About screen printing

What is screen printing?

Screen printing is one of the most popular and durable methods for custom garment printing, ideal for t-shirts, hoodies, workwear, uniforms, and promotional clothing.

The screen print process involves pushing high-quality ink through a fine silk screen onto the fabric using a squeegee. This can be achieved by manually pulling the squeegee across the screen or by using an automated printing press.

For multi-colour artwork, each colour in the design is separated onto its own screen. Each screen is then carefully aligned on a professional printing carousel to ensure precise registration and a flawless finish.

This technique produces sharp, consistent prints that stand up to repeated washing and everyday wear.

Why Choose Screen Printing?

Screen printing is widely regarded as the most premium method for printing designs onto garments.

With origins dating back to ancient China during the Song Dynasty (around 960 AD) and modern popularity rising in the 1960s, it’s a technique that has truly stood the test of time.

Today, screen printing delivers vibrant, long-lasting prints on a wide range of apparel, including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and tote bags. It’s especially cost-effective for bulk orders, making it a go-to choice for brands, events, and businesses.

Most importantly, nothing matches the feel of a screen print — soft, breathable, and built to last, it offers a level of quality that other printing methods simply can’t replicate.

The Screen Printing Process

1. Prepare the artwork

LightBox Screen printing exposure process illustration

2. Expose the screens

3. Prepare the colours

4. Load the garment

5. Screen print!

6. Final cure

7. Inspect & fold

8. Pack & post

Manual vs Automatic Screen Printing

Here at Elusive Press we have both manual and automatic presses. Both manual and automatic screen printing use the same core process—pulling ink across a screen to create high-quality prints. The difference lies in how the ink is applied and the scale of production.

Manual Screen Printing

On a manual press, the squeegee is pulled by hand. This method is ideal for smaller runs and gives a more hands-on, crafted feel to each print. However, for larger orders, fatigue can affect consistency over time.

Automatic Screen Printing

Automatic presses use pneumatic print heads to apply ink with consistent pressure. This makes them perfect for high-volume orders, ensuring every print is sharp, clean, and uniform from start to finish. It also reduces physical strain during long production runs.

In short, manual printing suits smaller, custom jobs, while automatic printing is the best choice for larger orders where speed and consistency are key.