital printing also costs less, even if it allows more flexibility than other processes. With digital printing, you can have a variety of prints, even if you have a small-quantity order. And lastly, with digital printing, the details of your design will shine through. Because of the high-tech printers, you can ensure that your image will translate well on any surface.

So, which one should I choose?

Below are some questions you want to ask yourself to help you decide on what printing process you need.

How much do I need and how much am I willing to spend?
Your budget will depend on the output you desire. Determine the quality of printing you want, your orders’ volume and if you need a highly-detailed print. If you need small batches of orders with high-detail, digital printing is ideal.

Is exact colouring important?
The digital printing process uses printers to mix colours to get the desired hue you want. However, if you need precise colouring, screen printing would be the perfect choice.

What material am I using?
The material you want to use plays a big role in what type of printing process you should choose. With digital printing, the ink doesn't absorb through the fabric, which ultimately prevents cracking. Meanwhile, screen printing can break with wear and tear.

So if you're thinking of printing shirts, digital printing is the way to go.

Conclusion

Digital printing and screen printing each have their benefits and can do specific jobs perfectly. By remembering this information, you'll be able to make the perfect decision on what printing process you need. Working with printing specialists will help you determine the best possible printing method to get optimal results.

Are you looking for screen and digital printing in the Gold Coast? Graffiti Stickers offer high-quality printing services that include vehicle stickers, custom signs, real estate signs and more. Contact us and learn more about our services today!