Custom Screen Printing in Canada
Professional silk screen printing services for custom t-shirts, hoodies, jerseys, and apparel. Canada's largest online custom apparel company.
What Is Screen Printing?
Screen printing (also called silk screening) is the most popular method for printing custom designs on apparel, especially for bulk orders. This versatile printing technique uses a mesh screen to transfer ink onto fabric through stencilled designs, creating vibrant, durable prints that can withstand hundreds of washes.
At T-Shirt Elephant, we've been perfecting our screen printing process since 2012, making us Canada's largest online custom apparel company. Our state-of-the-art equipment and experienced team of 75+ professionals ensure every order meets our exacting quality standards.
How Screen Printing Works
The screen printing process begins with creating a mesh screen for each colour in your design. These screens act like stencils, ink passes through the open areas of the mesh onto your garment, while blocked areas prevent ink from reaching the fabric. This method allows for precise colour placement and consistent results across large production runs.
Each screen is made from fine polyester mesh stretched tightly over an aluminum frame. The mesh count (threads per inch) varies depending on the detail level and ink type being used. Fine detail work requires higher mesh counts, while bold designs use lower mesh counts for better ink coverage.
Screen Printing Inks
We offer several ink types to achieve different effects on your custom apparel:
Plastisol Inks
Plastisol ink is our most popular choice for custom t-shirts and hoodies. These PVC-based inks sit on top of the fabric, creating vibrant colours with excellent opacity. Plastisol inks are perfect for cotton garments and provide superior durability and colour vibrancy.
Water-Based Inks
Water-based inks absorb into the fabric fibres, creating a softer feel than plastisol. These eco-friendly inks are ideal for vintage looks and light-coloured garments. Water-based printing works exceptionally well on premium t-shirts and organic cotton apparel.
Discharge Inks
Discharge printing removes the garment's dye and replaces it with new colour, creating incredibly soft prints that feel like part of the fabric. This technique works best on 100% cotton garments and creates unique vintage effects.
Design Considerations
Screen printing works best with vector-based designs that have distinct colour separations. Each colour in your design requires its own screen, so simpler designs with fewer colours are more cost-effective for large runs. However, we also offer simulated process printing for complex, photorealistic designs.
Our design team can help optimise your artwork for screen printing, ensuring the best possible results on your chosen garments. We work with everything from simple one-colour logos to complex multi-colour designs.
Quality Control
Every screen-printed order goes through rigorous quality control. We check ink coverage, colour accuracy, registration (alignment), and print durability. Our team inspects each garment before packaging to ensure it meets our high standards.
Screen printing has been the backbone of the custom apparel industry for decades, and for good reason. It combines exceptional durability, vibrant colours, and cost-effectiveness for bulk orders, making it the preferred choice for custom t-shirts in Toronto, Vancouver, and across Canada.
Screen Printing Ink Types
Choose the perfect ink for your project. Each type offers unique benefits for different applications and fabric types.
Plastisol Ink
Our most popular ink choice. PVC-based plastisol inks create vibrant, opaque colours that sit on top of the fabric. Perfect for cotton garments with excellent durability and wash resistance. Learn more
Water-Based Ink
Eco-friendly inks that absorb into fabric fibres for an ultra-soft feel. Ideal for vintage looks and light-coloured garments. Creates a breathable, comfortable print that becomes part of the fabric. Learn more
Discharge Ink
Removes the garment's original dye and replaces it with new colour. Creates incredibly soft prints with a vintage feel. Works best on 100% cotton dark garments for unique, artistic effects. Learn more
Our Screen Printing Process
From artwork to finished product, here's how we create your custom apparel with precision and quality.
Artwork Preparation
Your design is converted to print-ready format with proper colour separations. Our design team optimises artwork for the best screen printing results.
Screen Creation
We create a mesh screen for each colour in your design. Screens are coated with photo-sensitive emulsion and exposed using your artwork as a stencil.
Registration Setup
Multiple screens are precisely aligned on our printing press to ensure perfect colour registration and consistent placement across all garments.
Ink Mixing
Inks are custom mixed to match your exact colours. We can match Pantone colours for brand consistency and colour accuracy.
Printing
Each garment is loaded onto the press and ink is pushed through the screens using a squeegee. Multiple passes may be needed for full coverage.
Curing & Quality Control
Printed garments are cured in our conveyor dryer to permanently set the ink. Each piece is inspected for quality before packaging and shipping.
Best Garments for Screen Printing
Screen printing works exceptionally well on a wide variety of fabrics and garment types. Here are our top recommendations for the best screen printing results:
Fabric Types
- 100% Cotton: The gold standard for screen printing. Excellent ink adhesion and durability. Popular choices include the Gildan 5000 and Bella Canvas 3001.
- Cotton Blends: 50/50 cotton-polyester blends offer softness and durability with good print quality.
- 100% Polyester: Works well with plastisol inks, though special low-temperature inks may be required.
- Tri-blends: Cotton-polyester-rayon blends provide a premium feel and excellent print results.
Popular Product Categories
Custom T-Shirts
Our most popular screen printing option. Perfect for events, teams, and promotional items.
Custom Hoodies
Excellent canvas for large designs. Screen printing provides durability for frequent washing.
Custom Jerseys
Sports jerseys benefit from screen printing's durability and vibrant team colours.
