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Screen printing is the most popular and cost-effective method for producing custom apparel at scale. Also known as silkscreen printing, this technique pushes ink through a fine mesh stencil onto your garment — one color at a time — creating bold, vibrant prints that withstand hundreds of washes without cracking, peeling, or fading. At French Press Custom, we run M&R automatic and manual presses — including an M&R Sportsman EX automatic carousel and M&R Chameleon manual press — capable of handling orders from 24 to 10,000+ pieces with consistent quality on every single garment.
Overview
Screen printing (also called silk screening or serigraphy) is a printing technique that dates back over 1,000 years. The modern process uses a woven mesh screen stretched tightly over a frame. A light-sensitive emulsion is applied to the screen and exposed with UV light through a film positive of your design. The areas blocked by the design remain soft and are washed away, creating a stencil. Ink is then forced through the open areas of the mesh onto the garment below using a squeegee. Each color in your design requires a separate screen, which is why screen printing is often described in terms of "color count" — a 3-color design needs 3 screens.
Screen printing is the industry standard for custom apparel because it produces the most vibrant, opaque, and durable prints of any decoration method. The ink sits on top of the fabric (or is absorbed into it, depending on ink type), creating prints that hold up to industrial washing, sun exposure, and years of daily wear. It is the go-to method for t-shirts, hoodies, team uniforms, event merchandise, band merch, corporate apparel, and promotional items.
Types of Screen Printing
We offer multiple screen printing techniques to match your project goals, budget, and desired look.
The most widely used ink in the screen printing industry. Plastisol is a PVC-based ink that sits on top of the fabric, producing thick, vibrant prints with excellent opacity and color saturation. It works on virtually any fabric color (including dark garments) and is extremely durable — prints flex with the fabric and resist cracking even after hundreds of washes. Plastisol is the default choice for most custom apparel orders because of its versatility, predictability, and bold finish.
Water-based inks are absorbed directly into the fabric fibers rather than sitting on top like plastisol. This creates an ultra-soft, "no feel" print that becomes part of the garment itself — you can feel the fabric texture through the print. Water-based inks are eco-friendly (no PVC or phthalates) and produce a vintage, worn-in look that is extremely popular for fashion brands, streetwear, and retail-quality apparel. They work best on light-colored, 100% cotton garments.
Discharge ink is a water-based product that contains an activator which removes (or "discharges") the dye from the fabric, replacing it with the ink color. The result is an incredibly soft print on dark garments — the ink is literally in the fabric, not on top of it. Discharge works by bleaching the garment dye and replacing it simultaneously, so the print feels like nothing is there. This is the go-to technique for premium streetwear and fashion-forward brands that want super-soft prints on dark tees.
Puff ink is a specialty plastisol ink that contains a foaming agent. When heated during the curing process, the ink expands and rises off the garment, creating a raised 3D texture. Puff printing adds a tactile, premium dimension to your designs — logos and text literally pop off the shirt. It has become extremely popular in streetwear and fashion printing for its eye-catching texture. Puff ink can be combined with standard plastisol for mixed-dimension designs.
Foil transfers create a shiny, reflective metallic surface on your garment. A special adhesive is screen printed onto the fabric, then metallic foil is heat-pressed on top. The foil bonds to the adhesive areas, creating a mirror-like finish that catches light beautifully. Standard colors include gold and silver, but we also offer rose gold, copper, holographic, and custom colors. Foil printing is perfect for adding a premium, luxury feel to merchandise and event apparel.
Process printing (also called CMYK or four-color process) uses just four ink colors — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — printed as tiny halftone dots that blend together to reproduce photographic images and complex gradients. Simulated process printing extends this technique by using 6-8 spot colors (instead of CMYK) to achieve even more vibrant results on dark garments. Both methods allow you to print photo-realistic images, detailed illustrations, and designs with unlimited apparent colors using a limited number of screens.
Beyond standard techniques, we offer a range of specialty screen printing inks for unique effects. Glow-in-the-dark ink charges under light and glows in darkness — great for concerts and events. Metallic ink contains fine metal particles for a shimmering finish. Reflective ink bounces light back (like road signs) for safety wear and activewear. High-density ink creates a thick, raised rubber-like print. Suede ink produces a soft, velvety texture. Each specialty ink can be combined with standard printing for creative mixed-media designs.
Ideal For
Our Process
From artwork submission to finished product — here is exactly what happens when you order screen printing from French Press Custom.
We review your design file and prepare it for screen printing. Vector artwork (AI, EPS, PDF) is ideal. If your art needs adjustments — color separations, resizing, or converting to print-ready format — our prepress team handles it. Each ink color is separated into its own layer for individual screen creation.
Each color in your design gets its own mesh screen. We coat the screen with light-sensitive emulsion, place your film positive on top, and expose it to UV light. The emulsion hardens everywhere except where your design blocks the light. We wash away the soft emulsion, leaving a precise stencil of your artwork.
Our ink technicians mix inks to match your exact Pantone color specifications. Screens are loaded onto our M&R press — our Sportsman EX automatic for production runs or Chameleon manual for specialty jobs — and aligned with micro-registration adjustments so every color lands perfectly. Test prints are pulled and approved before production begins.
Garments are loaded onto platens one at a time. The M&R press rotates through each color station — one squeegee pass per color, with flash curing between colors to prevent smearing. Our M&R Sportsman EX automatic press prints up to 700 garments per hour with consistent pressure, ink deposit, and registration on every single piece.
Printed garments pass through a conveyor dryer at 320°F to fully cure the ink. Under-curing causes wash-out; over-curing can scorch fabric. We use temperature strips and infrared guns to verify proper cure on every run. Each garment is inspected for color accuracy, print alignment, ink coverage, and garment defects.
