Whilst digital printing is an exciting and continuously developing technology, screen printing is still a superior process depending on the material you’re using and the end result you want to achieve.
We work with both semi-automated machinery and manual hand-benches to combine many years of real experience with modern screen print production techniques. This allows us to realise all screen printing designs.
On this page we'll explain the screen printing process in detail; tracing its origins and evolution, as well as its advantages and disadvantages alike. We'll also provide our take on the screen printing vs digital printing debate, helping you settle on a preferred method.
From simple ink on paper for billboard posters, right though to multiple colours in the most demanding array of layered colour industrial overlays, we can work with you to screen print your needs.
Our screen printing process is incredibly flexible, and there is very little that we cannot screen print. Industrial labelling is a speciality of ours, and we've been manufacturing high quality labelling for over 30 years.
The following are all examples of products and materials that can be screen printed...
The enduring appeal of screen printing is testament to its quality, versatility and reliability. A process that originated in China as far back as the Song Dynasty era (960-1279 AD), serigraphy - as it is otherwise known - has evolved to transcend continents and generations alike and remain the most popular method of print for a host of commercial and retail applications.
Screen printing gained significant traction in Asia long before Western Europe cottoned onto its potential in the late 18th century, and even then the phenomenon only truly began to make waves once silk mesh became more readily available through Eastern trade routes.
Three researchers credited with dragging printing methods kicking and screaming into the modern era are Roy Beck, Charles Peter and Edward Owens. Between them this trio experimented with chromic acid salt sensitised emulsions for photo-reactive stencils. Sound intense? It was. Nevertheless the triumvirate introduced photo-imaged stencils to the world, paving the way for the screen printing process as we now know it.
Mancunian Samuel Simon had the foresight to see where things were heading. He was granted an English patent covering screen printing in 1907.
Technological advancement meanwhile was such that by the 1930s distinctions could be made between artistic (serigraphy) and industrial variations and before long the sheer versatility of screen printing spawned mass production.
Movie posters, t-shirts, flyers, record covers, signage and more were all birthed and marketing methods the world over transformed.
Groundbreaking art and artists furthered the appeal. Andy Warhol popularised the technique, adopting Marilyn Monroe as his model of choice when creating a now iconic canvass in 1962.
Inspired by her untimely death, Warhol produced the Marilyn Dipytych – 50 images of the American actress, half of which are brightly coloured, the other much darker and hinting at sinister connotations.
In 2004 Warhol’s masterpiece was ranked third in a Guardian poll of the most influential art ever created.
He’s not the only creative to make his name on the back of screen printing designs however. The likes of Steve Harrington, Cody Hudson, and Deanne Checuk bring modernity to an age old method. Why? Because the process allows for imagination and experimentation, something they cherish. More and more designers are harking back to this approach, drawn to the uniqueness of the end product.
Refreshingly, perhaps reassuringly, mistakes and imperfections often add to the originality of a piece meaning nothing is ever lost.
Another attraction is the opportunity for artists to sell multiple limited edition prints without that big an overhead. 300+ years into the game, screen printing is certainly here to stay. And according to IBIS World study in 2012 it's actually ‘booming’.
Those new to the industry are often left wondering what the difference are between screen versus digital printing, or whether there’s a difference at all.
As highlighted above screen printing is a traditional method that involves stencilling and the application of layers of ink onto a selected print surface. By contrast, digital printing is far newer and utilises a computer to process the artwork slated for print. Consideration should be given to what images are suitable for screen printing and which would lend themselves to the newer of the two processes.
Indeed much of the work traditionally associated with screen printing designs can now be realised digitally.
In fact items that necessitate high amounts of detail are perhaps better delivered in this fashion. The absence of a screen facilitates photographic print and with it sharper images. Shorter runs meanwhile are also possible due to digital’s economic viability. Whereas before the sheer effort of setting up screens almost demanded printing in bulk, digital enables a single item to be created with minimum fuss.
Another key differentiator is the fineness of inks deployed. Thinner types are associated with digital prints, thus generating the aforementioned extra detail. Unsurprisingly, thicker alternatives are found in screen printing designs, though this has been known to produce brighter colours on even dark backgrounds.
Given the information shared above it will come as no surprise to learn that one of the primary applications of screen printing designs is in the textile industry. Put simply, the method uses more ink than other printing processes – such as digital. Moreover that ink is pushed into the fibres of fabrics, creating a longer lifespan for clothing in particular. Designs, patterns, slogans and more can be realised and the likes of t-shirts, hoodies and dresses brought to market. Those wanting to produce big quantities meanwhile benefit from relatively low prices.
Block colour designs with text are widespread across the tourism industry also. Screen printing’s flexibility essentially allows you to print onto anything at a reasonable rate. Market stalls tap into that, stocking the likes of bags, hats, coasters, flags and more in a bid to attract holidaymakers. The versatility afforded here is simply not possible by other means.
Elsewhere overlays and fascias are commonplace in the electronic and automotive sectors. You will see examples on the likes of control panel covers. Though digital printing is very much an option for producing such materials screen printing is better suited for specific and/or varying textures. What’s more complex shapes, clear windows and even anti-glare coatings can be created this way, guaranteeing legibility.
Finally window displays are often reliant on screen printing methods. Bright colours are better realised, while clear and opaque window decals prove durable if created in this manner. Think office space, storefront’s and more. Screen printing helps companies market without haemorrhaging funds.
