Screen Printing in Atlanta
Need screen printing in Atlanta for a big order of shirts? Tidal Colors offers screen printing from Alpharetta for schools, teams, businesses and events across metro Atlanta. It is the classic choice for bulk t-shirt printing, when everyone gets the same design in a few bold colors.
- Best for: large runs of one design
- Colors: bold, solid spot colors
- Hats too: flat-front and unstructured styles
- Pricing: quoted for each order
When screen printing is the best choice
Screen printing shines when one design goes on a lot of shirts. The setup is done once per design, so the cost per shirt drops as the quantity grows.
- Large runs: event shirts, staff uniforms, school spirit wear and fundraiser tees.
- Simple artwork: designs with one to a few solid colors and bold shapes.
- Cotton garments: screen printing is at its best on cotton and cotton blends.
- Matching merch: band, brand and club merch where every piece is the same.
How screen printing works
Ink is pushed through a fine mesh screen onto the garment, one color at a time. Each color in the design needs its own screen, lined up so every color lands exactly in place.
The printed ink is then cured with heat so it bonds to the fabric. The result is a bold, opaque print with crisp edges, which is why custom screen printed shirts remain a favorite for teams and events.
When DTF is the better fit
Screen printing loses its edge when a design has many colors or every shirt is different. In those cases, DTF transfers usually make more sense:
- Small runs: there are no setup fees and no minimums on DTF transfers.
- Full-color art: photos, gradients and many colors print in a single pass.
- Names and numbers: each name is simply its own transfer.
- Mixed fabrics: DTF adheres to polyester, nylon, denim and blends as well as cotton.
DTF orders placed before 3 PM EST, Monday to Friday, are printed the same day. Learn more about custom DTF transfers, or compare the two methods in our guide to DTF vs screen printing.
Design tips for custom screen printed shirts
- Limit your colors. Fewer colors mean fewer screens and a simpler setup.
- Use solid shapes. Very thin lines and tiny text can fill in with ink.
- Mind the contrast. Choose ink colors that stand out against the shirt.
- Plan for dark shirts. Bright inks on dark shirts usually need a white base layer, which adds a screen.
- Send vector art. AI, EPS or PDF files keep edges crisp at any size.
Screen printing in Atlanta for teams and events
Many team orders combine both methods. The shared front design is screen printed across the whole order, then each player's name and number goes on the back with DTF transfers.
Outfitting a league or school team? See our custom team uniforms, or browse shirt styles and colors on our custom t-shirts page.
How to get a screen printing quote
Screen printing prices depend on the quantity, the number of ink colors and the number of print locations. Send us these details and we will quote your order:
- Your design file and the number of ink colors
- Print locations, such as front, back or sleeve
- The shirt style and color, plus quantities by size
- The date you need the shirts in hand
Reach us through our contact page, call (678) 845-6864 or email hello@tidalcolors.com. Local orders can be picked up for free in Alpharetta.
Frequently asked questions
How much does screen printing cost?
It depends on the quantity, the number of colors and the print locations, so we quote each order. In general, the cost per shirt drops as the quantity goes up.
Is there a minimum order for screen printing?
Screen printing is built for bulk runs, so tell us your quantity and we will let you know whether screen printing or DTF fits better. For small orders, DTF transfers have no setup fees and no minimums.
Can you screen print hats?
Yes. Flat-front and unstructured hats can be screen printed, and caps can also be embroidered with up to 15 thread colors. See every option on our custom hats page.
Can you add names and numbers to screen printed shirts?
Yes. A common approach is to screen print the shared design and add each name and number with DTF transfers.
Should I choose screen printing or DTF?
Choose screen printing for a large run of one design in a few solid colors. Choose DTF for small runs, full-color art or a different design on every shirt.
Plan your screen printing order
Tell us about your design, quantity and date, and we will recommend the best way to print it.
