Simulated Process & CMYK Printing in the Bay Area
Process printing reproduces photographic, full-color artwork in screen printing by breaking the image into tiny halftone dots. Up close it’s a pattern of dots; at arm’s length your eye blends them into smooth gradients and lifelike color — no full-color digital print required.
Simulated process vs. 4-color CMYK
4-color process (CMYK) uses four transparent inks — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — layered in halftones to build every color. It’s ideal on white or light garments where the shirt acts as the white in the image.
Simulated process uses a set of opaque spot colors (including a white underbase) printed in halftones. Because it’s opaque, it reproduces vivid, photographic art on dark garments — which is exactly where CMYK falls apart. We pick the approach based on your art and garment color.
What makes halftones work
Halftones are the dot patterns that let solid ink simulate continuous tones and gradients. The dot size, angle, and screen mesh all affect how clean the blend looks and how much the dots “gain” (spread) on press. Getting those right — and separating the art well — is the whole craft, and it’s why process printing is best left to an experienced shop.
- Photographic and painterly artwork
- Smooth gradients and many colors
- Vivid full-color art on dark shirts (simulated)
- Full-color art on white shirts (CMYK)
- Art & separations. Send hi-res art; we separate it into process colors and quote it.
- Proof & screens. You approve a proof, then we burn a screen for each separation.
- Print in register. We print each color in tight register so the dots align.
- Ship. Folded, counted, and shipped — free on orders over $200.
Photo-real art, printed in ink.
Great process printing lives in the color separations. We separate your art carefully and dial in dot gain on press so gradients stay smooth and skin tones stay believable — on lights and darks.
- Expert color separations, done in-house
- A real proof before we burn screens
- Dot gain controlled for clean gradients
- Satisfaction guaranteed — 15+ years of printing
Process & Halftone Printing, answered.
Which is better, CMYK or simulated process?
It depends on the garment. CMYK is best on white/light shirts; simulated process uses opaque inks and a white underbase to reproduce full-color art on dark shirts. We choose based on your artwork and garment color.
Can you print a photograph on a shirt this way?
Yes — that’s exactly what process printing is for. Send us the highest-resolution file you have; the sharper the source art, the cleaner the halftones and gradients.
Is process printing more expensive?
It uses more screens and careful setup, so it costs more than a simple 1–2 color print, but the per-shirt price still drops with quantity. For very small full-color runs, DTF or DTG can be more economical — we’ll compare options in your quote.
What artwork do you need?
Vector art or a high-resolution raster file (300 DPI at print size) gives the best result. Low-res or heavily compressed images limit how clean the final halftones can be.
Puff Print
A raising agent lifts the ink off the shirt for a soft, 3D, spongy finish — the retail-favorite look that begs to be touched.
High-Density Printing
Ink built up in sharp, glossy, raised layers with crisp vertical edges — including clear high-density gloss and raised heat-transfer versions.
Water-Based & Discharge Printing
Ink that soaks into the fibers instead of sitting on top — an ultra-soft, almost printless feel. Discharge does it on dark garments.
Sublimation Printing
Dye turned to gas bonds permanently into polyester for edge-to-edge, all-over color that never cracks, peels, or fades.
Metallic & Foil Printing
Mirror-bright metallic foil bonded to an adhesive print — gold, silver, and holographic shine, as a direct print or a ready-to-press transfer.
Glow-in-the-Dark Ink
Phosphorescent ink that charges under light and glows green in the dark — a hidden second design that only shows at night.
Glitter Ink
Real metallic flakes suspended in the ink give a sparkling, textured finish that catches the light from every angle.
Fluorescent & Neon Ink
Electric neon inks that pop in daylight and glow bright under UV blacklight — the go-to for parties, runs, and club nights.
Color-Changing Inks
Inks that transform with heat (thermochromic) or water (hydrochromic) — a print that reveals a hidden design when it warms up or gets wet.
Silicone Ink Printing
Stretchy, ultra-soft silicone ink that flexes with the fabric and resists cracking — a premium, tagless-soft finish built for performance wear.
Printing on Polyester
Special low-cure inks and blockers stop dye migration so prints stay bright and true on polyester, tri-blends, and performance fabrics.
Ready to make something great?
Get a fast, no-obligation quote — most within one business day. As few as one, no setup fees.