Embroidery vs. Screen Printing: Which is better for Your Business?

Many people like to give a customized and professional touch to their company's uniform or apparel. Adding your own design or logo to any apparel can help set it apart and also give a polished look that lasts. However, the entire process of how to add a design to clothing or fabric can be a bit overwhelming if you don't know what type of printing to opt for.

The debate that comes up every time is whether you should choose embroidery or go with screen printing. Embroidery vs. screen printing has been an age-old debate that no one has been able to resolve to date. While there are benefits to each process, the more you know about each method, the more confident you will be in making your decision on what type of technique to use for adding a design to the apparel.

Let us take a closer look at both these processes to understand which one would serve your purpose better.

What is Embroidery?

Embroidery involves using a needle to create any type of decorative design on fabric using thread and different types of stitches. Embroidery is a very commonly used technique that has been around right from ancient times. In fact, you can even see several glimpses of excellent embroidery work on tapestries done in the Middle Ages. With the help of embroidery, it is possible to stitch a logo or design directly onto the fabric material. The simplest example would be the embroidering of a logo onto the chest area of a polo shirt, which is widely used by many brands to set themselves apart from their competitors.

An embroidered design will protrude slightly from the fabric, and if done correctly, it can be an effective way of setting that apparel apart. While embroidery is traditionally done by hand, today, it is possible to use machines as well to embroider fabrics.

An important factor to keep in mind when opting for embroidery is that this technique is ideally used only for smaller designs since it can be a demanding process when it comes to embroidering larger designs onto a piece of fabric. Embroidery is also an intricate technique, and if it is being done by hand, it may take a lot of time.

What is Screen Printing?

The process of screen printing is used to add a design or logo by transmitting ink with the help of a mesh screen. This makes it possible to transfer even larger designs onto a t-shirt or even bigger areas of fabric. Screen printing is also referred to as silk screening, and this method is typically used with a combination of ink and chemicals, which is why it is preferred to be done by a professional.

Differences between Embroidery and Screen Printing

There are numerous differences between screen printing and embroidery. Understanding the pros and cons of each process will make it easier for you to determine which method will be the best solution for your needs. Let us look at some of these differentiating factors between the two techniques.

1. Cost

Price is definitely a big deciding factor in the embroidery vs. screen printing debate. While there is no special method that can be used to work out the exact price, and you will need to get quotes from different vendors, it is safe to assume that a complex design will, of course, cost more, regardless of which method you select. For example, if there are more colors being used to transfer a screen-printed design, the price will be higher. However, this might not necessarily be the case with embroidery.

Embroidered logos also tend to be expensive, especially if you have a large design that needs to be embroidered. Larger designs, no matter if they are being embroidered or screen printed, will consume more resources and need a lot more time to complete.

And if you are looking to have a large, single-color design transferred onto apparel, using screen printing would be the better and more cost-efficient solution. While the size of the design and the colors involved are just two factors, there are many other things that determine the final cost of an embroidered or screen-printed design. This is why it is always better to ask for quotes from a few different providers. For example, companies like LogoUp provide you with a quote and also suggest which type of method would be best for your budget and design at the earliest.

2. Durability

Durability is also an important factor in deciding which process would be better. Both screens printed and embroidered garments need to be taken care of, primarily during washing, to ensure that they don't get damaged. Generally, though, embroidered designs have longer durability than screen-printed designs.

If you opt for a poorly screen-printed garment, the design will not last forever. Depending on the quality, the design will start to crack, and areas of it may begin to fade in just two-three washes. This is why it is always best to select a high-quality screen printing provider, such as LogoUp.

3. Turnaround Time

If you face a time crunch, then embroidery is the best way ahead. An embroidery pattern can be made very quickly since nowadays, the entire embroidery process is done with the help of computers and machines. This means you get your products sooner than later.

It is a faster process than screen printing since the designs are usually smaller, and there is no need to mix too many colors or have to dry the design after completion.

Conclusion

As you can see, in deciding whether to go ahead with embroidery vs. screen printing, many factors come into play, including the turnaround time, the durability of the product, and the total cost involved. So if you need to only print a small company logo on a work shirt, it is best to go ahead with embroidery. But, if you need a larger design printed that does not use too many colors, it is often easier to use the screen printing method.

Both these methods provide an excellent result, but to get a high-quality output and avoid any issues with the printing process, it is always best to work with a reputable company like LogoUP, an industry leader in embroidered and screen printed products for many years now.