Printing Process Selection Guide for Apparel Brands: Screen Printing and Sublimation Printing

In the apparel industry, personalization and differentiation are the key to attracting consumers and shaping brand image. Screen printing and sublimation printing, as two mainstream printing technologies, have their own unique charm and scope of application. This article aims to help apparel brands and startups gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics, advantages and limitations of these two processes in order to make a more informed choice.

Screen Printing: A Balance of Classics and Practicality

Features Overview:

Screen printing is a time-honored printing technique in which ink is squeezed onto the substrate through a patterned area on the screen to form a colorful, clear line pattern. It occupies an important position in the apparel industry for its wide applicability, high color contrast and durability.

Advantage analysis:

Bright colors:

screen printing can present bright, full colors, which is ideal for designs that require high color contrast.

Durable:

Printed designs are wash and abrasion resistant, able to withstand multiple washes and daily use, maintaining long-lasting color and clarity.

Cost-effective:

Screen printing is cost-effective in mass production, making it suitable for brands that need a quick rollout.

Limitation Considerations:

High Plate Making Costs:

for small quantities or single piece customization, plate making costs can be relatively high, which is not conducive to cost control.

Limited Number of Colors:

usually applicable to patterns with no more than six colors, for complex designs with rich colors, it may be necessary to use multiple overprints, increasing production complexity and cost.

Limited Expression of Details:

In presenting delicate gradient or complex texture, screen printing is relatively limited in its expressive power.

Sublimation printing: the fusion of technology and personalization

Features Overview:

Sublimation printing is an advanced printing technology that uses heat energy to sublimate dyes directly and penetrate into the fabric fibers to achieve lasting color fixation of the pattern. Its bright colors, rich layers, and excellent resistance to washing and abrasion, especially for products that require high color expressiveness and personalization.

Advantage analysis:

Rich and layered colors:

it can perfectly present delicate color gradations and complex textures, adding a unique sense of art to garments.

Strong ability of personalization and customization:

It is very suitable for small batch or single piece customization, and can satisfy consumers' demand for personalized products.

Environmentally friendly and healthy:

the dyes penetrate directly into the fabric fibers without the need for glue and adhesives, which is more environmentally friendly and healthy.

Limitations to consider:

Higher cost:

relatively advanced equipment and technology leads to higher overall costs, which may not be suitable for start-up brands with tight budgets.

Long production cycle:

requires precise control of temperature and time for the printing process, resulting in a relatively long production cycle, which is not conducive to urgent orders requiring quick delivery.

Limited choice of fabrics:

mainly applicable to synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, etc., the application of natural fiber fabrics may not be good.

How to choose the right printing process?

Brand demand and positioning:

First of all, clarify your brand needs and positioning. If the brand pursuit of cost-effective and rapid entry into the market, and the product to the basic style, then screen printing will be a good choice. If the brand focuses on product quality, the pursuit of high-end market and personalized customization, and budget, then sublimation printing will be more able to meet the demand.

Budget and production cycle:

Next, consider the budget and production cycle. Screen printing is highly cost-effective in mass production, but the cost of plate making is high; sublimation printing is more costly, but it can meet the demand for personalization. At the same time, the production cycle of sublimation printing is relatively long, so you need to plan the production time in advance.

Fabric and pattern design:

Finally, the printing process is selected according to the chosen fabric and pattern design. If the product is mainly made of synthetic fabrics, and the pattern design is complex and varied, requiring high color expression, then sublimation printing will be a better choice. If the product is mainly made of natural fiber fabrics, and the pattern design is relatively simple, then screen printing will be more suitable.

To summarize, screen printing and sublimation printing have their own merits, and apparel brands and startups should consider brand demand, budget, production cycle, and fabric and pattern design when choosing. Through reasonable selection and application, the degree of product personalization and brand image can be enhanced, thus standing out in the fierce market competition.

What Can Touches Dark Do for You?

With 17 years of experience in apparel manufacturing, Touches Dark now has a well-established and stable supply chain. If you have already designed your own logo and brand identity for your custom streetwear but are unsure of how to achieve the desired results, Touches Dark will introduce and recommend various processes to meet your customization needs!

As a streetwear manufacturer of dark vintage style streetwear, we have achieved very excellent results in the washing process. Especially the washed vintage T-shirts we have reached 260,000 pieces of sales in June, our fabric is customized and has been tested many times as top breaking force, in addition, our light panel washed sweatshirt now has an average monthly production capacity of 50,000 pieces, the average monthly production capacity of 2023 is at 165,000 pieces, and the monthly sales production capacity of 2024 can reach 200,000 pieces.