Best Custom Screen Printing in Oakland!

Plastisol Screen Printing in Oakland

Plastisol is the most common ink in commercial screen printing in Oakland for a reason: it performs consistently, prints crisply, and holds color extremely well. It's a PVC-based ink that doesn’t dry unless exposed to high heat (usually above 320°F). Once cured, it forms a solid ink layer that bonds to the fabric surface instead of soaking into it.

This ink works across all fabric types - cotton, polyester, blends, and synthetics - with no pre-treatment needed. It’s perfect for graphics that require sharp edges and rich opacity, especially on darker garments where lighter inks often struggle.

The finished print has a slightly raised feel and a semi-gloss look. It resists cracking, peeling, or fading even after 50+ washes. For clients who prioritize consistent color and reprint accuracy, plastisol is often the right choice in our custom screen printing in Oakland.

• Best for: Logos, bold graphics, consistent repeat orders
• Compatible fabrics: Cotton, poly, tri-blends, synthetics
• Finish: Smooth, semi-gloss, slight texture
• Durability: Industry-leading - excellent wash and wear performance
• Use case: Corporate uniforms, sports jerseys, reorders, general merch

Water-Based Screen Printing in Oakland

Water-based ink penetrates the fibers and binds into the fabric, instead of sitting on top like plastisol. The result is a soft, natural-feeling print that becomes virtually undetectable to the touch after one wash. These inks air dry slowly but cure cleanly under heat without leaving a textured surface.

Because water-based inks are thinner, they produce a matte finish with slightly muted colors - ideal for light fabrics. On dark garments, an underbase or discharge additive may be needed to hold vibrancy. We use controlled curing, fabric prep, and pressure adjustments to manage consistency job to job.

This method is widely used in fashion and boutique apparel, where softness and feel are just as important as looks. It’s one of the most requested techniques for brands doing custom screen printing in Oakland that want a premium hand feel without a plastic layer.

• Best for: Soft-touch prints, breathable fabrics, retail fashion
• Compatible fabrics: 100% cotton preferred; blends with binder support
• Finish: Matte, no texture, natural drape
• Durability: Excellent on light fabrics; moderate with dark underbases
• Use case: Fashion lines, eco-conscious brands, lifestyle merch

Discharge Printing in Oakland

Discharge printing chemically removes the existing dye in a shirt and replaces it with new pigment. The ink activates under high heat, leaving behind a print that feels like nothing is there at all. This method only works on dark, 100% cotton garments, but when used correctly, it produces incredibly soft, bright prints without ink buildup.

We carefully manage discharge mixes in our custom screen printing in Oakland, since results vary based on the original dye and fabric batch. While it's not suitable for synthetics or blends, it’s unmatched for clients who want a retail-quality finish on dark tees without the weight of plastisol.

The final print looks embedded into the fabric. It keeps breathability intact and doesn’t affect the garment’s movement or texture - a huge plus for streetwear and music merch.

• Best for: Soft-feel prints on dark 100% cotton
• Compatible fabrics: Only untreated 100% cotton
• Finish: Flat, dye-replaced - no ink texture
• Durability: Very strong; some variance in brightness by shirt dye
• Use case: Vintage tees, fashion streetwear, tour merch

Puff Ink Printing in Oakland

Puff ink is a plastisol base mixed with an expanding additive that reacts to heat during curing. As it bakes, the ink swells upward, creating a raised, 3D texture that you can see and feel. It’s not just for effect - puff changes how light hits the print and adds dimension that flat ink can’t achieve.

Designs need to be adjusted for this process. Thin lines or small type can swell too much, so we help modify artwork for proper edge definition. Puff also requires consistent heat zones across the platen to avoid uneven lift.

This technique is used selectively in our custom screen printing in Oakland - usually for accent work, streetwear drops, or designs that rely on texture for visual impact.

• Best for: Bold shapes, outline graphics, raised logos
• Compatible fabrics: Cotton, cotton/poly blends
• Finish: Matte, thick, dimensional texture
• Durability: Strong but best preserved with cold wash, air dry
• Use case: Limited runs, fashion labels, tactile branding

Metallic and Specialty Inks in Oakland

Specialty inks take traditional plastisol and enhance it with visual effects like metallic shine. These inks require careful mixing and larger mesh counts to avoid clogging and ink drag. Print stroke and pressure adjustments are critical to maintain even coverage.

