Good to know
What is the difference between screen printing and embroidery?
The short answer
Screen printing presses ink through a stencil onto the fabric. It suits T-shirts, large designs, and larger orders. Embroidery stitches your logo into the garment with thread. It has a raised, textured look and suits polos, jackets, and hats. The garment and the artwork usually decide it.
How each one works
Screen printing pushes ink through a fine mesh screen onto the fabric. Each color in the design gets its own screen, and the colors go down one at a time. The result is a smooth, bold layer of ink on the surface of the shirt.
Embroidery is done by a machine that stitches the design into the garment with colored thread. First the artwork is turned into a stitch file, a step called digitizing, which tells the machine where every stitch goes.
Side by side
The same logo comes out very differently in ink and in thread.
| Screen printing | Embroidery | |
|---|---|---|
| Made with | Ink | Thread |
| Look and feel | Flat, smooth, bold | Raised, textured, tailored |
| At home on | T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags | Polos, jackets, hats |
| Handles well | Large designs and big solid areas | Small logos on a chest or a cap front |
| Struggles with | Thick or heavily textured fabric | Tiny lettering, fine lines, color fades |
What your logo needs
Thread is thicker than a line of ink. Very small lettering, thin lines, and gradual fades from one color to another don't stitch cleanly, so a logo is sometimes simplified for embroidery: small type made larger or left off, a fade turned into solid colors.
Screen printing holds finer detail and can cover a whole shirt front or back. Each added ink color adds a screen, so designs with a few solid colors are where it is strongest.
Either way, a vector file is the best place to start.
Other ways a logo goes on
They are not the only two. Direct to film gives sharp detail and full color for complex artwork, on a wide range of fabrics. Heat transfers are good for small batches, and for individual names and numbers.
Tell us what it's going on and we'll recommend the one that fits your artwork, the fabric, and your budget.
Questions
More about decorating apparel
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EXCELLENT4.9 from 58 Google reviews, rated 4.9 out of 5. Opens our Google Business profile in a new tabWhich one lasts longer?
Both are made to last. Embroidery is stitched in, so there is no ink to crack or fade. A well-made screen print stays bold wash after wash. Following the care label matters more than the method.
Can a T-shirt be embroidered?
It can, but thin, stretchy T-shirt fabric can pucker around dense stitching. A small, light design works better than a large one. For most T-shirts, printing is the better fit.
Can a polo or a jacket be screen printed?
Often, yes. Smooth fabrics print well. Heavily textured fabric, such as a piqué polo or fleece, can break up fine detail, which is one reason those are usually embroidered.
Why does my logo look a little different embroidered?
Thread can't make every shape ink can. Very small type, thin lines, and fades are adjusted so the logo stitches cleanly. You'll see how it will look on the proof before anything is made.
What is digitizing?
Turning artwork into a stitch file an embroidery machine can follow: where each stitch goes, in which direction, and in which color of thread. It is done once for a design, and the file can be used again on later orders.
How many colors can my design have?
In screen printing every color is a separate screen, so most designs use one to a few. In embroidery every color is a separate thread, and most logos use a handful. For photographs or many colors, ask about direct to film.
What about hats?
Hats are usually embroidered, on the front panel. The curve and the seam limit how tall the design can be.
Also worth a look
Not sure which fits your logo?
Tell us what it's going on and send the logo. You'll see a proof before anything is made.