Home-Based vs. Commercial Screen Printing

There are myriads of sites online that tell you how to screen print at home.  And why not?  In this information age, why shouldn’t we all be experts at everything?  After all, if you want to learn how to do something, you needn’t look any further than YouTube for the most comprehensive tutorials on everything from extreme martial arts to transforming a dilapidated school bus into a luxury motor home.  But is screen printing really something that you should be attempting at home, on your own?

The first thing to consider is the cost of printing at home.  Aside from the cost of the shirts that you will be printing on, you will also need to buy a press.  Although there are some inexpensive presses out there, a good quality one can cost you anywhere from four hundred to over a thousand dollars.  If you plan on printing on a regular basis or starting your own screen printing business, then this may not seem like much of an investment.  But if you just want some shirts for a vacation or celebration, then you may want to reconsider printing at home. 

A second consideration is the time required to print at home.  Unlike commercial machines, most home-based machines are set up to print just one shirt at a time.  Once you cut out each design, place it where you want it, then apply the press, you may be looking at a substantial time investment depending on the number of shirts that you are trying to print.  Consider your busy schedule and make sure that you have the time necessary to complete the task.

Thirdly, the artistic value of your shirts should be something that you put a lot of thought into.  It can be tempting to take the easy road and use someone else’s design for you shirts.  But consider this: if you’re taking the time to actually have shirts done, this means that your event must be something that you care about.  Otherwise you wouldn’t be putting in this time, money, and effort.  So if this event is so important to you, don’t you think it at least deserves a unique design that fully encapsulates the magnitude of the event?

I thought so.

Although it can be tempting to print your shirts at home, especially if you’re the mythical do-it-yourselfer, you should definitely consider the merits of having a reputable screen printing company take on the task for you.  A great screen printing company will make sure that your product is the best quality that it can be.  Thanks to bulk buying and pricing, you may even save money over doing it yourself.  You shirts will be done quickly and accurately.  Most importantly, any screen printing company worth their salt will have an artist on staff that will help you create an original logo or design that will help you recall your event with accuracy and fondness for years to come.  When it comes to a skill like screen printing, will you trust a reputable company or a YouTube tutorial?  The choice is yours.

If you would like some pros to handle your screen printing task, give us a call. We've been doing this since 1996.

Advanced Impressions

4680 Edison Avenue, Suite J
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
(719) 637-2513

www.youhaveanimage.com