Custom T-shirts have become a ubiquitous form of expression, showing off messages, images, memes, and brands that reflect our personalities and preferences, and sometimes even rep our work, projects, or goals. But before pressing that “print” button, you've got an important choice to make: digital print or screen print?
Digital printing and screen printing each have advantages and limitations that impact the quality, price, and level of customization of your T-shirts, and it's important to know each method's benefits and limitations before you order up your brand new printed apparel. So let's explore the differences between digital printing and screen printing, and help you decide which one will really let you and your customers rock those fits!
Digital printing is a relatively new technology that allows for high quality, full-color prints without needing the complexity of screens, stencils, or additional setup costs. The simplified process of digital printing involves 3 steps:
Digital printing is ideal for short runs, complex designs, and photographic prints, as it allows for precise details and vibrant colors. However, digital printing isn't as cost-effective as screen printing if you're ordering large quantities, and the digital printing ink may not last as long on darker fabrics.
Two specific methods of digital printing are DTG (Direct to Garment) and DTF (Direct to Film), which you can read more about in this Fourthwall blog!
Digital printing might be your best choice if you're a creator just starting your merch game! Here's a quick breakdown of its pros and cons:
Screen printing is a traditional technique that dates back to ancient Chinese and Japanese cultures and involves applying ink through a stenciled mesh screen onto a substrate, such as fabric, paper, or plastic.
These are the basics of screen printing:
While screen printing requires more setup time and more manual labor, it offers several benefits that make people choose it over digital printing. To learn even more about the screen printing process, check out this Fourthwall article!
Screen printing is a classic technique for custom apparel, but is it right for you? Let's explore screen printing's strengths and weaknesses:
As a creator, you now have two awesome printing tools in your custom apparel arsenal! But which one - digital printing or screen printing - reigns supreme? Here are some key factors to consider:
Both methods have do environmental impacts to consider, so research the inks and printing processes used if you're looking to make a more informed choice.
Learning about all the pros and cons of digital and screen printing is such useful info to have in your toolbox when you're looking to create and sell your own custom T-shirts and other printed apparel! By keeping in mind factors like cost, design complexity, fabric and ink compatibility, and production quantity, you can choose the printing method that best translates your creative idea into high-quality goods that your fans and customers will love.
Fourthwall provides a wealth of tools and resources to streamline your print apparel creation process, allowing creators to seamlessly design products, select the most suitable printing methods, launch products effortlessly, and gain valuable insights about your site, customers, and sales through comprehensive analytics. With Fourthwall, bringing your creative vision and custom merch to life in your own online store has never been easier. Get started today!
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Product costs are listed directly in our product catalog.
If a t-shirt is listed in our catalog at a $10 cost, we will automatically deduct that amount from your profits whenever you make a sale. You can sell products for any price you want.
For example, if you sell the shirt for $22, you'll make $12 in profit on each unit sold. If you sell it for $50, then you'll make $40 in profit on each unit sold.
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Shipping rates are dynamically determined by the size of package and destination. We work with most major carriers and pass through the true cost of shipping. That means that you can offer low-cost, fast shipping to your fans. Most items have a delivery window of 5-8 days.
Be sure to browse our product catalog to find products that are fulfilled out of your target regions to provide the fastest & cheapest shipping for your community.
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That way you can focus on designing products and promoting your shop, not taxes.
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If you need help finding an artist or designer, check out our design community.
This is a vetted network of exceptional designers that can help you make great quality designs for your audience. We also recommend tools like Canva or Kittl.
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From answering general order questions to making address changes, our team is there to ensure that your buyers are treated with the same level of care that you would personally give them. We have a 12-hour or less average reply time, including nights and weekends.
For any items that you source on your own and ship from home, however, you'll need to do customer support.
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