Sweatshirts
Heavy cotton sweatshirts are ideal for screen printing with excellent print adhesion.
Hats
While embroidery is common, screen printing works well for certain hat styles and designs.
Who Uses Screen Printing?
Sports Teams
Durable prints for team uniforms, practice gear, and fan merchandise. Screen printing withstands frequent washing and heavy use.
Corporate Events
Professional branded apparel for trade shows, company events, and employee uniforms. Consistent results across large quantities.
Events & Festivals
Commemorate special events with custom apparel. Cost-effective for large runs and creates lasting memories.
Merchandise
Retail-quality printing for band merch, branded apparel lines, and promotional products. Professional results at scale.
Schools & Universities
Student organisation apparel, school spirit wear, and graduation commemoratives. Durable prints for active students.
Nonprofits
Awareness campaigns, volunteer apparel, and fundraising merchandise. Cost-effective for charitable organisations.
Why Choose Screen Printing?
Exceptional Durability
Screen printed designs can withstand hundreds of washes without fading, cracking, or peeling. Perfect for items that will see heavy use.
Vibrant Colours
Achieve bright, opaque colours that pop off the fabric. Excellent colour saturation and the ability to match exact Pantone colours.
Cost-Effective for Volume
The more you print, the lower the per-piece cost. Ideal for large orders, team uniforms, and promotional campaigns.
Fast Production
Once screens are created, printing is rapid and efficient. Perfect for rush orders and large quantities with quick turnaround times.
Screen Printing vs Other Methods
Compare screen printing with other popular decoration methods to choose the best option for your project.
| Method | Best For | Durability | Detail Level | Colour Options | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Printing | Large orders, simple designs | Excellent | Good | Unlimited (spot colours) | Slightly raised |
| DTG Printing | Small orders, photo prints | Good | Excellent | Full colour | Soft |
| DTF Printing | Dark garments, small batches | Very Good | Very Good | Full colour | Slightly raised |
| Embroidery | Professional logos, hats | Excellent | Good | Limited thread colours | Textured/raised |
| Heat Transfer | Single pieces, names/numbers | Good | Very Good | Wide range | Varies |
| Sublimation | All-over prints, polyester | Excellent | Excellent | Full colour | Part of fabric |
Screen printing prices in Canada, as the design tool charges them
Screen printing is priced per print location and ink colour, with a one-time $25 screen setup per colour per location spread over the order. There is no minimum order: under 12 shirts the design tool prints the job as full-colour DTF instead, which is why this ladder starts at 12. Every product page quotes your exact price as you design.
Screen print per location
| Shirts | 1 colour | 3 colours | 6 colours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–19 | $12.00 | $12.50 | $13.25 |
| 20–24 | $11.00 | $11.50 | $12.25 |
| 25–49 | $10.00 | $10.50 | $11.25 |
| 50–74 | $8.00 | $8.50 | $9.25 |
| 75–99 | $7.00 | $7.50 | $8.25 |
| 100–124 | $6.50 | $7.00 | $7.75 |
| 125–149 | $6.25 | $6.75 | $7.50 |
| 150–199 | $5.75 | $6.25 | $7.00 |
| 200–249 | $5.50 | $6.00 | $6.75 |
| 250–499 | $5.00 | $5.50 | $6.25 |
| 500–999 | $4.00 | $4.50 | $5.25 |
| 1,000+ | $3.00 | $3.50 | $4.25 |
Per shirt, per location, before the blank garment. Up to 8 ink colours; each extra colour adds $0.25 a shirt plus its $25 screen.
A finished shirt: Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton T-Shirt at $4.95 + one-colour front
| Shirts | Screen share | Each, printed | Order | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | $12.00 | $2.08 | $19.03 | $228.36 |
| 24 | $11.00 | $1.04 | $16.99 | $407.76 |
| 50 | $8.00 | $0.50 | $13.45 | $672.50 |
| 100 | $6.50 | $0.25 | $11.70 | $1,170.00 |
| 250 | $5.00 | $0.10 | $10.05 | $2,512.50 |
| 500 | $4.00 | $0.05 | $9.00 | $4,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.00 | $0.03 | $7.98 | $7,980.00 |
A two-colour front and one-colour back on 100 of the same shirt comes to $18.95 each. Sizes 2XL and up carry a small blank upcharge. See the pricing guide for the screen, DTF and embroidery ladders side by side.
Screen printing near you
Every order is printed at our own shop in Toronto (North York) and shipped to any address in Canada; Toronto customers can also pick up. Standard production is 10 business days, with guaranteed 7, 5, 3 and 2 business day production sold at checkout (+30%, +50%, +75% and +100%). Shipping is free on orders over $250.
| Ship to | Transit after production |
|---|---|
| Toronto and the GTA | 1 business day, or pick up |
| Ontario and Quebec | 1 to 4 business days |
| Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta | 3 to 5 business days |
| British Columbia | 4 to 6 business days |
| Atlantic Canada | 3 to 7 business days |
| Yukon, NWT, Nunavut | 5 to 10 business days |
In the city? Screen printing in Toronto, with pickup. Choosing a method: screen printing vs DTF and screen printing vs DTF vs embroidery. Ready to print: pick a t-shirt or a hoodie and upload your artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions About Screen Printing
Ready to Start Your Screen Printing Project?
Get a free quote today and see why thousands of Canadian customers choose T-Shirt Elephant for their custom apparel needs.
