Screen Printing vs Heat Press: Which Is Better?
When you want to put your designs on a t-shirt, you’ll have to choose between screen printing vs heat press. Both methods are used to imprint patterns and designs onto garments and other customized items. Read on to learn about the advantages of screen printing and heat press transfers.
Screen Printing and Its Perks
Screen printing uses ink or other marking materials that are then printed onto the item by forcing the ink through silk screen stencil with a squeegee. Screen printing can make multi colored designs by using different screens for each color used. This entire process is done mostly by hand, except for the use of machines to keep objects in place and lasers to exactly align design pieces.
The quality and durability of the print is where this option shines. A screen print will soak into the fabric, which makes it more durable. Also, screen prints often yield better quality results than heat press transfers because the layered colors penetrate the fabric. Screen prints, however, are only economical for large volume orders compared to heat transfers.
Heat Press Transfers and Its Perks
Heat press transfers utilize applying pressure and high temperature on a design that can be transferred onto a garment. This process requires the use of heat transfer equipment to press your pattern into the garment. You first have to make your design digitally then proceed with heat pressing it on to the fabric.
There are 2 methods with using a heat press, vinyl heat transfer and digital print heat transfer. The vinyl option requires you to cut out your design from colored vinyl then layering it on a shirt before using a heat press to apply it. The digital print option uses a computer-aided design, which transfers it onto high-quality transfer paper with solvent ink, which is then heat pressed onto the garment.
Heat press transfers may lack in durability, but it does makes up in print quality. While most heat press transferred designs may not last as long as a screen print does, it can efficiently produce high quality outputs once transferred. Hats, bags, and other oddly shaped items are few of where a heat press transfer would work best.
If you have a design in mind and want to make it into reality, reach out to Missouri Cotton Exchange in Columbia, MO. They have experts in making and designing personalized items, and they can even help you with producing screen-printed merchandise.