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Underground Printing Underground Printing
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Screen printing, also referred to as silk screen printing, is a highly versatile and widely utilized printing technique that has been around for many decades. This method involves a meticulous and layered process to create vivid and long-lasting prints on a variety of surfaces. A central component of screen printing is the creation of a stencil, historically made from silk, though nowadays, polyester or nylon screens are more common due to their durability. This stencil, which is often referred to as the screen, defines the image or design to be printed. To apply the ink, the screen is carefully positioned over the substrate, be it fabric, paper, plastic, glass, metal, or even wood. Then, a squeegee is used to force ink through the open areas of the stencil, transferring the desired image onto the surface below.

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Stock Ink Colors

Black
White
Cool Gray 4 C
Cool Gray 7 C
Cool Gray 10 C
Pink 1767 C
Charity Pink 210 C
Neon Pink 806 C
Hot Pink 225 C
Magenta 2062 C
Red 186 C
Deep Red 200 C
Cardinal 201 C
Maroon 195 C
Burgundy 7645 C
Team Orange 151 C
Orange 172 C
Burnt Orange 158 C
Lemon 100 C
Yellow C
Gold 123 C
Athletic Gold 1235 C
Maize Yellow 7406 C
Old Gold 1265 C
Vibrant Green 375 C
Neon Green 802 C
Green 361 C
Grass Green 335 C
Kelly 349 C
Forest 350 C
Chrome 567 C
Teal 7717 C
Turquoise 2396 C
Baby Blue 283 C
Sky Blue 2925 C
Blue 2384 C
Azure 293 C
Royal 654 C
Navy 540 C
Michigan Navy 282 C
Deep Navy 539 C
Lavender 2577 C
Vibrant Purple 266 C
Purple 7679 C
Plum 2623 C
Antique Off-White C
Tan 7499 C
Apricot 149 C
Sand 728 C
Brown 1615 C
Gold Shimmer 871 C
Silver Shimmer 877 C

What sets screen printing apart is its suitability for producing bold and uncomplicated designs in bulk. It excels at creating vibrant and long-lasting prints with rich, opaque colors. This makes it the preferred choice for a wide range of applications, including custom apparel like t-shirts and hoodies, posters, banners, signage, and promotional products such as tote bags and drinkware. The versatility of screen printing allows for printing on both flat and contoured surfaces, making it adaptable for various artistic and commercial purposes. However, it's worth noting that screen printing can be less efficient and cost-effective for intricate, multi-colored designs and small print runs compared to other printing methods like digital printing. Despite this, it remains a go-to choice for projects requiring high-quality and enduring prints.

Price Factors

Type of Garment
For almost every product type we have an inexpensive, mid-range, and high end option, and there are many styles to choose from - not just t-shirts!

Quantity Ordered
Due to the setup involved in screen printing, the more shirts you order, the lower your price will be as you pass price break points.

Number of Locations Printed
Each location requires new setup and runs for your imprint. A front print only will always be cheaper than a front and back print.

Number of Colors on Each Design
The number of colors in each design affects the run time and setup for each location. A one color print will be less expensive than a three color print. If you have a lot of colors and tones of colors in your design, a process print may be a cheaper solution.

In-Hands Date
Orders are produced on-demand for your due date. Garments needed in a few days from your order placement date will be more expensive than those needed in a few weeks.

Compare Methods

Screen Printing

Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Limited number of print colors, dependent on design.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Print has very high durability, lasting through more washes than other methods.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Most cost-effective for medium to large sized orders (1-6 print colors).
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Great print feel when using dark color inks. Good breathability with light color inks and large ink coverage.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Certain colors and synthetic materials not recommended, ask our team for more information.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Print colors typically appear very vibrant upon printing.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Special Features: Limited Glow-in-the-Dark ink.

Digital Printing

Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Great for photos and realistic images. Digital Printing (DTG) works for full color designs (10+ colors).
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
High print durability, less durable than water-based inks seen in Screen Printing.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Most cost-effective for 1-5 piece orders featuring 1 to full color prints.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Print feel is great, soft and breathable.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Synthetic materials not recommended. DTG is best for 100% cotton apparel.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Vibrancy is muted, best for full color images and pictures.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
No specialty prints or inks.

Heat Transfer

Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Great for full-color prints, especially with vibrant colors. Can be done with 10+ colors.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Very high print durability.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Most cost-effective for mid-sized orders (4 to full color prints).
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Great print feel.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
A great option for synthetic materials.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Print colors appear very vibrant.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Special Features: Foil, Glitter, Puff, and more.

Embroidery

Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
84 thread colors available.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Very high print durability.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Most cost-effective for medium to large sized orders.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Typical embroidered print feel.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
A great option for synthetic materials.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
Print colors appear very vibrant.
Black and white logo of a screen printing press from above with the letters 'UGP' in a pinwheel design.
No specialty prints or threads.

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