screen-print-vs-embroidery-new
5/5 - (1 vote)

You’ll have to make another crucial choice about the design of your logo after deciding what kind of personalized gear you’ll be getting (more on that later). 

Considering that your logo is already etched in stone, your design must capture the spirit and culture of your company. This includes thinking about the logo itself, the color palette, and obviously how the print for business t-shirt design ideas will be reproduced. 

The three main printing and transfer methods— screen printing, and DTG vs embroidery —each exude a completely different vibe.

Screen printing uses ink to print, while embroidery uses stitches to stitch. A more professional impression is conveyed by embroidery, which typically has a higher perceived value. When it comes to athletic clothing and t-shirt manufacturers, screen printing typically offers a more relaxed appearance that customers prefer. When compared to screen printing stitching may frequently generate more accurate reproductions of artwork. 

To help you understand these two common options better, we’re contrasting embroidery vs screen print today.

Screen Printing

Screen Printing Vs Embroidery

Apart from apparel, a wide range of objects, such as mugs, pens, water bottles, and notebooks, can be decorated with screen printing. The screen printing procedure, which is similar to how a printer prints on conventional paper, essentially uses ink to create a stencil that prints your design onto the item.

Compared to stitching, this enables significantly more intricate designs. If you want to print a large design on a shirt, screen printing is also preferable to embroidery because it preserves the fabric’s integrity. When you purchase a logo with various colors, screen printing becomes more expensive, which is the drawback. 

This is because the system needs to run the shirt once more for each color in the logo. I’d advise sticking with embroidery if you’re hoping to have a more subtle but vibrant design applied to a garment.

embroidery vs screen printing

Pros

Screen printing has been practiced for many years, although the method hasn’t altered all that much.

Cost-effective

Screen printing eliminates the need to worry about customization costs, which are not always low. Some things are priced as low as one dollar each.

Bulk orders: Quick Production

The key to success is quickness! Your merchandise’s decoration producers have access to incredibly quick screen printing. Within a week, at most, you’ll have your order in your possession.

Versatile

Screen printing can do pretty about everything. Materials like fabric, plastic, wood, metal, glass, and ceramic can all be customized with this technique.

Scalable

Whether it’s a tiny shot glass or a big yard sign, a screen print may be resized to fit any item. The layout will always be simple, clear, and easy to read.

embroidery vs screen printing

Long-lasting

Your object is permanently bonded after the ink has dried on it! You won’t have to worry about screen print removal if you’re careful when washing.

Cons

Because screen printing has been around the longest, it has also seen the most use. 

Heavy Or Fuzzy Fabrics Are Not Recommended

Heavy textiles like fleece and 100 percent cotton don’t usually take ink very well. Embellishment is a preferable choice if you want a product built from any material!

Large Price For Small Orders

For screen-printed items with a low minimum order, you can wind up paying extra depending on the product. When determining how many promotional items to order, keep this in mind.

One Color Only Is Present

Unfortunately, when ordering screen-printed items, you usually only get one ink color included in the price. Every additional color you desire in the design must be purchased separately, which can add up very quickly.

embroidery vs screen printing

The Image Could Break Or Chip

A screen-printed shirt or plastic cup that is subjected to abuse in the washer or dishwasher may cause the design to break or chip away. Handwashing and avoiding direct heat wherever feasible will help you avoid this problem with the screen print.

Embroidery 

embroidery vs screen printing

The most popular items with embroidery are polo shirts, hats, jackets, and backpacks. When we embroider a garment, the design of your logo is created by sewing thread into the fabric. Unlike screen printing, an embroidered logo would rise off the shirt to give it a somewhat 3D appearance. (Ordering Puff embroidery will further improve its 3D impression. Usually, this is exclusively used for caps.) Companies frequently opt to embroider products for their professional team rather than employing screen printing since this embroidered aesthetic is believed to be more elegant and professional than standard screen printing. 

The left chest of a different type of t-shirt print, polo, sweatshirt, jacket, or button-down is the most typical location for a logo to be embroidered. Some choose to wear the emblem on the sleeve, and when they do, it’s typically on the left sleeve. The majority of the time, people want their logo embroidered on the front of baseball caps and beanies.

Pros

Compared to any kind of conventional printing method, embroidery not only gives a distinctive stitched aesthetic, but it also feels different. 

Excellent For All Order Sizes

If you need favors, gifts, or trade show giveaways, you can order a few embroidered things or order them in quantity. Everybody’s wants can be met by quantity!

