High-Quality Screen Printing
Fifth Column has been screen printing in London since 1977. From our 11,000 sq ft North London factory, we produce printed garments for brands, organisations, events and merchandise projects. Artwork preparation, printing, quality control and finishing are handled in-house by a team that understands how the garment, design and print setup need to work together.
Screen Printing for Larger Garment Orders
Screen printing comes into its own on larger runs. Once the screens are set up, it delivers strong colour, durable prints and better value per garment as quantities increase. It is particularly well suited to bold artwork, spot colours and designs that need to look sharp across the full run.
Consistent Quality Across Every Garment
Printing the first garment correctly is only the beginning. Keeping the final garment consistent in colour, position, coverage and finish takes production control. We manage screen setup, registration, ink, curing and quality checks throughout the run, particularly where brand colours and repeat orders matter.
London Production, Backed by Decades of Experience
We have been printing garments since 1977, and today our screen printing is managed from our 11,000 sq ft North London factory. That experience helps us spot problems with artwork, garments or deadlines before they reach the press.
Screen Printing for Brands, Organisations and Events
From retail merchandise and tour stock to staff clothing and fundraising campaigns, screen printing works particularly well when the same design needs to be printed across a larger number of garments.
- Brand and Retail Merchandise
- Band and Artist Merchandise
- Corporate Clothing and Workwear
- Charity Campaigns
- Events, Festivals and Agency Projects
- Sports Teams and Clubs
- Wholesale and Repeat Orders
Why Choose Screen Printing?
Is Screen Printing Right for Your Project?
Screen printing is not automatically the right method for every order. The best production route depends on quantity, artwork, garment composition, required finish, budget and deadline.
Screen Printing Is Usually the Stronger Choice When…
- You require a larger quantity of garments.
- Your artwork uses clearly separated colours.
- Consistent colour reproduction is important.
- You expect to place repeat orders.
- You need durable merchandise, uniforms or event clothing.
- The same design will be reproduced across the full run.
Another Printing Method May Be Better When…
- You only require a very small quantity.
- The artwork is photographic or contains many gradients.
- You need a one-off sample or a limited test run.
- The artwork changes frequently between garments.
- The garment or application is better suited to a transfer or embroidery.
- The setup cost would be disproportionate to the order size.
Screen Printing, HD Digital (DTG), DTF or Embroidery?
Screen printing is a strong choice for larger runs, spot colours and designs that need durable, reliable colour reproduction.
HD Digital Printing (DTG) works particularly well for detailed, full-colour artwork, smaller quantities and fast repeat orders. Our Kornit Atlas MAX Plus also gives us the capacity to handle larger digital runs when it suits the job.
DTF printing is flexible for smaller full-colour orders and works across a broad range of synthetic and mixed fabrics.
Embroidery is well suited to logos on polos, caps, jackets, bags, workwear and other structured garments.
We’ll recommend the method that best suits the artwork, garment, quantity and deadline.
How Does Screen Printing Work?
Screen printing starts with the artwork and builds the print one colour at a time. Here is how a project moves from the supplied file to the finished garment.
Artwork and Colour Separation
Your artwork is reviewed and separated into individual print colours, preparing it for screen production.
Preparing the Screens
Each colour is transferred onto a mesh screen, creating a precise stencil for printing.
Printing Each Colour
Garments are printed one colour at a time, with careful alignment to keep the design consistent.
Curing the Print
Printed garments are heat-cured to fix the ink and ensure durability through wear and washing.
Quality Control
Each stage is checked to maintain colour accuracy, registration and overall print quality.
Screen Printing Inks and Special Print Finishes
The correct ink depends on the garment fabric, colour, artwork, required hand feel and intended use. We assess these factors before recommending a standard or specialist finish.
Plastisol
Plastisol produces bright, durable colour with strong coverage across a wide range of fabrics. It sits slightly above the garment surface and can be mixed to match Pantone references.
Discharge
Discharge ink reduces the original dye in suitable dark garments, producing vivid colour with a soft hand feel. It works best on compatible 100% cotton and natural-fibre garments.
CMYK
CMYK printing uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black to reproduce more complex, multi-colour artwork. Because screens display a wider RGB colour range, artwork must be prepared using colours that can be achieved in print.
Metallic
Metallic gold and silver inks create a reflective finish for fashion merchandise and promotional garments. The ink is relatively thick, so clear, uncomplicated artwork usually produces the best result.
Puff
Puff additive expands during heat curing to create a raised, three-dimensional print. It can be applied across the artwork or used selectively to add depth to individual elements.
Glow-in-the-Dark
Glow-in-the-dark ink absorbs light and releases it in darker conditions. It is usually printed over a white base, appearing pale in daylight before producing a bright green glow.
