Silkscreen and color printing are the two most common ways of putting images and words onto T-shirts. Each method uses different tools in accomplishing a similar goal. Does this Spark an idea?
Silkscreen Printing
Silkscreen printing is a process in which a frame and a stencil are placed on a shirt and filled in with ink. The frame helps keep ink from leaking onto the rest of the shirt.
Color Printing
Color printing is a technique by which four ink colors are applied to a T-shirt in layers to create an image.
Considerations
Color printing allows a T-shirt to feature much more complicated and realistic images; it is similar to the style of printing used to create newspaper images. Silkscreen prints, however, tend to last longer.
Benefits
Silkscreen printing kits can be purchased for an individual to use at home, which makes individual design more accessible and less expensive. Color prints must be done with special equipment.
Size
Color prints can be made to cover a larger portion of the shirt than most silkscreen prints, making them a better option for more detailed images.
Tags: Color printing, Color prints, Printing Color, Silkscreen printing
