For your products to stand out on retail shelves, you need eye-catching and memorable packaging. However, striking a balance between stunning design and budget-friendly packaging can feel like a juggling act. Enter screen printing, a reliable and versatile packaging decoration technique that you can use to deliver powerful visuals without breaking the bank.
At Pro-Motion Industries, we understand the importance of affordability in design and printing. That’s why we’ve built our screen printing services around delivering value for money, without compromising on quality.
Factors affecting screen printing costs
To decide if screen printing is right for you, you must first understand the factors that affect the cost of this popular printing method.
Number of colors
With screen printing, a screen must be created for each color in your design. This translates to higher setup costs for multicolored designs compared to single-color prints. For example, a simple logo with two colors will need two separate screens, while a more photorealistic design with a wider color palette will require multiple screens, significantly impacting the cost.
Design complexity
Intricate designs with small details, gradients, or fine text usually require more setup time and potentially involve additional colors or specialty inks. These factors contribute to a higher cost than what you would pay for printing a simpler design with fewer elements.
Packaging materials
The type and quality of your packaging material directly influence the overall cost of your screen printing project. For example, thicker or premium cardboard generally comes at a higher cost compared to standard, thinner cardboard. Similarly, printing on textured or uneven surfaces can be more expensive than printing on smooth surfaces. This is because the former may require the use of specialty inks or additional steps such as adding primers.
Print location
Printing on multiple areas of packaging, such as both the front and back of wrappers or boxes, requires additional setup and printing time. Moreover, printing on certain areas, such as curved surfaces, corners, or tight folds, can be more complex and require specialized techniques or additional equipment, adding to the overall cost.
Print quality
Getting top-notch print quality often takes extra time and effort as well as specialized printing techniques. This might involve using special screens to produce sharper prints, printing the colors multiple times to enhance vibrancy, or using special inks to create more durable prints. While these options make your prints look amazing and last longer, they naturally cost more than the basic printing methods.
Quantity
Printing larger batches generally lowers the cost per item because the initial setup costs are distributed across a larger number of units. For example, printing 100 jars with the same design will be more expensive per jar than printing 1,000 jars with the same design.
Turnaround time
If you need your order printed quickly, you might have to pay extra fees. These fees cover the extra effort it takes to get your order done faster such as overnight shipping or overtime work.
Screen printing cost structure
To help you understand how screen printing costs are calculated, here’s a breakdown of the main components:
Setup costs
There are many processes that add up to the setup costs:
- Screen preparation: You need to create a screen for each color in your design. This involves preparing the mesh, applying a special coating, and transferring your design onto the screen.
- Ink mixing and matching: To achieve the exact colors you want, experts might mix different base inks.
- Equipment setup: The printing press needs to be adjusted and calibrated for your specific project to ensure high-quality prints.
Tooling costs
Since each bottle, jar, or container closure has unique dimensions and features, custom tooling is often required. Custom tooling refers to specialized attachments designed to hold your specific bottle, jar, or closure during the printing process. It ensures precise alignment and prevents smudging or misprints.Â
Ink costs
Ink costs vary depending on type and quality. Standard plastisol inks are generally affordable, while specialty inks such as metallic, glow-in-the-dark, or environmentally friendly options often come with a premium price tag. The amount of ink needed also affects the price, with larger prints requiring more ink and therefore incurring a higher cost.
Labor costs
Skilled labor plays a crucial role at every stage of the screen printing process, directly impacting the labor cost. Here’s a closer look at the tasks contributing to this cost:
- Design preparation: This usually involves converting your artwork into a format suitable for screen printing, separating colors for individual screens, and ensuring the design adheres to printing specifications.
- Screen creation: Skilled technicians handle tasks such as preparing the screens, applying emulsions, burning the design onto the screens, and ensuring proper ink flow.
- Printing and press operation: Operating the printing press requires experienced personnel to maintain consistent pressure, speed, and alignment.
- Quality control: Throughout the process, meticulous inspections ensure color accuracy, registration (i.e., alignment of colors), and overall print quality.
Shipping and handling
While they don’t directly impact the printing process itself, shipping and handling fees add up to the final cost of your project. Factors such as shipment size, weight, and how soon you want your materials delivered will determine the shipping cost.
Screen printing savings tips
Here are some practical tips to help you save on your screen printing projects:
- Optimize color count: Opt for simpler designs with fewer colors to reduce setup costs.
- Plan larger quantities: If your budget allows, print larger batches to bring down the cost per unit.
- Consider standard options: Choosing standard packaging types and printing locations can lead to more economical pricing.
- Plan ahead: Early planning allows for efficient scheduling and helps you avoid rush fees.
Pro-Motion’s approach to value-driven screen printing
At Pro-Motion Industries, we go beyond just printing. We prioritize providing value to our clients in several ways:
- Transparency and competitive pricing: We offer clear, upfront pricing and work closely with you to optimize costs based on your needs.
- High-quality, durable results: We invest in top-notch materials and experienced labor to ensure your prints last and make a lasting impression. We also use thick, opaque inks that adhere well to plastic surfaces, ensuring long-lasting prints. Having durable designs reduces the need for frequent replacements.
- Efficient processes: We use streamlined methods and technology to minimize production time and costs. We also use automated equipment for faster printing and UV curing for quicker drying times.
- Expert consultation: Our experienced team offers valuable insights and suggestions to help you achieve your design goals within budget.
Reach out to us today at 856-809-0040 to discuss your project and discover how we can deliver true value for money printing with our decoration services.