Screen printing is strongest for large areas of a single color with crisp detail, while digital printing is better suited for designs with many colors, gradients, or halftones. Both methods can produce premium results — the best choice depends on your artwork and goals.
Digital Printing vs. Screenprinting
Digital printing is a mostly automated process that uses print heads to apply a design to a product. Instead of mesh screens, digital printing relies on computer design files.
In digital printing, all the colors specified in the design are mixed from four base colors – cyan, magenta, yellow, black. Just like your inkjet printer, the print heads lay down incredibly tiny dots of each of the four base colors that then blend together to achieve the final look.
After the printer applies inks to the glass surface, the inks are cured with UV light and bonded to the product.
Screenprinting boils down to pushing ink through a mesh screen onto the item being printed, such as fabric or glass.
- The glass to be printed on is secured in place on a form or jig.
- A stencil (the screen) with the design, one for each color, is laid over the glass.
- Ink is pressed through the stencil onto the glass.
The printed design is then cured with heat or UV light that bonds it to the surface.
Digital Print vs. Screenprint
Screen printing’s strength is large area of a single color; digital is better suited for high color counts and designs featuring gradients. Here are some things to consider when choosing a print method.
Digital Printing
Flat Colors
Banding lines may occur in digital printing when the designs feature a large area of a single color.
Screen Printing
Digital Printing
Small Text
Small text is more legible in screen print.
Screen Printing
Digital Printing
Gradients/Halftones
Digital printing is the best choice for designs that have many colors and gradients (or halftones).
Screen Printing
Digital Printing
Print Area
Digital printing can allow for a larger print area than screen printing on select glassware.
Screen Printing
Digital Printing
Contrast
Greater color contrast is achievable with screen print.
Screen Printing
What Process Should You Choose?
Digital Printing is best for:
- Nuanced details. Designs featuring lots of colors or needing near photo realism. Digital printing can achieve better gradients and halftones of colors.
- Specialty items. Promotions, giveaways, and special releases where glassware will be cleaned via a residential dishwasher and experience noncommercial use.
- Small product runs. Since there are no screens or other involved setup work, smaller runs can be more cost-effective in digital printing. Lead times may also be shorter.
- Full-wrap printing. Digital printing allows for a larger print area and digital print heads can get closer to the edges of the glassware for a “full bleed” look.
Screen Printing is best for:
- Large blocks of color. If your design requires large areas filled with single colors, this is your method.
- Items that require durability. Glassware that will be cleaned in a commercial dishwasher or heavily used (such as at a bar or restaurant) are better suited for screen printing.
- Large product runs. If you plan to print higher quantities, screen printing may be a more economical choice.
- Complex shapes. Grandstand’s use of a blended automatic and semi-automatic production line means screen printing can decorate a wider range of glassware shapes.
Other Considerations
Digital Print Quality
When viewed very closely, certain images or colors may appear pixelated since the digital printing process uses individual dots of base colors to achieve the final result. At typical viewing distances this hardly noticeable.
Digital Print Edge Blur
To increase the durability of your print a protective clear coat is applied to digital prints to prolong your print life. When viewed very closely, smaller elements may see some edge blur. At typical viewing distances this is hardly noticeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Go To FAQ Page
Digital printing is typically the best option for high color counts, gradients, and halftones because it can reproduce complex color transitions more effectively than traditional screen printing.
It can. When a design features large areas of a single flat color, digital printing may show banding lines. In those cases, screen printing is often a better fit for smooth, consistent coverage.
Screen printing is generally better for small text and sharp edges. The page notes small text is more legible in screen print, and screen printing can produce slightly sharper edges and crisper lines.
Yes — on select glassware, digital printing can allow a larger print area than screen printing. The best option depends on the specific glass shape and your artwork placement.
Screen printing can achieve greater color contrast, which can make logos and typography pop — especially when your design uses bold single-color elements.
If durability is the priority — especially for bar/restaurant use or commercial dishwashing — the page recommends screen printing as the better-suited method for heavy-use glassware.
Choose screen printing for large blocks of single color, small text, strong contrast, durability needs, and higher-quantity runs where it may be more economical. Choose digital printing when your design has many colors, gradients, or halftones — and when you want the flexibility digital provides for complex artwork.
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