For all of your printing needs, there is a range of techniques you can consider, with screen printing and digital printing two of the most popular available methods. From designing promotional material such as billboards to labelling new products with creative prints, choosing the right printing method can be a difference maker in terms of the outcome.
At Screen Image, we pride ourselves on being leaders of the print industry, having invested heavily in high-quality machinery and world-class staff members to provide incredible service 24/7. In this article, we discuss both screen prints and digital prints, comparing the key considerations with each to help you make a decision regarding which printing method is best for you.
What is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is a technique that uses a mesh to transfer ink or dye onto a substrate, like self-adhesive vinyl or PVC plastic, except for areas made impenetrable to the ink or dye with a blocking stencil. A squeegee is pushed across the surface in a wide stroke to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke is used to cause the screen to touch the surface temporarily along a line of contact.
The ink wets the surface and is pulled out of the mesh apertures after the squeegee has passed. For multi-coloured images, several screens are used to produce the design. Screen printing can be used for creating bold canvases, billboards, bumper stickers, floor graphics, display stands, and more. This printing method is versatile and affordable, especially when replicating designs several times.
The step-by-step process can be summed up as follows:
- Step 1 – Create a Stencil: First and foremost, a stencil is created on a mesh screen, blocking specific areas that are not to be printed. Various methods can be used to achieve this, including cutting stencils from paper or applying a photo emulsion process.
- Step 2 – Prepare the Screen: Next, the mesh screen is stretched onto a frame and coated with photo-sensitive emulsion, which hardens upon exposure to light, forming the stencil.
- Step 3 – Apply Ink: The ink is then placed on top of the screen.
- Step 4 – Push the Ink Through: A squeegee or blade is used to push the ink through the open areas of the stencil and onto the substrate.
- Step 5 – Repeat for Multiple Colours: To achieve multi-coloured designs, the whole process is repeated with varying stencils and ink colours.
- Step 6 – Drying and Finishing: The printed image is then given time to dry before it is finished further.
What is Digital Printing?
Digital printing is a form of printing where a digital-based image is printed directly to a range of different media. Digital printing generally refers to professional printing where digital sources are printed using large-format and high-volume laser or inkjet printers.
Unlike traditional, analogue printing methods, digital printing methods do not make use of printing plates. Digital printing presses the image directly onto the media substrate instead of using metal plates to transfer an image.
The step-by-step process for digital printing can be summed up as follows:
- Step 1 – Image Creation: The first step is to choose or create a digital image on a computer or mobile device, such as a cell phone or tablet.
- Step 2 – Image Preparation: Next, the image is sized appropriately and set to a print-ready format, optimised for the chosen printing method and material.
- Step 3 – Transfer to Printer: The image is then transferred to the printer, either via Bluetooth, network connectivity, USB or Wi-Fi.
- Step 4 – Printing: The printer then converts it to printable data and sends it to the print head, which contains small nozzles that spray ink onto the print media to recreate the digital image.
- Step 5 – Additional Finishing: Depending on the use, some print jobs may undergo additional finishing processes such as cutting, laminating or binding.
Which is Right For You?
The type of printing technique you decide on depends on a number of factors, such as your print quantity, design complexity, budget, desired finish, and timeline. In this section, we’ll cover a few of the most important considerations to keep in mind.
Cost Comparison
In regards to the costs, screen printing is more affordable for running larger print runs, whereas digital printing is more cost-effective for orders of a smaller quantity. The setup costs for the former are higher than the latter, but the cost per unit decreases the more you order, making it best for higher quantities. For digital prints, there are little to no setup costs, so it’s better for on-demand printing and smaller order quantities.
Materials
The substrate that you plan on printing on should play a key role in your decision, as each printing method offers different material compatibilities. For screen prints, a comprehensive range of materials can be used, such as vinyl, PVC plastic, fibreboard, wood blocks, and more. For digital prints, paper, card stock and vinyl work best, while the more advanced machines can handle materials such as plastics and ceramics. Digital printing is less effective on unusual surfaces and thick materials.
Design Flexibility
In terms of design flexibility, digital printing offers a greater range. With digital printing, it’s easier to print intricate details, full-colour pictures and complicated designs. This printing method is excellent for reproducing fine details, gradients and the subtle colour differences you find in photographs and more complicated designs. A full spectrum of colours can be used, and changes or modifications can be made with ease.
