Screen Printing for Small Apparel Shops: A DTF Alternative
For custom apparel shops & garment decorators
Stop paying full-color prices for one-color jobs. RISO digital screen makers turn your artwork into a press-ready screen in minutes, with no film, no emulsion and no washout booth, so screen printing makes sense even on the short runs you've been sending to DTF.
DTF or screen printing? Use each where it wins
DTF is great for full-color art and one-offs. But every DTF transfer uses the same film, ink, powder and press time, so the cost per shirt barely drops as an order grows. Screen printing puts most of the cost into the screen, and every print after that is cheap. The smartest shops use both.
Full-color and one-offs
- Photographic or full-color artwork
- Designs with gradients and many colors
- Single pieces and very small quantities
- Names and one-off personalization
One-color and repeat work
- One-color logos, team names and event tees
- Simple spot-color designs
- Medium to large quantities
- Repeat orders, using saved screens
- Jobs where cost per piece matters most
Read the full breakdown in Say Yes to the Press! Why More Shops Are Turning (Back) to Screen Printing.
The old reason to avoid screen printing is gone
Most shops move away from screen printing because making screens takes so long: film, emulsion, drying, exposing, washing out and drying again. A RISO digital screen maker replaces all of that with one step.
Build your screen printing setup
We carry everything a small shop needs to add screen printing, from the screen maker to the dryer, and we can help you size each piece to your volume.
Make screens
RISO GOCCOPRO screen makers sized for apparel work.
- GOCCOPRO QS2536, our flagship
- GOCCOPRO QS1836
- GOCCOPRO QS200
- Compare all five
Vastex manual presses, from a first tabletop press to a multi-station production press.
Cure
Conveyor dryers sized from your first shirts to full production.
Supplies
Everything for the press floor, in stock in Winston-Salem, NC.
- Ink and tape & pallet gel
- QS mesh and frames
- Screen hardener and cleaners
Learn more from our blog
Say Yes to the Press! Why More Shops Are Turning (Back) to Screen Printing
Why one-color jobs cost more than they should on DTF, and how digital screen making changes the math.
BlogScreen Printing vs. DTF: Which Is Right for You?
The strengths and drawbacks of each method, side by side, and why many shops use both.
Equip your shop
Tell us what you print, your typical order sizes and your space, and we'll recommend a setup that fits your shop and budget.
- Financing available. Apply for equipment financing through our partner.
- Business accounts. Apply for a business account for easy reordering.
- Purchase orders accepted. Submit one through our purchase order page.
Questions apparel shops ask
Do I have to give up DTF?
No. Most shops keep DTF for full-color art and one-offs, and move one-color and repeat jobs to screen printing, where the cost per piece drops as the order grows.
How long does it take to make a screen?
About 3 minutes on the GOCCOPRO QS2536, compared with the hours or days of coating, drying, exposing and washing out a traditional emulsion screen.
Can I print multi-color designs?
Yes. The GOCCOPRO QS series uses a 3-point registration system with pre-stretched screens, which makes multi-color registration easier on press.
How big are the screens?
The QS2536 and QS1836 take frames up to 25" x 36", with image areas up to about 18" x 30" on the QS2536. See the comparison chart for every model.
Will the screens hold up to plastisol?
Yes. For longer plastisol runs, apply RISO screen hardener to extend screen life, or use premium mesh, which has a thicker film for added durability.
Does it work with my design software?
Yes. RISO screen makers print from your computer like any printer and work with both Mac and Windows.
Ready to say yes to the press?
Talk to our team in Winston-Salem, NC. Call 336-722-2500 or toll free 800-597-9530, Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:30 ET, or email info@risosdp.com.
