SCREEN PRINTING
Custom screen printing on ethical apparel, shipped Australia-wide.
Classic, durable and often the most economical method. Each colour has its own screen, printed with water-based or plastisol inks on automatic presses.
Custom screen printing in Australia: at a glance
OCC Apparel screen prints custom t-shirts, hoodies, polos and tote bags for businesses, brands, not-for-profits, universities and events. We supply the garments, including organic cotton t-shirts from Earth Positive, Stanley/Stella and AS Colour, print your design and ship Australia-wide.
- Minimum order: 24 pieces per design.
- Turnaround: 2–3 weeks from artwork approval and payment (3–4 weeks in peak periods), plus courier time.
- Inks: water-based for a soft feel, plastisol for vivid colour, plus specialty finishes. GOTS-certified organic inks are available.
- Reorders: in general we keep screens for 6 months after your order.
- Every order: a free mockup to approve before production. Pricing is quote-only, and quotes are free and no-obligation.
Screen printing for Australian organisations
OCC Apparel provides screen printing on ethical and quality blank apparel for organisations across Australia: universities, not-for-profits, corporates, brands, events and sports clubs. We supply the garments, separate your artwork into colours, print on automatic presses in Sydney and ship Australia-wide.
Screen printing is the classic method for t-shirts, hoodies and totes. It gives a durable, consistent print and is often the most economical choice for larger runs and spot-colour logos. Every order starts with a free mockup, and nothing is printed until you approve it.
How screen printing works
Your artwork is separated into individual colours, and each colour gets its own screen. Ink is pushed through each screen onto the garment, one colour at a time. On coloured or dark garments we print an underbase first so the top colours stay bright.
Because each colour needs a screen, the number of colours and print positions drives the set-up and the cost per print. Simple artwork in one to three colours is usually the best value. We can print any colour combination on any garment colour.
Inks: water-based, plastisol and specialty
- Water-based inks from MagnaColours. The ink soaks into the fabric for a soft hand feel.
- Permaset inks, made in Australia by Colormaker Industries, a privately owned company founded in 1958.
- Plastisol inks sit on top of the fabric for vivid, opaque colour. They print wet-on-wet and are economical for bold designs.
- Discharge inks remove the garment’s dye and replace it with colour, for a soft print on dark cotton.
- GOTS-certified organic inks for organic garments.
- Foil and metallic finishes for a standout print.
When screen printing is the right choice
Choose screen printing when your logo uses a few solid colours, you need the same design across a larger run, or you want a print that lasts wash after wash. It works on cotton, organic cotton, blends and canvas totes.
For photographic or many-colour artwork, or very small quantities, digital printing or transfers can be better value. We’ll recommend the method that suits your artwork in your quote.
Artwork and getting a quote
Send vector artwork (AI, EPS or PDF) with outlined text and Pantone C colours. If you only have a JPG or PNG, we can redraw it. Tell us the garment, colours, sizes, quantity, print positions and the date you need it.
Popular choices include custom t-shirts and custom hoodies in organic cotton from Earth Positive, Stanley/Stella and AS Colour.
What to expect
- Inks: water-based (MagnaColours), plastisol, discharge, GOTS-certified organic, foil and metallic
- Australian-made Permaset inks from Colormaker Industries
- Water-based for a soft feel; plastisol for vivid colour
- Coloured garments get an underbase print; more colours means more screens
Popular garments
FAQ
More detail: water-based vs plastisol screen printing, how screen printing works, print placement and sizing and all our custom apparel guides.
Questions
How much does screen printing cost?
Cost depends on the quantity, the number of ink colours, the number of print positions and the garment. More colours mean more screens, so simpler artwork and larger runs lower the cost per garment. Every job is quoted individually.
Is there a minimum order for screen printing?
Screen printing has a minimum of 24 pieces per print design. Each colour needs its own screen, so smaller runs cost more per garment, and digital printing is often better value for very small quantities.
What is the difference between water-based and plastisol screen printing?
Water-based ink soaks into the fabric for a soft, light feel. Plastisol sits on top of the fabric for vivid, opaque colour and is economical for bold designs on dark garments.
How many colours can you screen print?
We can print any combination of colours on any garment colour. Each extra colour adds a screen and cost.
How long does screen printing take?
Typically 2–3 weeks from artwork approval and payment, or 3–4 weeks in peak periods and for complex jobs. Rush jobs are often possible.
Screen printing or digital printing: which is better?
Screen printing suits spot colours and larger runs, with a durable finish and a lower cost per garment at volume. Digital printing suits full-colour or photographic artwork and small runs, with no screens to set up.
Do you screen print organic cotton t-shirts?
Yes. Organic cotton is where OCC Apparel started in 2004. We print Earth Positive, Stanley/Stella and AS Colour organic tees, with water-based or GOTS-certified organic inks. See our organic tees.
Do you keep my screens for reorders?
In general we keep screens for 6 months after your order, which makes a repeat run of the same design simpler. Let us know when you reorder.
Do you supply the garments as well as the printing?
Yes. We supply the blank garments and print them in one order, so you get one quote, one mockup and one delivery.
Other services
Digital Printing · Embroidery · Transfers · Relabelling · Mockups · Offshore Manufacturing · Online Merchandise Management
OCC APPAREL – AUSTRALIA
Work with us – get a free quote.
Please complete the form and give as much detail as you can. Attach one artwork file to give us an idea of your design; once we’re in touch we’ll send instructions for the rest.
We print and ship nationwide, quotes are free and no-obligation, and every order gets a professional mockup before production.