Advantages
1. Easier to print on special garments: It can be done on almost any surface as long as it is flat, fabric, wood, plastic and even metal, among many others. It is hard to find a printing method as versatile as screen printing.
2. Various inks can be used: Screen printing allows for greater thickness of the ink than other techniques, which result in greater possibilities when it comes to the finish of the piece.
3. Cost effective for large quantities: for every color used in an artwork, it is best reserved for large orders since this is a method that requires the fabrication of screens. The more garments placed in an order then the cheaper the cost per unit will be.
4. Long lasting & durable quality: Due to the composition and thickness of inks used in screen printing, designs placed with this method can withstand far more stress than others without losing the quality of the print.
Disadvantages
a. Not practical for small orders: Screen printing needs more prep than other techniques before going into production. Unsuitable for “on-demand” printing, which is the creation of a garment as soon as it is ordered.
b. Not environmentally friendly: While efforts have been made to create eco-friendly inks and screens, it is still a reality that screen printing wastes a lot of water.
c. More money for multiple colors: Because of the technique of screen printing, only one color can be applied at a time, the number of colors on a bella clothing is limited, and each layer demands more time, another screen and stencil, and ultimately, more money.
d. Relative Complexity: It might sound like a contradiction, but screen printing can be quite complex depending on the design and project because it has more steps than other methods.