Getting your logo or design onto apparel should be an exciting process, not a frustrating one. At Artik, screen printing has been at the heart of what we do since 1985. Over four decades of experience means we know how to get it right, every time. From custom-printed t-shirts for corporate teams to bulk hoodies for university events, screen printing remains one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to put your brand on apparel.

If you're looking for vivid color, durability, and a print that holds up through hundreds of washes, screen printing is the method for you.

What Is Screen Printing and Why Does It Work So Well?

Screen printing is a manufacturing process where ink is pushed through a finely meshed screen directly onto a surface, most commonly a t-shirt or other garment. Each color in your design gets its own dedicated screen, and together they build up a final image that's rich in color and precise in detail.

It's one of the oldest and most trusted printing techniques in the industry. The ink sits on top of the fabric rather than soaking into it, which means colors stay vibrant and prints stay sharp, even after repeated washing. This makes screen printing the preferred choice for bulk custom apparel orders, branded merchandise, sports uniforms, and event gear.

At Artik, the minimum quantity for screen printing is 12 pieces per design. The per-unit price becomes more competitive as order size increases, which makes it a solid choice for businesses ordering in volume.

The Screen Printing Process, Step by Step

Understanding what goes into your order helps set expectations and improve the experience. Here's how we take your idea from a design file to a finished, print-ready garment.

Part 1: Making an Order

The process starts with a conversation. Our friendly sales reps are here to walk you through the options and make sure your order is set up for success.

1. Browse artik.com to find the t-shirt, hoodie, or apparel item you'd like screen printed.

2. Click Contact Us to get in touch with our team.

3. Together, we'll discuss styles, sizes, print locations, quantities, and timelines so nothing gets missed before production begins.

Part 2: Sending Your Artwork

Once the order details are locked in, it's time to send us your design. 

4. Artwork is accepted as a vector file (.ai, .cdr, .eps) or a high-quality raster file (.psd, .jpg, .png, .pdf). Photoshop files should be sent with layers intact at the intended print size.

5. Lines in your design should be bold enough to print cleanly. Thin or intricate lines can lose definition in the screen printing process, so our team will flag anything that needs adjusting.

6. For a full breakdown of file requirements and artwork specs, visit our Art Guide.

Part 3: It's In Our Hands

This is where the craftsmanship comes in. Once artwork is approved, our experienced production team gets to work.

7. Our graphic designer color-separates your artwork, creating an individual film for each color in the design.

8. Screens are coated with a light-sensitive emulsion and exposed to UV light. The exposed areas harden, and the areas protected by your design film remain soft and wash out, creating the open mesh.

9. Screens are pressure-washed to clear the mesh, then dried and inspected for pinholes.

10. Inks are mixed to match your exact color requirements.

11. A test print is run on a sample garment to confirm everything looks exactly as it should before the full run begins.

12. Shirts are loaded onto the printing pallet using a light spray adhesive to keep them flat and steady.

13. Smaller runs are printed on our manual machine by hand. Larger orders are processed through our automated screen-printing equipment for consistent, high-speed production. On dark garments, certain colors are printed twice to achieve the vibrancy they deserve.

14. Finished shirts pass through our infrared dryer to cure the ink, locking in the print so it lasts for the long haul.

15. Shirts are folded, quality-checked, and boxed up, ready to go.

Part 4: It's In Your Hands

16. Pick up your order from our Toronto shop or have it shipped directly to your door, anywhere in Canada.

17. Not happy with something? Get in touch, and we'll make it right, no runaround, no hassle. Our satisfaction guarantee means we don't consider a job done until you're genuinely pleased with the result.

18. Loved the experience? Leave us a review on Facebook, Google, or Yelp!. It means a lot to our team and helps other businesses find us.

Why Artik Has Been Toronto's Go-To Screen Printer Since 1985

Decades in this industry have taught us what clients really need: accurate colors, consistent quality across large runs, realistic timelines, and a team that communicates clearly from start to finish. Artik has built its reputation on all of the above.

