Digital Printing vs Screen Printing on Silk: What's the Difference?
Quick answer: Digital printing vs screen printing on silk comes down to quantity and artwork. Digital printing puts the whole design on the silk at once: unlimited colors, fine detail, no setup cost per color, and orders from a single piece. Screen printing applies one color at a time through separate screens, which suits bold flat color in runs of about 200 pieces or more. LS Silk prints every custom scarf digitally, on both sides.
The method used to put color on silk is not just a production detail. It decides what your design can be, how many pieces you need to order and how long it takes. Here is a clear explanation of both methods and when each one is right.
Before you choose, read our guide on designing for silk to see how artwork behaves on the fabric, and our artwork preparation guide for file requirements.
How does digital printing on silk work?
Digital printing uses a large, highly precise inkjet printer built for textiles. Your design file is loaded, the prepared silk passes through the printer, and dye is laid down across the whole design in one pass, in every color and gradient at once.
After printing, the silk is steamed, which bonds the dye permanently into the fiber, then washed, dried and inspected. Because there are no screens to make and no setup for each color, a single finished sample or a small run of a few pieces is practical.
How does screen printing on silk work?
In screen printing the design is separated into color layers, and a mesh screen is made for each color. The colors are then applied one at a time. A design with six colors needs six screens. That setup cost is spread across the run, which is why screen printing only becomes economical at about 200 pieces or more per design.
What are the key differences in practice?
| Digital printing | Screen printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Unlimited colors, gradients, photographic detail | Bold, flat color and simple graphics |
| Color matching | Very close to a Pantone TCX reference, approved on silk | Exact spot colors, mixed per screen |
| Minimum order | One piece | About 200 pieces per design |
| Setup | None per color | A screen for every color |
| Timing | Faster to start | Extra days to make screens |
Design complexity
Digital printing handles unlimited colors, smooth gradients and painterly artwork with complete fidelity. Screen printing is built for a small number of flat colors.
Color matching
Screen printing can match a spot color exactly, because each color is mixed in advance. Digital printing builds every color from a set of base dyes, so it gets very close but cannot promise an exact match. If a brand color matters, choose color matching in the Custom Studio, give us the Pantone TCX reference, and we print color variations on silk for your approval before production. See our guide to color accuracy in custom silk printing.
Minimum order
LS Silk prints digitally from a single finished sample, with small runs of 2 to 20 pieces and production runs of 30 to 100 pieces per design. Larger orders are quoted by email.
The back of the scarf
Every LS Silk scarf is printed on both sides at full strength. The color is rich and consistent whichever way the scarf is folded, knotted or worn, which matters for a square that is rarely seen flat.
Why is digital printing now the standard for custom scarves?
Because most scarf artwork is complex. Paintings, illustrations and photographs rely on gradients and many colors, which digital printing reproduces faithfully and screen printing cannot. It also makes small quantities possible, so an artist can print twenty scarves and a school can print fifty.
Ready to start? Choose your size, silk and finish and see your price right away. Start your scarf in the Custom Studio →
Need more than 100 pieces or an exact spot color? Email support@lovesilk.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between digital printing and screen printing on silk?
Digital printing lays down the whole design at once with unlimited colors and no setup per color. Screen printing applies each color through its own screen and becomes economical at about 200 pieces or more.
Which printing method is better for custom silk scarves?
For artwork with many colors or gradients, or for fewer than about 200 pieces, digital printing is the better choice.
Can digital printing match a Pantone color on silk?
Very closely. Give us a Pantone TCX reference and we print color variations on silk for your approval. An exact spot-color match needs screen printing.
Are digitally printed silk scarves printed on both sides?
At LS Silk, yes. Every scarf is printed on both sides at full strength.
What is the minimum order for digital printing on silk?
One. LS Silk prints from a single finished sample, small runs of 2 to 20 pieces, and production runs of 30 to 100 pieces per design.
Related reading: The complete guide to ordering custom silk scarves in the United States · How to prepare your artwork file · Color accuracy in custom silk printing · Designing for silk