High-Build
High-build ink creates a bold, raised surface that can be seen and felt. It works particularly well for simple logos, text and graphic details that benefit from added depth.
Reflective
Reflective ink returns concentrated light, such as vehicle headlights, and is often used for workwear and sportswear. It appears pale grey normally and provides a durable, functional finish.
Screen Printing Prices and Minimum Order Quantities
Screen printing prices are based on the garment, order quantity, number of print colours, number and size of print positions, artwork complexity, specialist ink requirements, finishing, deadline and delivery. Each colour and position normally requires separate setup, so simpler artwork is generally more economical.
For screen printing, we generally work from 50 garments per design, although the most competitive unit costs are usually achieved at higher quantities. Send us the artwork, garment requirements and expected volume for an accurate quote rather than relying on a generic price per T-shirt.
Your Screen Printing Project, From Quote to Delivery
Send Your Artwork and Project Details
Tell us what you need, the expected quantity, preferred garments, print positions, deadline and delivery location.
We Review the Garment and Print Method
We check the artwork and garment and confirm whether screen printing is the right choice, or whether HD Digital (DTG), DTF or embroidery would suit the job better.
Confirm the Specification and Quote
We confirm the garment, quantities, print colours, print positions, finishing requirements and delivery details before issuing the final quotation.
Approve the Artwork and Production Details
We send the artwork proof and final production specification for approval, including size, position, colours and garment details.
Production and Quality Control
The order is printed in our North London factory, with registration, colour, coverage, curing and garment quality checked throughout the run.
Finishing, Delivery or Collection
The completed garments can be relabelled, folded, bagged and prepared for delivery, collection, retail or further fulfilment.
Why Work with Fifth Column?
From Printed Garment to Finished Product
A printed garment is not always a finished product. For merchandise, retail and branded clothing projects, we can remove or replace original labels, add printed neck labels or woven labels, attach hem tags, fold garments, apply size stickers and package individual items. This means the garments can arrive ready for retail, fulfilment or internal distribution, without another supplier having to finish the job.
Other Garment Printing Services
HD Digital (DTG) Printing
High-definition, full-colour garment printing on our Kornit Atlas MAX Plus. Ideal for detailed artwork, smaller quantities and fast repeat jobs, with the production capacity to scale into larger digital runs when required.
Direct to Film (DTF) Printing
A flexible option for small runs, complex designs and garments that may not be suited to conventional screen printing. DTF has no fixed minimum order.
Embroidery
A hard-wearing, tactile decoration method suited to logos, workwear, uniforms and garments that need a more structured, premium appearance.
Garment Finishing
Custom neck labels, hem tags, folding, bagging and stickers that turn printed garments into retail-, campaign- or distribution-ready products.
FAQs
What Quantity Is Screen Printing Best For?
Screen printing is generally most suitable from around 50 garments per design and becomes increasingly cost-effective as the quantity rises. The ideal threshold depends on the number of colours, garment choice and alternative production methods available.
Can You Screen Print Full-Colour Artwork?
Yes, in some cases. Full-colour and photographic artwork can be reproduced using halftones, process printing or simulated colour separations. HD Digital (DTG) or DTF may be better suited to smaller quantities or highly detailed photographic artwork.
Can You Print on Dark Garments?
Yes. Dark garments often require a white underbase beneath the visible colours to maintain brightness and opacity. This underbase may count as an additional print colour when calculating the production setup.
What Artwork Files Do You Need?
Vector files such as AI, EPS or print-ready PDF are preferred where possible. Fonts should be outlined and colours clearly defined. High-resolution raster files should normally be supplied at 300 DPI at the final print size. Include Pantone references and placement instructions where relevant. Send us what you have if you are unsure, and we will check whether it is suitable.
Can You Print on Organic Cotton T-Shirts?
Yes. Screen printing can work very well on suitable organic cotton garments. We can help select a garment based on fit, fabric weight, ethical credentials, required print result and project budget.
Can You Help Us Choose the Right Garment?
Yes. We can advise on garment style, material, weight, fit, colour, availability and compatibility with the selected print method. The best blank is the one that supports both the design and the intended use.
How Long Does Screen Printing Take?
Typical lead time is around 10 working days for screen printing and around 5 working days for HD Digital (DTG), once the artwork is approved and the garments are available.
For suitable HD Digital orders, express production can be available within 24–48 hours, including runs of several hundred garments.
Complex artwork, specialist inks, custom finishing or garment availability can affect these timings. Tell us your required delivery date when you enquire and we’ll confirm what is realistic before production starts.
Ready to Start Your Screen Printing Project?
Send us your artwork, garment requirements, quantity and deadline. We’ll check the details, flag anything that could cause problems and confirm the right garment and print setup before production starts.