CMYK Screen Printing
CMYK Screen Printing is a popular T shirt printing technique for achieving a full colour design on white garments. CMYK printing is done by layering four colours (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) on top of each other to re-create art or a realistic image with only four screens. You can print CMYK with both plastisol and water-based inks. This process is also known as cmyk process screen printing and allows for complex, photographic prints with great detail and depth. You can screen print CMYK with both plastisol and water-based inks, making it a flexible option across different materials and finishes. This technique follows a defined screen printing procedure, where each colour layer is carefully aligned to specific CMYK angles for screen printing to ensure accurate registration and clarity. At Garment Printing, we also offer CMYK silk screen printing for those looking for a traditional, yet vibrant result.
Uses Of CMYK Screen Printing:
CMYK screen printing is best done on white garments. It is a great option for large orders of white garments, where a full colour print is desired, min order for screen print CMYK is 100 units. It’s an alternative to using DTG Printing (direct to garment printing) for large personalised clothing orders, as it can be more cost effective and a faster process, giving you more value.
Whether you’re wondering what is CMYK screen printing or looking to understand how to CMYK screen print, this process is ideal for replicating high-resolution images with fewer screens than traditional spot-colour printing.
Garment Printing will not be liable for colour variation between the proof and the printed product. We will try our best to match the colours of the proof and the printed product but please understand that colour variation differences are inherent inconsistencies of the CMYK for print process.
When printing the same design several times it may not appear as sharp on one garment as another. Additionally due to the printing process, colour variance is unavoidable from one print to another. The same design may also appear different on one garment compared to another due to how colours and materials react differently to the inks used in CMYK for screen printing.
You accept the information above and accept an overall 25% of print colour variance. Any issues of this nature fall outside of our re-print and our re-fund policy.
Advantages of CMYK Screen Printing
- Fast printing technique for printing in large volumes
- High-durability
- Professional finish
- Can print on most types of fabric
- Good hand feel as less colour is being printed
- Cost effective
- Faster setup than say a 9 colour screen print
- Ideal for CMYK screen printing on black shirts when using an underbase to ensure colour visibility
Disadvantages of CMYK Screen printing
- Initial set-up fee makes it unsuitable for small quantity orders
- Shade Variation
- CMYK Screen Printing is subject to print variance.
- Only works well on white garments
- Does not convert well from images originally made in RGB
- Variability in output due to CMYK screen printing ink interacting differently with fabric types
Additional Screen Printing Techniques
At Garment Printing, we go beyond the basics to offer a full suite of screen printing solutions tailored to your project. Whether you're creating standout promotional gear or fashion-forward apparel, our additional techniques give you the flexibility to achieve the exact finish, texture, and impact you're after.
More Printing Techniques
Every design has unique needs and that’s why we offer more than just screen printing. From full-colour digital methods to cutting-edge transfers, our advanced printing techniques cater to everything from intricate artwork to short-run customisations. Find the best solution for your garment type, order size, and design complexity. Need help choosing? Our experts are just a message away.
Our CMYK Screen Printing Gallery
