Don’t be Fooled: How to spot a real Screen Printer
Recently, a customer called us needing a job done urgently. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to fit it in — so he went looking elsewhere.
That’s where things got interesting.
As he rang around to find a screen printer who could help, he started to ask the kind of questions only someone with a bit of experience would know to ask. Things like:
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What kind of inks do you use?
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Do you offer spot colour or process printing?
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What’s the setup time and screen cost?
Surprisingly — or maybe not — most of the people he spoke to couldn’t answer those questions. Why? Because they weren’t actually screen printers at all. They were doing DTF (Direct-to-Film) or heat transfers, but still advertising themselves as “screen printing services.”
🧵 Knowing the Difference Matters
To most people, printing is printing. But there’s a huge difference between real screen printing and other methods like DTF or transfers — and while those options can be great in the right situation, they’re not the same.
Real screen printing takes skill, setup, equipment, and experience. It’s ideal for bulk orders, long-lasting results, and vibrant colours — but it also involves prep, screens, ink mixing, and technique.
🚩 Don’t Be Fooled by Lookalikes
Many businesses advertise “screen printing” when they’re actually just heat pressing or using digital transfers. If you don’t know what questions to ask, you’d never know the difference — until the results don’t last, crack, or fade after a few washes.
That’s why it pays to go with someone who knows what they’re doing — someone who actually does the printing, not just resells it.
✅ Go With a Trusted Screen Printer
At MPS Promotional Gear, we’ve been screen printing on the Gold Coast since 2004. We do the work ourselves, in-house — and we’ll always be honest about what printing method is best for your job.
We guarantee our work, use industry-standard inks, and know the difference between spot colour and process printing because we actually do it.
So if screen printing is what you’re after — make sure you’re getting the real deal.
Got questions about screen printing or not sure what you need? Give us a call — we’re happy to explain the difference and help you choose the best option for your job.
Check our Screen Printing Prices
