Hey All!
So here is the dilemma of the day. I currently embroider and heat transfer. Obviously I tend to lean more towards ink based transfers more than vinyl/polymer based transfers due to it's natural touch.
Lately, I've been contemplating investing into a nice screen printing set-up but I am concerned with the difference in quality.
For all my screen printing needs, I have a vendor I send stuff too. I also use a vendor for screen printed transfers and then I press in-house. Just recently, I did some volleyball shirts that had a front graphic and 8" numbers on the back. Because of the pricing, I chose to have my screen printer do the front and get the stock numbers from my transfer vendor.
The end result is telling. Correct me if I'm wrong:
1.) Screen printing sits IN the garment and cures after the ink process.
2.) Heat transfers sit ON the garment and cures instantly with a press.
In that case, the quality of the SP isn't very good. The weave of the garment still shows through and it tends to bleed/blur. With the HT, it's a solid ink and crisp edges. Is this just a poor ink used in the SP process or is this a legitimate argument. So the question I leave you with is:
Could you scrap the idea of investing time and resources into a SP setup and just outsource your printing and just press everything? Do the cost/time of SP match the cost/time of HT?
If I was in your situation I think I would purchase a cutter. There are so many new materials out now that can be cut on a cutter to do design on shirts and just about anything. It should be a lower cost investment than purchasing a complete screen printing system and having to deal with all the cleanup and prep work. You say you already have a heat press, add a cutter and some of the new material and you will be off and running! A Roland GX24 cutter in around $2000, some of the companies like Stahls and IW offer startup packages as well.
CW
@Corel Whisperer,
Most definitely. We have an Ioline. We cut applique and heat applied material already. The next step is a Roland to maximize production output. My Stahl's rep and I are tight . But honestly there is a demand for inked graphics. And I want to be able to offer both options.
@MotoskinGraphix,
Oh don't get me wrong. I know 95% of end user apparel (Express, Old Navy, Gap, etc.) are all contract piece work for $0.10 a piece using screen printing. It's the most cost effective way to embellish in bulk. I am merely speaking on quality. The question I am asking is do others also see the quality difference or am I missing something?
Have you tried using the Fashion films they are very thin and have a nice feel, also some wonderful colors. They can be cut with low force and a low tack sheet on you Ioline as long as they don't have a lot of detail. CW
@Corel Whisperer,
Yep. Were in public safety so we stick to tons of 3M Transfer film and Black Onyx Fashion Film. We pump out a lot of the safety vests you see on the roads. It is very thin but again, the customer sometimes prefers it to be ink based due to previous order they've placed.
For HP, depending on the shirt material I would suggest using thermoflex and having what you need cut or investing in a smaller cutter. Again with SP, depending on the material and medium, ie. water based, plastisol, you may need to put in an additive or adjust the thickness of the press. It also may be the mesh.
Go and grab this years 5 year contest shirt and feel the quality of good screen printing. Compare the feel to a custom plastisol transfer or transfer flex. You wont be disappointed.
Screen Printing VS Heat Transfers 
. But honestly there is a demand for inked graphics. And I want to be able to offer both options.
