What's Best: Embroidered Logo or Screen Printing
When creating customized clothing, you have two branding options: screen printing or embroidery. Each has its own benefits and unique traits, which you should consider carefully when determining which one best meets your needs. Understanding what to expect from each can greatly help with your decision. Here’s a brief rundown.
What is Screen Printing?
The screen-printing technique involves applying ink to a substrate. What’s a substrate? Basically, anything that can accept and hold the ink. Examples include T-shirts, canvas tote bags, pens, yard signs, and mugs, but the list goes on. The technique is called screen printing because it involves creating a mesh screen with a stencil for every color used in the design. Then, the ink is pushed through the screen onto the substrate, such as a custom logo mugs. The price of screen printing a project is typically based on the number of colors needed to create the logo or design, as well as the number of items (substrates) being printed.
What is Embroidery?
Embroidery involves stitching a thread into a product to create the logo. The result is typically a more professional look than screen printing and tends to also be more durable. Corporate apparel, custom hats, and golf shirts are all examples of items that can be embroidered. The price depends upon factors including the type of embroidery machine being used. For example, some have multiple heads that can embroider several pieces simultaneously. The overhead cost might be a little bit more, and that will be passed down to you when you place your order, but these machines typically save you money in the long run if you are embroidering a large number of items. The pricing also depends on the number of stitches in your logo.
Pros of Embroidery
Embroidery is a classy way to customize your corporate apparel and promotional items because people tend to associate embroidered products with something that’s handmade. The result is a clean look that makes your logo tangible. Unlike paint or ink, embroidery doesn’t fade, so if you’re washing it over and over again, it is likely to hold up better than a screen-printed piece of clothing.
Cons of Embroidery
Embroidery tends to be more expensive than screen printing. Also, not every logo can be exactly replicated using embroidery because it is difficult to duplicate shading when using threads instead of paint. In those instances, the logo needs to be altered before proceeding with the embroidery job. Lastly, small text can be difficult to read when it is embroidered, so you’ll need to consider your logo size when choosing between embroidery and screen printing.
Pros of Screen Printing
Although the ink may not last as long as thread, screen printing does last a long time. And, unlike embroidery, screen printing can be used with lots of materials, such as custom pens with logo, caps, or anything with a solid, flat surface. You can also create a detailed design that has gradients and shading, which is useful if you have a very detailed logo. Also, screen printing is generally less expensive than embroidery. Distressed looks can also be achieved with screen printing, but not embroidery.
Cons of Screen Printing
While the versatility of screen printing allows it to be used on a variety of objects, it won’t work with fuzzy or really thick fabric. So you might want to stick with embroidery for something like a blanket or fleece jacket. Screen printing also takes a little longer since a customized screen needs to be created with an image of your logo before any printing can commence. Once you have that created, however, the screen printer should be able to quickly process future orders.
There are benefits to both screen printing and embroidery for customizing your corporate promotional products. You’ll have to factor in the types of products you anticipate creating and the type of look you want it to have. For example, if you’re looking for printed T-shirts for your corporate softball league, screen printing is likely the way to go. In contrast, if you’re interested in embroidered business uniforms for your employees and want them to not only be durable but also have a more polished look, embroidery might be best. Although the price does matter, investing in whatever look you’re trying to achieve can pay off in the end. After all, these products will represent your brand, and you want to get some return on investment, so pick a look that represents you the best.