Production happens right here in Toronto, which means faster turnaround, better quality control, and the ability to catch and fix issues quickly. Canadian-based shipping means your order arrives without unnecessary delays. 

Our product catalog includes t-shirts, hoodies, sports uniforms, headwear, tote bags, and more. Screen printing is one part of a larger offering built to serve businesses, teams, schools, and event organizers across Ontario and beyond.

You now know what goes into a screen-printed order and what to expect at Artik. Contact us to start today!

FAQ

Custom Screen Printing FAQ - Artik Toronto

Artik has a reputation as one of the best custom t-shirt screen printing shops in Canada. Over the last 32 years, we’ve screen-printed custom tees for thousands of happy customers! This article is a basic introduction to screen printing. If you have any questions, contact the Artik staff.

What is screen-printing?

Say you want to customize tees or sweaters with your own designs. Sure, you could take a Sharpie and draw on the fabric, but the washing machine will wash the ink right out!

Screen printing custom t-shirts puts permanent ink onto the fabric. Your design will look colorful and crisp, and it won’t wash out. You probably have a few screen-printed t-shirts, tote bags, and sweaters in your closet.

Who Orders Screen-Printed Apparel?

We have all kinds of customers order custom screen prints from our shop.  Many businesses get custom-printed shirts for their employee uniforms. A company logo can look great on the front of the chest with a fun slogan on the back of the shirt!

Artists often come to Artik to get their unique characters and designs printed on customized tote bags or apparel. These custom-printed tees are often sold at festivals and fan shows. We also screen print t-shirts and merchandise for bands to sell at concerts or for charities to sell at fundraisers. The list goes on. 

Our shop in downtown Toronto has a dedicated print staff who take pride in producing custom screen-printed apparel for a wide range of customers.

How does Artik custom screen print tees and other apparel?

You can watch our video on screen printing here.

First, contact our friendly Artik sales representatives. Your dedicated rep will help you get your design file ready for custom screen printing.

Next, our graphic designers will separate the colors in your design and print them onto individual screens. These screens have a fine mesh, allowing oil-based inks to be squeegeed through and applied to the fabric.

Your custom t-shirts are screen-printed and placed in a heat dryer, which seals the inks onto the fabric. We fold each t-shirt or sweater and put them in boxes, ready for your event or apparel sale.

How Can I Save Money on Screen Printing T-Shirts?

When you’re ordering custom screen-printed goods, consider limiting the number of colors in your design. Sometimes a simple two color print can be just as beautiful and powerful as a design with tons of colors.

We also recommend buying the t-shirt that fits your budget. SoftStyle Gildan tees look great and feel comfy for a lower price than our fashion-fit Bella or American Apparel t-shirts. All of our t-shirts and apparel are perfect for custom screen-printing.

How long does it take to screen-print T-shirts?

Once your order is processed, it will take 5-7 business days for your screen-printed apparel to be ready. For a fee, you can get your custom tees screen-printed in a rush.

Can I try on the sample apparel?

You can visit our shop in downtown Toronto to check out different samples. We're always happy to visit and answer questions! 

Can You Screen Print Specific Colors? 

If you have a specific color you want screen printed on custom tees, please provide us with the Pantone number. For screen printing, we use the Solid Coated "Pantone Matching System (PMS)" which allows us to mix inks to precisely match your color. 

If you don't have a coated Pantone number, provide us with the CMYK value, and we will match it to the closest PMS color available.

Why Choose Artik for Custom Screen Printing?

At Artik, we’re proud of our screen print quality. Over the past 32 years, we’ve refined our process, purchased the best machines, and assembled an expert custom screen-printing team.

Our mission is to provide you with the highest-quality custom screen-printed goods, delivered on time at a fair price. We opened our doors in 1985, and we’ve served thousands of happy customers. If you’re looking for custom screen-printed tees, personalized sweaters, logoed tote bags, or any other screen-printed item, we hope you choose Artik. We look forward to printing your design!