What is silk screen printing machine?The difference between digital printing and screen printing

A screen printing machine is a machine that uses a screen printing plate to print. It is a type of printing machine. Screen printing technology mainly uses a scraper to squeeze the ink into the substrate through the mesh of the graphic part, thereby forming the same graphic and text as the original.

Differences and application scenarios comparison between digital printing and screen printing

Tool
Silk screen printing machine manufacturers will tell you that screen printing requires a few different tools to create the final product. First the stencil, then the print, then attached to the screen and placed on the desired canvas (or shirt), and finally the inks are used to create the print. Tools range from screen printing, squeegees, and inks to exposure rigs, vector graphics, turntables, and heat tunnels. To use digital printing, you need a computer with Photoshop, a direct-to-garment machine and heat press (heat transfer machine), a T-shirt, and suitable ink, and you are good to go! If you find it troublesome, you can try the DIYSKU intelligent design method, which does not require installing design software and relying on a computer.

Efficiency
Digital printing and screen printing are two different printing methods used for different purposes. Digital printing is a super-fast method for one-off print jobs or artwork with lots of color or detail. This is because if you only need one shirt or a print with multiple colors and gradients, screen printing setup and cleanup time can be time-consuming.
If you're printing bulk units with simple artwork in a few colors, screen printing is the king of efficiency. Although setup and cleanup take time, screen printing larger orders can take one-third as long as a print job compared to digital printing.

Quality
There are some artworks you just can't screen print, like a photo of a family on vacation or a space cat riding a rainbow spaceship. Silk screen printing machine manufacturers tell you that the quality of digital printing and screen printing vary in feel and longevity, and different methods are used for different purposes.

Screen printing is great because it allows you to match inks when printing, including metallics and neon. This is also a method that allows you to print on the surface of almost any object. Prints are also often stored for long periods of time.

Digital presses can handle a wide range of beautiful colors, but just like your printer, you can't print metallics, neons, and Pantone colors at home. Due to digital printing inks (vegan, OEKO Tec certified, 100% environmentally friendly), printing is limited to organic fabrics. Like all digital prints, prints will fade over time and with fabric wear.

The feel of the print is also different. Typical screen printing ink will adhere to the fabric and will be very smooth or a little rough depending on the type of fabric you are printing on. Digital prints on white garments will often feel part of the fabric and be very soft but will be smoother and stand out more on dark or colorful garments.

Cost
One of the most important factors is: Everyone is worried about cost. If you are looking for some bulk printing with simple artwork, then you can't help but choose screen printing, which is much cheaper for large orders. However, the more colors you have in your design, the more expensive the screen setup will be.

Digital printing does not require any screen setup costs, making it more economical for smaller companies or individual sellers. If you need hundreds, the price won't drop drastically and your shirts will be very colorful.

Silk screen printing machine manufacturers tell you that the application of screen printing has a long history, and the technology is relatively mature. It can be said to be universal printing, which is not only highly adaptable to substrates but also has strong adaptability to inks. The tolerance is also high, there is almost nothing that cannot be printed.