What is screen printing? +
Screen printing is a method of printing where ink is pushed through a mesh screen directly onto a surface — in our case, garments like t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags and more. Each colour in the design uses its own screen, and the ink is pressed through using a squeegee. The result is a bold, vibrant print that bonds with the fabric and lasts wash after wash. It's one of the oldest and most trusted printing methods in the industry, and for good reason.
How does the screen printing process work? +
The screen printing process starts with your artwork being separated into individual colour layers. Each colour gets its own screen, which is prepared using a light-sensitive emulsion. Ink is then pushed through each screen onto the garment in sequence, building up the final design one colour at a time. At High Tee, we handle the full process in-house — from artwork setup and screen preparation through to printing, curing and quality checking every garment before it leaves our West Footscray studio.
Does screen printing wash off? +
No — when done properly, screen printing does not wash off. The ink is cured using heat after printing, which bonds it permanently to the fabric fibres. A correctly printed and cured screen print will hold up to regular washing for the life of the garment. To keep prints looking their best, we recommend washing garments inside-out in cold water and avoiding high-heat drying. Cheap or improperly cured prints are where issues arise — which is why trade-qualified printing matters.
How long will a screen print last? +
A properly printed screen print should last the full life of the garment — often years of regular wear and washing. Durability depends on the quality of the ink, how well the print was cured, the garment fabric, and how it's cared for. At High Tee, we use quality inks and proper curing processes to ensure every print holds up over time. Screen printing is widely considered the most durable garment printing method available.
Which is better — heat transfer or screen printing? +
For bulk orders and long-lasting results, screen printing is generally the better choice. It produces more vibrant colours, bonds more deeply with the fabric and holds up better over time. Heat transfer (including DTF transfers) is a better option for small runs, full-colour artwork with gradients, or when you need no minimum order. At High Tee we offer both screen printing and DTF transfers, so we can recommend the right method based on your artwork, quantity and budget — just ask us.
What are the basic materials used in screen printing? +
The core materials used in screen printing are: a mesh screen (stretched over a frame), light-sensitive emulsion (used to create the stencil), plastisol or water-based ink, a squeegee (to push the ink through the screen), and the garment itself. In a professional setup like ours, you also need exposure units for burning screens, a conveyor dryer for curing the ink, and press equipment to hold everything in place during printing.
What is the best material to screen print on? +
100% cotton is widely regarded as the best fabric for screen printing — it absorbs ink well, produces vibrant colours and holds up to washing. Cotton/polyester blends also work well and are commonly used. Pure polyester can be trickier as it's prone to dye migration (where the fabric colour bleeds into the ink), though it's manageable with the right inks and techniques. At High Tee we can advise on the best garment options for your specific job — just let us know what you're after.
What printing methods do you offer? +
We offer
screen printing,
embroidery and
DTF transfers depending on the design, garment and quantity required. We also offer
finishing services including relabelling, folding, bagging and Australia-wide delivery. If you're unsure which method is best, our team can help guide you.
Do you have minimum order quantities? +
Minimum order quantities vary depending on the printing method. Screen printing starts from 20 units. Embroidery starts from 10 units. DTF transfers have no minimum order, making it ideal for smaller runs and single pieces.
Can I supply my own garments? +
Yes, customers can supply their own garments if preferred. However, we generally recommend sourcing garments through us to ensure they are suitable for printing and embroidery. Please note that High Tee cannot be held responsible for damage, misprints or issues that may occur when printing on customer-supplied items.
How long does production take? +
Turnaround times vary depending on the size of the order, garment availability and the printing method. Our team will provide clear timelines when quoting your job. If you're working to a specific deadline, let us know when enquiring and we'll always do our best to accommodate.
Do you help with choosing garments? +
Yes. We work with a wide range of
garment suppliers and can help you choose the best option based on your design, budget and how the garments will be used. You can also browse our
full product range.
What artwork do you need? +
For the best printing results we recommend supplying artwork in vector format - AI, EPS or PDF files. If your artwork is a raster file (PNG, JPG or Photoshop), it should be supplied at 300dpi at the final print size or larger. If you're unsure, simply send us what you have and our team can review it.
Can you help prepare my artwork? +
Yes. If your artwork needs adjustments for printing, we can assist with preparing it to ensure the best possible result. Just let us know when you enquire via our
quote form.
Do you offer finishing services? +
Yes. We offer relabelling, folding, bagging and Australia-wide delivery to help prepare garments for retail, distribution or events.
Do you ship Australia-wide? +
Yes, we organise delivery across Australia for completed orders. You can also pick up directly from our studio in West Footscray, Melbourne.
See our full process for more details.
I'm not sure what I need. Can you help? +
Absolutely. If you're unsure about garments, quantities or print methods, our friendly team can help guide you through the process. The easiest way to get started is to
fill in our quote form with as much detail as you have and we'll take it from there.