Getting Custom Printed Items in Bulk?

Silkscreen printing is an ancient art form that has been perfected for centuries. 

It first started out as the way emperors and other noble or royal people decorated their clothing and other textiles. 

Nowadays, it is known as one of the cheapest printing methods on the market. With the ease of printing and the low cost per item, ordering your custom shirts using silkscreen is the way to go if you need wholesale printing.   

Read on to learn why you should buy silkscreen printed shirts in bulk, plus the difference between screen printing and digital printing.     

Silkscreen vs. digital printing 

It may be hard for the common eye to spot the difference between a shirt that has been printed using silkscreen or digital printing. 

Both methods can now be done using a computer or machine. 

Screen printing is an ancient technique that has been perfected over time with better ink, materials, and tools. 

It is the process of pressing ink through a screen onto fabric using stencils and mesh. 

Screen printing allows for more vibrant coloring and bold designs. 

Since the design is printed in layers, each color having its own stencil, you can often expect to see various levels of texture and depth. 

Digital printing, on the other hand, is relatively new. 

It uses computers and specialized ink to literally print out a design. 

The person designing the shirt simply inputs the design and quantity of shirts, gets the fabric ready, and hits print. 

When it comes to printing one or two shirts at a time, digital printing is typically a better option. 

Digital printing offers the option to do more detailed and multicolored designs than screen printing.

In most cases, though, screen printing is more durable and cost-effective than digital printing. 

On average 20 shirts an hour can be printed using digital printing but 200-300 can be printed per hour with screen printing. 

Benefits of silkscreen printing in bulk 

When using silkscreen printing for bulk orders (usually about 25 or more), most places will offer more discounts. 

This is due to the fact that the cost per item for them decreases as the size of the order increases, because they can reuse the stencils over and over. 

Once the stencils are lined up for the design, it becomes a much easier process to print out a large quantity of shirts. 

Another benefit of screen printing for bulk orders is efficiency. 

Screen printing is great for almost any material or object — metal, shirts, jerseys, tote bags, paper, etc. 

This means you can order a bulk amount of mixed items with the same design and enjoy a lower price than if it was printed digitally.   

Finding the best place for all your printing needs 

When looking for a great place for all of your silkscreen printing needs, do your research. 

Ask family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues where they go for their wholesale printing.   

Search online for several printers to compare pricing and quality. 

Look at the reviews from previous clients and pictures of their finished products. 

Determine the design, colors, and materials you want to use, then talk to the printer about what they can do for you. 

Ask about discounts and pricing for bulk orders. 

Remember, when ordering printed items in bulk, it is often better to get them printed using screen printing due to cost and efficiency.