Screen Printing Vs Embroidery

Quick Production

It’s not like several elderly women are hand-sewing your design while rocking back and forth. Faster than you can say “needlepoint,” the stitch and print machine can produce an order of embroidered promotional items. Within a week, you can anticipate the order being dispatched.

With Additional Colors

With embroidery, the pricing includes 7 or 8 different thread colors. Depending on the promotional items you order, it can sometimes be considerably higher!

An Expert Appearance

“Stitched with love” is a well-known expression for a reason. A t-shirt design placement guide that is embroidered appears more polished and refined than one that was printed with ink on winter long sleeves shirts or cozy sweaters.

Long-lasting

No immediate concern about embroidery unraveling exists. You’re good to go as long as your cat stays away from the thread.

Screen Printing Vs Embroidery

Cons

Pricey

The price of a fashionable appearance is higher. For places with a limited budget, such as mom-and-pop shops, schools, charities, or nonprofits, embroidery may not be the best choice because it is more expensive than printing ink.

Potential Loss Of Detail

Are you looking to print a complex logo or design? Embroidery should be avoided! It is unable to form gradients or catch all the fine details.

Use For Fabric Only

Custom candles and wooden pencils cannot be embroidered, of course. The only objects that can be imprinted with this technique are those that are made of fabric, such as garments, tablecloths, and cozy fleece blankets.

Thread Becomes Snagged

If you’re not careful, loose threads could become tangled and disintegrate. By washing your embroidered clothing inside a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase, you can prevent this accident.

Screen Printing Vs Embroidery

Screen Printing vs Embroidery 

Examine what each one could provide you for whatever function you need it for before deciding if screen printed vs embroidered is best for your needs.

Cost Comparison – Screen Print Vs. Embroidery 

For any business owner who wishes to have clothing or accessories tailored, the cost is likely to be their top worry. You don’t want to overspend because having something customized already costs slightly more than simply purchasing it as-is.

Keep in mind that neither choice will always be less expensive. The cost-effectiveness of embroidered screen printed option will vary depending on a variety of criteria, such as the complexity of the design, the location where the job is performed, the size of the design, and the caliber of the clothing you use.

Embroidery prices are normally flat fees that are not determined by the number of colors in the pattern.

The quantity of colors matters a lot when screen printing, though. Costs go up since every new color needs a new mesh screen.

With most needlework, you can have up to 15 colors for little to no additional expense. However, screen printing is probably less expensive for huge logos and designs, and large orders can also lower the price.

Selecting a local business would lower transportation costs, making screen printing cheaper.

Screen Printing Vs Embroidery

Durability – Screen Print Vs. Embroidery 

Another concern is durability, and in this case, embroidery is frequently a superior option. In comparison to an embroidered pattern that is sewn into the fabric, a screen-printed pattern that is printed on top of the fabric is much less likely to endure for as long.

The pattern can break and fade over time while screen printing, which is one problem. This is particularly possible if the clothing is not well cared for, which includes washing it thoroughly. However, embroidery is less likely to disintegrate or fade over time. If the screen print embroidery stitching is of a high caliber, it can last for a very long time.

If a screen-printed item is ironed on the incorrect side or washed at the incorrect temperature, it could quickly get damaged. Although the stitching can occasionally snag or become damaged, embroidered logos don’t present these issues.

A design made with embroidery has a decent amount of weight, appears upscale, and ought to last for a long time. The logo is three-dimensional rather than flat like a screen-printed logo, and the thick thread gives it a gloss that helps it stand out.

By selecting a local business, you can lower the cost of transportation and make screen printing more inexpensive.

Which Approach Wins Out?

It’s challenging to decide between screen print and embroidery even though the former is more prevalent. 

Simply told, it depends on what you’re looking for and what you think your staff or customers will prefer. 

It’s not for every business, but embroidery will give items a distinctive, hard-to-miss flair. Screen printing is traditional, but it might not be the best option if your logo is basic or if you simply don’t like the way the finished product will look. 

It is entirely up to you once more, so. In the end, it’s your decision, although you may always sample and conduct your independent research. 

FAQs

Which Is More Expensive, Embroidery Or Screen Printing?

Although it’s not always the case, embroidery costs more than screen printing. If you place a smaller order or use numerous ink colors, the price of screen printing can go up. Do your research because prices vary from product to product.

How Long Does A Screen Print Process Take? 

Between 40 and 50 machine washes are capable of ruining a T-shirt’s design created by screen printing. Screen printing uses very thick ink that soaks deeply into the fabric.

Final Words

Both screen print vs embroidery offer benefits, but before selecting which is better, you should take a few things into account. Before selecting the best option, consider the size of your logo design, your spending limit, the goods you want to personalize, and the amount of your order.