Why Screen Printing Is Still the Gold Standard for Custom Apparel
Screen printing started it all for !nk in 1988, and our goal remains the same: soft, vibrant, high-quality prints.
Lee P.
September 23, 2026
I spent every summer of my childhood at my family’s small screen printing shop in Jacksonville, Arkansas watching my dad spend countless hours hand-pulling ink through wood-framed screens and listening to my sneakers cling to the spray adhesive covering the floor.
I remember being able to sit and pin my attention to the walls tacked in endless reams of cloth pellons covered in art and design from local sports teams, rock bands, schools, churches, and what seemed like every small business in the surrounding area.
To say I have a soft spot for the art of screen printing would be a massive understatement.
What Is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is one of the oldest, most versatile, and broadly used decorating techniques worldwide; having been around since around 960-1279 AD when it began in China as a way to transfer art and design onto fabric, mostly silk, by forcing ink through a screen stencil and onto the substrate.
It’s still to this day, even with the advent of countless other printing methods, highly regarded for consistently producing sharp, detailed images as well as rich, dense colors on all kinds of fabrics and substrates.
Being a tactile art, it appeals to those who prefer a more hands-on approach to print making. Every detail, from ink deposit to placement, can be controlled by the printer from garment to
garment. This guarantees that each print stroke is methodically and carefully made to ensure that each product leaves the press with consistent, eye-catching detail, and vibrant colors that pop off the fabric.
The commercial advantages to screen printing are even more numerous. Whether you are looking for custom t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, or paper products, its cost effectiveness and top-notch quality make it a go-to for bulk, wholesale, and contract printing.
How Does It Work?
It starts with art. Once your design or illustration is created, a stencil is exposed, or “burned”, using a light source onto a framed silk screen. Each color of the artwork requires separating before this exposure process, and each color will have its own screen.
The screens are then placed into the printing press in proper order, which can vary from project to project, and then printed, whether by hand or by automatic press, layer by layer onto the substrate until the final product is fully realized.
The product is then lifted from the press and sent through a conveyor dryer to dry or “cure” the ink to bond it into the substrate to ensure lasting durability and color vibrancy even after countless washes.
Advantages of Screen Printing
Color and Durability
Due to its viscosity and high pigment volume inherent in plastisol based inks, the standard screen printing ink, colors will appear bright, vivid, and slow to fade even on the darkest garments. These inks are also remarkably durable, and with proper technique and care, a print can last and appear vibrant for years of wear.
Versatility
One of the biggest advantages to screen printing over other print methods is how it adheres and adapts to almost any substrate. Whether your product is fabric like cotton, polyester, nylon, or hard goods like plastic, glass, and metal; screen printing remains a viable option for decorating just about any surface.
Scalability
Screen printing remains the undisputed king for cost-effective bulk and commercial projects. Once the set-up process is complete, garments can be produced quickly, consistently, and at high volume, whether that be manually by the hands of an experienced printer or by the operation of an automatic press, which are capable of printing between 6 to 18 different colors while being able to successfully and consistently print anywhere between 300 to 1000 garments an hour depending on the art and press demands.
Quality & Soft-Hand Feel
Because of its ability to deliver sharp lines, clean detail, and saturated colors, even the most complex and intricate designs can be printed with unparalleled clarity, without thick and heavy prints left by some printing methods. The ink is carefully sheared into the fabric, guaranteeing a consistently soft and natural feel. This is even more apparent when using water-based and soft inks which further decrease ink deposits, allowing for smooth prints that are comfortable to wear as the
The Bottom Line
Screen printing provides numerous benefits and significant advantages whether you are looking at it from either a commercial perspective where your needs are bulk or wholesale printing or from a creative one if you are looking to expand your skillset with a more traditional and tactile form of art.
It’s reliable, versatile, and continues to set the standard while still pushing the boundaries of the industry into the present day and beyond.
How Can the Ink Team Help?
Since 1988, we at Ink have strived to hone and perfect this craft to provide our partners, clients, and community with custom apparel that meets only the highest standards of quality, comfort, durability and value.
It’s the foundation of what we do here; making great shirts for great people.
How can Ink help with your project? Give us a call or shoot us an email to speak with one of our experienced account managers to get your custom quote and get started today!