Metallic inks offer a chrome-like finish. These aren’t for subtlety - they’re used when a design needs to be seen, especially under lights or in motion. For best results, we apply these effects on smooth, heavyweight cotton to lock in particles without flaking.

Our custom screen printing in Oakland includes these options for event merch, stagewear, nightlife branding, or special drops where the goal is to stand out.

• Best for: High-visibility accents, dancewear, promo tees
• Compatible fabrics: Smooth cotton or blends; not ideal for soft fabrics
• Finish: Glossy, reflective, or sparkly, depending on ink type
• Durability: Good with care; avoid abrasive washing
• Use case: Festival merch, party gear, show apparel, one-time promos

Simulated Process Printing in Oakland

Specialty inks take traditional plastisol and enhance it with visual effects like metallic shine. These inks require careful mixing and larger mesh counts to avoid clogging and ink drag. Print stroke and pressure adjustments are critical to maintain even coverage.

We separate your artwork into tonal ranges - highlights, midtones, shadows - and create multiple screens to overlay ink in precise gradients. The result is a high-resolution, photo-realistic print that maintains clarity without flooding the fabric with heavy ink.

This process is the most advanced offering in our custom screen printing in Oakland, and it's reserved for designs where detail and color accuracy are critical.

• Best for: Complex images, portraits, artwork with subtle color changes
• Compatible fabrics: Works best on cotton; can be adapted for blends
• Finish: Smooth, layered, high-detail
• Durability: High - long-lasting due to the plastisol base
• Use case: Art shirts, band merch, full-color brand campaigns

Choosing the Right Method for Custom Screen Printing in Oakland

Every technique above serves a different purpose, and we’ll walk you through which one fits your order best. Whether you’re printing 25 shirts or 2,500, our crew handles everything in-house - artwork setup, ink selection, testing, curing, and final QC.

With our custom screen printing in Oakland, you’re not guessing. You’re working with people who know what they’re doing and care how your prints come out.

• Custom Tank Tops: Lightweight, breathable, and perfect for warmer weather or indoor events. We print on both standard and athletic-cut tank tops using inks that hold well even on stretch fabrics. Great for fitness studios, festivals, and casual drops. Available in men’s, women’s, and unisex fits.
• Custom T-shirts: Our most popular product. T-shirts are printed daily at our Oakland location with vibrant inks and precision alignment. We offer 100% cotton, cotton/poly blends, and ringspun options to match your print style and budget. Perfect for brands, events, uniforms, and more.
• Custom Long-Sleeve T-shirts: Long-sleeve shirts give your design more space and season flexibility. Whether it’s a full front print or sleeve graphic, our setup allows accurate placement across all zones. Used often for seasonal merch, crew uniforms, and artist drops needing more coverage.
• Custom Tie-Dye Shirts: Each tie-dye piece is unique, but we test every blank for ink compatibility to ensure clean screen prints over vibrant backgrounds. These are ideal for music merch, streetwear lines, and one-off capsule collections. We print tie-dye shirts in-house with careful color separation.
• Custom Hoodies: Hoodies offer weight, warmth, and a premium feel. We screen print on fleece, jersey, and heavyweight materials with smooth surfaces to keep designs sharp. Perfect for brand releases, team gear, and cold-season apparel. Full chest, back, or sleeve placements are all supported.
• Custom Sweatshirts: Crewneck sweatshirts print flat and wear clean - ideal for minimalist designs, team branding, or layered looks. Our shop prints on midweight and heavyweight blanks that take ink evenly without warping or puckering. Available in classic or fashion fits.
• Custom Zip-Up Sweatshirts: Full-zip hoodies require a special layout to avoid misalignment across the zipper. We screen print these with precise setup and pre-shrink testing. Great for layering pieces, brand apparel, and retail-ready drops. Side chest, back, and sleeve placements available.
• Custom Polo Shirts: We print on both pique and jersey-knit polos using techniques that avoid ink bleed and maintain structure. Custom polos are a favorite for business uniforms, casual wear, and event staff. You can add logos to the left chest, sleeve, or back, depending on your layout.
• Custom Tote Bags: Durable and reusable, totes make great promotional items, artist merch, or eco-friendly retail packaging. We screen print on both canvas and recycled poly totes, keeping ink density consistent even on rougher surfaces. Flat printing ensures crisp detail and edge alignment.

Every item we print is handled right here in Oakland with full attention to detail - from fabric choice to final curing. Whether you’re ordering for your brand, team, or next event, our custom screen printing in Oakland gives you reliable quality, fast turnaround, and full control over how your gear looks and feels.