Screen printing, made to last

Why Screen Printing Is Our Most Popular Technique

Screen printing is the technique our customers choose more than any other, and for good reason. The prints are tough and long lasting, they can be produced quickly, and they offer fantastic value, especially on larger quantities. Whether you need uniforms for your staff, t-shirts for an event or merchandise to sell, screen printed clothing gives you strong, vivid colour that holds up to everyday wear.

Our team has over 25 years of screen printing experience. With print houses around the UK, including London, and 8 automatic presses, we handle custom screen printing for everything from 20 staff t-shirts to thousands of event tees, with every colour lined up precisely from the first garment to the last.

It works on most garments, including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, polo shirts and tote bags, and because every ink is mixed to a Pantone reference, your brand colours look the same on every piece and on every repeat order.

How Screen Printing Works

Your design is first output onto acetate film, which is used to burn the image onto a fine mesh screen. A separate screen is made for each colour in your design, and each one takes around 45 minutes to prepare. Ink is then pushed through the mesh onto the garment one colour at a time, and the print is heat cured so it bonds with the fabric.

Because the screens are the main part of the set up, the more garments you print from them, the lower the price per piece becomes. That is what makes screen printing the natural choice for bulk t-shirt printing and repeat orders.

From Artwork to Delivery

Inks and Speciality Finishes

Alongside standard inks, we offer a range of speciality finishes that can change the whole look and feel of a design.

Recent Custom Screen Printing Jobs

A few of the screen printed t-shirts, hoodies and tote bags we have produced for bands, brands and events.

Prices, Minimum Order and Turnaround

We recommend screen printing from 20 units upwards, and printed tote bags start at 10 units. The main things that affect the price are the number of garments, the number of colours in your design, how many print positions you need (for example front, back and sleeve) and the garments you choose. Keeping colours and print positions down is the easiest way to save, and our guide on keeping t-shirt printing costs low has more tips.

Standard screen printing orders are ready six to seven business days after you approve your proof. If your date is tighter, our express printing service can turn screen printed garments around in 48 hours, with next day available on request.

For designs that need to cover more of the garment than a standard print area, take a look at jumbo screen printing.

Artwork and Colour Matching

Vector artwork (.ai, .eps or a vector PDF) gives the best results, as it can be scaled to any size without losing quality. If you include your Pantone references we will mix your inks to match. Our art department also handles colour separations for full colour designs, and if you want to understand how colour choices affect your print, read the 10 colour questions brands ask before ordering.

Choosing the Right Garments

Smooth, tightly knitted cotton and cotton rich fabrics give the crispest prints, which is why t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts are such popular choices. Our guide to which t-shirt is best for printing compares some of the favourites, and if you are after a looser fit, see the best oversized t-shirts to print on. For hoodies, our guide to the best hoodies for screen printing and embroidery compares the 10 we recommend most. You can browse every style we print on in our clothing catalogue.

Who We Print For

We print for businesses, brands and organisations of every size across the UK, from bulk event t-shirts for marathons and fun runs to band merch for tours and brewery merchandise. We also work with schools and universities, charities and sports events.

Screen Printing or Another Technique?

Screen printing is at its best on larger runs and designs with solid colours. For small quantities or detailed full colour images, Direct to Garment and Direct to Film printing have no set up fees, while embroidery gives a premium finish on workwear and polo shirts. You can compare every option on our printing techniques page, or simply ask our team for a recommendation.

Screen Printing: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum order for screen printing?

We recommend screen printing from 20 units upwards, and printed tote bags start at 10 units. Each colour needs its own screen, so the set up is spread across the order and the price per garment comes down as the quantity goes up. For smaller runs, Direct to Garment or Direct to Film printing is often better value.

How long does screen printing take?

Standard screen printing takes six to seven business days from proof approval. When the deadline is tight, express printing can turn garments around in 48 hours, and next day is available on request.

How long does screen printing last?

A well cured screen print is one of the most durable ways to decorate clothing. The ink bonds with the fabric, so prints stay bright through repeated washing when the garment is cared for properly. Our wash care guide explains how to get the longest life from your printed clothing.

How many colours can you screen print?

Designs with one or a few solid colours are ideal for screen printing, with each colour printed through its own screen. For photographic or full colour artwork we can use full process (CMYK) printing, where our art department separates your design into colour layers. We will confirm the number of screens once we have seen your artwork.

Can you match my brand colours?

Yes. Every ink is mixed using the Pantone Matching System, so your colours stay consistent across garments and from one order to the next. Send us your Pantone references with your artwork, or read more in Pantone colours in screen printing.

What artwork do you need?

Vector files such as .ai, .eps or a vector PDF work best, because they scale to any print size without losing quality. If you only have a flat image, send it over and our team will advise on whether it needs to be redrawn before printing.