If you’re getting some stickers printed for your business/personal use, selecting the best printing method is primitive. When you know a printing method’s quality beforehand, it saves your resources and time in the long run. Two main procedures used for stickers are digital and screen printing, each with different pros and cons.
Screen printing has been around since 1960, while digital printers came along some 15 years ago; it’s the typical traditional vs. modern battle. If you’re opting for bulk sticker printing, weigh these methods’ advantages/disadvantages and see which one aligns with your goals the most. And if you aren’t sure what to check while deciding on a printing method, we’re here to help. In this quick guide, we’ll explain the difference between screen printing and digital printing so that you know what to expect.
Major differences between digital and screen printing
- Screen printing
Screen printers first create a stencil to copy the design and then make a layered print to give a piece the final look. If you need a sticker for some curved surface, i.e., mugs, a screen printer will create a stencil that fits the desired shape. This adaptability with different items makes screen printing a good option between digital vs. screen printing for the apparel/sticker industry, but it doesn’t align with short-notice orders since the layering process takes time.
- Time-taking process
Once a screen printer sketches a design (called a stencil), it adds colors to the target material step by step. For example, if you need a business card through screen printing, it’ll first make a card-shape stencil, followed by step-by-step color addition. Although screen printers take sufficient time, they never compromise on the quality.
- Layered printing
Layered printing means better durability; you shouldn’t worry about a sticker’s opaqueness if it comes from a screen-printer. When a design’s base is dark-colored, screen printing is ideal for it as it carefully injects different colors, making the final product more vibrant.
- More time and labor costs
If we’re to name one con outweighs all pros of screen printing, it’s the cost factor. Since stencil-making and layering take time, most printers prefer taking big orders for sticker printing. Let’s say you need 100 screen printed business stickers. Firstly, you’ll hardly find a sticker printer offering such a deal. And secondly, it’ll cost you more than getting 100 digitally printed stickers. Therefore, from digital vs. screen printing, prefer the latter for important projects where you cannot afford to risk color-fidelity. For a newer and more affordable printing method, let’s head towards digital printing!
- Digital printing
In this technology era, where everything is digitizing, how can we rely on old-school printing methods? If you need a fast, reliable, and cost-effective sticker printing solution, digital printers are the way to go. The major difference between digital and screen printing is how a print is transferred to the target medium.
A digital printer doesn’t need a stencil to amplify a design to your sticker. Instead, photographic prints are built digitally to copy and paste the final design. Your selected pattern/design is fed to the computer, where its prototype is created according to the lines and shapes. Once the prototype is ready, it’s moved to the fabric/paper surface soon after. Since digital printers copy the entire design in one go, they win at digital vs. screen printing quality and offer better turnout duration.
- Suitable for large batches
When you need hundreds and thousands of stickers, always opt for a computerized option between digital vs. screen printing. Reliable sticker makers offer significant digital printing batches to save your time and resources. After a design is digitized, a digital printer doesn’t need to layer different colors or make stencils to copy the exact pattern. Instead, it will use the digitized design and use it for the remaining batch, no matter the quantity.
- Fine color quality
Although screen printers win at this point in the digital printing vs. screen printing debacle, the difference is not significant. As digital printers copy the whole design in one go, the final product isn’t as vibrant as it’s with screen printers. That’s the reason we recommend you go for digital printing when the quality scale is lenient. But if your product’s base is dark, i.e., a black banner, ask your sticker making company about the solution. We always help our clients to select the best printing solutions, regardless of the purpose.
- Excellent detailing
A digital printer injects a calculated amount of ink to the surface, ensuring your design remains intact. When a digital printer is used for light color fabric/paper, it provides excellent color differentiation. So, if you’re contemplating about digital printing vs. screen printing quality, stop worrying because both are almost the same.
The only major difference between digital and screen printing is the time factor, which is crucial for some campaigns. If you require a speedy turn-around time, choose digital printing. But if you cannot risk quality at any cost, screen printers are always there. Digital printers are ideal for stickers and apparel, as these two require excellent detailing and color differentiation.
Final words
When you plan an important promotional/marketing sticker campaign, know your options beforehand. Selecting the wrong printing medium can disturb your goals and cost a significant sum too. If you aren’t confident about digital printing vs. screen printing, Estickers will resolve your confusion. We assist our clients in choosing cost-effective and high-quality stickers that maintain their mission’s integrity. Let us know why, when, and how many stickers you need, and we’ll guide you about the best solution. So, don’t contemplate, call us at +1300 97 98 99; we got you!