On the other hand, screen printing is best suited for large, bold graphics with solid colours. Don’t fret, though, as when done properly, it can also achieve intricate details, a high standard of resolution and reproduce fine details. The prints are also more durable, as thicker layers of ink bond to the substrate. You also have greater control over the design placement with screen printing.
Turnaround Time
You can expect a much faster turnaround time with digital prints compared to screen prints, particularly when dealing with smaller quantity orders. With digital prints, the job can be completed in just a few hours to a couple of days, while screen print jobs can take around 7-10 business days, depending on the size of the order, the setup, and drying times. For larger orders, screen printing is more efficient once the primary setup is complete, so you don’t have to worry about significantly increased waiting times when increasing the size of your order.
Quality and Durability
In terms of quality, screen printing is incredibly durable. The prints are great for heavy use and frequent cleaning without any of the quality deteriorating. Naturally, this makes screen printing a smart choice for printing on material such as plastic floor coverings, vinyl bumper stickers and plastic banners. The thick layers of ink used more effectively bond it to the surface material, and as a result, the prints are more resistant to fading, wear and tear, and exposure to the elements.
Digital printing, while great at achieving intricate details, may fade faster over time, depending on the substrate and ink used. The ink layers with digital methods are thinner than with screen printing, making it more susceptible to wear and tear, especially with frequent use and washing.
What Services Are Offered By Screen Image?
Screen Image is a full-service printing company with years of experience in the industry, offering services designed to meet all of your branding and creative needs. While we are screen printing specialists, our other services are just as reliable and effective. Here are our key services:
Screen Printing: Our screen print services are among the best in the country. As this method is still seen as the most versatile and durable unaided print medium for commercial use, we’re committed to offering high-quality print jobs for all sorts of purposes. With a comprehensive arsenal of fully automatic cylinder screen printing machines and two multi-colour large format printing machines, we can perform any screen print job that you need. We can print on any flat or semi-flat substrate, from 40gm acid-free tissue paper to 40mm thick super wood blocks.
Large Format Digital: If you need fast turnarounds, our digital print services produce photo-realistic imaging for all kinds of POS displays. We combine our own cutting-edge machinery, which includes cutting features and superb 1440 dpi resolution, with the equipment of our bureau to cover all digital applications, both indoors and out.
Roll Labels: With our hot-foiled roll labels, we can achieve gold, silver and true metallic prints. We can also produce opaque and perfectly consistent flat colours. With up to 9K+ impressions per hour, per machine, our label division has the tools and expertise to meet demanding deadlines while producing high-quality, durable labels that increase the product’s perceived value.
Overprinting: At Screen Image, we are a major force in the Spot UV, rub-removable ink and re-wettable glue markets. We are leading experts in this field, and our production capacity is unmatched in the city.
Why Choose Screen Image?
As a South African business with decades of combined experience, we are committed to an exceptional standard of work ethic and incredible customer service. In an increasingly competitive market, we continue to deliver superb value while working as an integrated supplier with our clients. Not only do we have qualified and hard-working team members, but we have invested significantly in top-of-the-line printing machines to help us meet our clients’ demands. With a dedicated workforce and the best machines on the market, our service is unparalleled in the printing industry.
We may be a small company, but our enormous output capacity means we can compete with anyone and everyone. Every single one of our clients is prioritised, and our flexibility means we can react and redirect on demand, even midway through a job. With experienced and highly skilled team members, we can perform massive print runs as well as one-off jobs and more complex processes where specialists are required.
Our proven track record of high-quality service has helped us build a strong reputation, known for fostering positive relationships with some of the most renowned brands and businesses in South Africa and across the world. No matter what your printing needs are, we have you covered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Final Thoughts
Both screen printing and digital printing are reliable and effective techniques, and understanding the key differences between the two can help you decide on which method is best for your needs. For more durable, long-lasting prints that can survive frequent use, screen printing is likely the way to go. For faster turnarounds and more photorealistic details, digital may be the right option.
Whether it’s screen prints or digital prints that you need, Screen Image can assist. With top-of-the-line equipment and machinery, qualified and experienced staff members, and a reputation for delivering exceptional customer service, we offer creative and branding solutions both locally and abroad.
To learn more or get started on your next print, give us a call at +27 21 510 0488 or visit our website today!