Finished garments are folded, counted, sorted by size, and packed for shipping. We offer add-on finishing services including custom tag printing, woven label sewing, hang tags, individual polybagging, and size sticker labeling. Your order ships via UPS or your preferred carrier.
See Our Work
Real photos from our production floor in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Every project is printed in-house with our professional equipment.
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Challenger II
Automatic Press
18-color automatic carousel
M&R Oversize
Automatic Press
12-color oversize automatic press
M&R Sportsman EX
Automatic Press
10-color automatic carousel
M&R Sportsman EX
Automatic Press
6-color automatic carousel
M&R Rapid Tag
Automatic Press
High-speed tagless label printing
M&R Chameleon
Manual Press
6-color manual for specialty runs
M&R Conveyor Dryer
Curing
Gas-fired conveyor for full-cure plastisol
Exposure Unit
Screen Burning
UV LED exposure for precise screen imaging
Compatible Products
Screen Printing works on a wide range of garments and products. Here are the most popular items our customers order.
Transparent Pricing
We believe in upfront, honest pricing. Here are typical price ranges — get an exact quote for your specific project.
| Quantity | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 12-24 pcs | $8.50 - $14/pc |
| 25-49 pcs | $7 - $11/pc |
| 50-99 pcs | $6 - $9/pc |
| 100-249 pcs | $4.50 - $7.50/pc |
| 250-499 pcs | $3.50 - $6/pc |
| 500-999 pcs | $3 - $5/pc |
| 1,000+ pcs | $2.50 - $4/pc |
Prices are per-piece decoration cost and vary by number of ink colors, print locations, and ink type. Blank garments are additional. Setup fees apply for new designs. Exact pricing provided in your free quote.
Project Spotlights
See how we've helped businesses like yours with custom screen printing.
Construction Company — Downey, CA
The Challenge
A growing construction company needed consistent, durable branded workwear across multiple crews. Previous vendors delivered inconsistent Pantone colors between orders and prints cracked after a few washes in the field.
Our Solution
Set up a recurring screen printing program with saved screens, locked Pantone formulas, and plastisol ink for maximum durability. Built a reorder template so each quarterly batch matches the last exactly.
Results
“My experience exceeds all standards. The pricing is equal to or lower than competitors and the quality of printing is excellent.”
— Michael T., Downey, CA
High School Booster Club — Whittier, CA
The Challenge
A high school booster club needed 800 spirit week shirts in 4 grade-level colors with a 5-color front print. Their previous printer missed the deadline and delivered faded, off-center prints.
Our Solution
Ran all 4 color variants on our M&R automatic press simultaneously — separate screen setups for each garment color to prevent dye bleed. Custom Pantone matching to the school's exact brand colors. Dedicated QC on every 50th shirt.
Results
“We needed 800 shirts in 3 days and they delivered every single one on time. The colors were spot-on and the print quality was way better than our old vendor.”
— Lisa P., Whittier, CA
Craft Brewery — Long Beach, CA
The Challenge
A craft brewery wanted premium-feel merch for their taproom — soft, vintage-style prints on Comfort Colors garments. Standard plastisol prints felt too heavy and plastic-like for the retro aesthetic they wanted.
Our Solution
Used discharge ink to remove the garment dye and replace it with the design color, creating ultra-soft prints with zero hand feel. Water-based overprint for accent colors. Printed on Comfort Colors 1717 for that lived-in vintage look.
Results
“The discharge prints are incredible — customers can't believe they're screen printed. It feels like the design is dyed into the shirt. Our merch practically sells itself now.”
— Jake W., Long Beach, CA
Event Production Company — Los Angeles, CA
The Challenge
A Los Angeles event production company needed 1,200 volunteer crew shirts for a 3-day music festival in DTLA. Six department colors, each with a 4-color front logo and 1-color back "CREW" print. Tight 5-day deadline after final headcount confirmation.
Our Solution
Pre-burned screens while waiting for final counts, then ran all 6 colorways back-to-back on the automatic press. Dual-station setup for simultaneous front and back printing. Boxed by department color for easy on-site distribution.
Results
“We gave them the final numbers on Monday and had 1,200 perfect shirts by Friday. Sorted by department, boxed, and ready to hand out. They're our go-to for every LA event now.”
— Marcus J., Los Angeles, CA
Honest Assessment
Every decoration method has strengths and trade-offs. Here is an honest breakdown to help you decide.
Head-to-Head
Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right method for your project.
| Screen Printing | DTG Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Quantity | 50-10,000+ pieces | 1-100 pieces |
| Color Limit | Up to 18 per location | Unlimited |
| Setup Cost | $25/screen | None |
| Cost at 100 pcs | $4.50-7.50/pc | $7-11/pc |
| Durability | Excellent (100+ washes) | Very good (50+ washes) |
| Hand Feel | Medium (plastisol) to soft (discharge) | Soft |
| Fabric Types | Cotton, poly, blends | Cotton/high-cotton blends only |
Still not sure? Tell us about your project and we'll recommend the best method for you.
Customer Reviews
Real reviews from verified customers on Yelp and Google — here's what they say about our screen printing.
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Related Articles
Learn more about screen printing with these in-depth articles from our blog.
Compare screen printing and DTG printing side by side. Learn which method delivers better quality, cost, and durability for your custom apparel project.
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Learn how to prepare print-ready artwork for screen printing. File formats, resolution, color separation, and common mistakes to avoid. Free artwork tips.
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Learn the differences between plastisol, water-based, discharge, and puff screen printing inks. Which ink type is best for your custom apparel project?
7 min readFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about screen printing at French Press Custom.
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