Jumbo Screen Printing: Is Bigger Always Better?

15 Jul, 2022 By Samantha Warren 1996 Views

Some brands like to live large (literally). Jumbo screen printing is a type of large-format screen printing that allows you to print your design at a 17×22 inch size.

That’s nearly four times the size of a standard design! While this printing method can be great for certain projects, it might not always be the best option.

Here are five factors to consider before saying “YES” to jumbo screen printing:

1. Look at your design

Before deciding if jumbo screen printing is right for your project, you need to look at your design. Is it simple enough to work at a larger size? Or is it too complex and detailed?

Some designs are actually better suited for a smaller print area. If your design is too busy, it might get lost at a larger size. In general, simpler designs work better at a larger scale. (But of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.)

2. Keep reading ability in mind

Another important factor to consider is readability. Will your design be easy to read at a 17×22 inch size? If not, it might be better to stick with a smaller print area.

3. Consider your budget

Jumbo screen printing can be more expensive than standard screen printing, simply because it requires more materials. So if you’re working with a limited budget, this might not be the best option for you.

4. Think about turnaround time

Keep in mind that jumbo screen printing can take longer than standard screen printing because there’s more area to cover. Jumbo projects might not be deadline-friendly.

5. Weigh your options

In the end, it’s important to review all your options before deciding if jumbo screen printing is right for your project. If you’re unsure, our team of experts at Scrappy Apparel can help you weigh the pros and cons to find the best printing method for your needs.

Think about it…

What are you trying to achieve?
How much does size matter to your target audience?
What is your budget for this project?
What is your timeline?

Your goal should be to find the best printing method for your project. Take some time to consider all your options before making a final decision. Jumbo screen printing can be a great way to make a big impact with your brand, but it’s not the right route to take with every project…

…and that leads us into our pros and cons list.

Pros of jumbo screen printing

1. You can make a big impact with your design.

This is the most obvious benefit of going jumbo.

If you want to make a statement with your design, this is definitely the way to do it. Just imagine how your design will look at four times its original size!

2. It’s great for simple, bold designs.

Simple is often better when it comes to screen printing. And that’s especially true for large-format prints. If your design is too complex, it might get lost at a larger size. But if it’s simple and bold, jumbo screen printing can be a great way to make a big impact.

3. You can really show off your color palette.

If you have a loud, high-contrast design to print on a garment, one way to amplify its effect is by going big. Jumbo screen printing can really make your colors pop. And if you’re working with a limited color palette, this can be a great way to make your design stand out.

4. It can be cost-effective.

Sure, jumbo screen printing requires more materials (like ink) than a smaller print would. But you might be surprised to learn that it can also be highly cost-effective.

Let us explain:

The price of screen printing is mainly based on the number of colors in your design, not the size of your print area. So, if you have a simple design that only uses a couple of colors, it may be cheaper to print it jumbo-sized than printing a complex design on a small area.

Of course, this all depends on your specific project. We quote our projects on a case-by-case basis because every little factor makes a difference. But it’s something to keep in mind when you’re budgeting for your screen printing project.

5. You don’t have to worry about the design losing quality when it’s scaled up.

This is a common concern with digital printing methods like DTG (direct-to-garment) printing. But it’s not an issue with screen printing. As long as your design is high-resolution to begin with, it will look just as sharp at a larger size.

6. It’s a versatile printing method – you can print on a variety of garments.

T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts… you name it.

As long as the surface area is large enough and the fabric is suitable for screen printing, you can go jumbo!

Now that we’ve gone over some of the benefits of jumbo screen printing, let’s look at some potential drawbacks.

Cons of jumbo screen printing:

1. It might not be necessary.

Sure, jumbo screen printing adds a little extra width and height to your design—but not all designs need the extra oomph. Sometimes, a smaller print is all you need to make your point.

2. Not all designs are suited for a large print area.

This goes back to our point about simplicity. A complex design with a lot of small details might get lost at a larger size. So, if you’re not sure whether your design will work at a larger size, it’s always best to get a second opinion from your manufacturer or apparel professionals in your network.

3. It can be more expensive than standard screen printing.

This is true in some cases, but not always. There are other factors that influence the price more than the size of the screen print. But jumbo might not be the best choice if you’re on a tight budget.

4. It might take longer to print your garments.

Depending on your manufacturer, going jumbo could add at least a few days to your turnaround time. If you have a rapidly approaching deadline, you should ask your custom apparel partner how long it will take to turn around your garments.

A quality partner will be 100% transparent with you about how long it will take to manufacture and deliver your order.

5. You might need to order a larger quantity of garments to make the investment worthwhile.

Let’s talk price breaks and MOQs. (That stands for “minimum order quantity.”)

If you want to take advantage of jumbo screen printing, you might want to order larger garments than you originally intended. Most custom apparel companies have a minimum order quantity for each service.

An MOQ is the minimum number of garments you need to order at one time for the manufacturer to work with you.

Jumbo screen printing doesn’t always have a higher MOQ, but it usually entails a higher per-garment cost. Therefore, it would be more cost-effective to order a larger quantity of garments to make the most of your investment.

6. You need to have a large enough print area on your garment.

This is probably the most obvious drawback to jumbo screen printing. If your garment doesn’t have a large enough print area, you’re simply out of luck.

For the kiddos, jumbo isn’t the way to go—at least until they fit into adult sizes.

The verdict: should you go jumbo with your screen printing project?

As with any marketing decision, choose the size that makes the most sense for your business goals and objectives.

Jumbo screen printing may be the way to go if you want to make a splash and grab attention. However, a more minimalistic approach may be best if you’re trying to appeal to a more sophisticated audience.

The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing the size of your screen print project.

It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve and who your target audience is. Take the time to consider your options and ask questions.

Being informed will help you make the best choice for your screen printing project.

How Scrappy Apparel will take your large format screen printing project to new heights

Now that you know a little more about jumbo screen printing, it’s time to take your project to the next level. Scrappy Apparel is here to help you achieve your goals, no matter how big or small they may be.

Here are just a few (of the many) reasons why you should work with us:

We specialize in large format screen printing.

We have the experience and expertise to print your artwork up to 20×28 in. Better yet, we’ll print your design all over the garment if you want it covered from head to toe. If you want to make a big impact with your brand, check out all our large format screen printing options.

Our team will ensure that all the important details in your design translate well to the large format jumbo screen printing calls for.

We take the time to review your artwork and discuss your vision for the project. This way, we can guarantee your satisfaction and make sure the whole team is clear on what the finished design will look like.

We’ll work with you to choose the best printing method, garment, and ink for your project.

We’re here to help you every step of the way—from start to finish.

Our experts are passionate about screen printing and committed to providing our customers with the best possible experience. We’ll work with you to ensure your project turns out exactly the way you envisioned it.

We source the highest-quality fabrics, inks, and materials to use for our garments.

That’s right—no more scratchy t-shirts with holes in them after the second wash. We believe you deserve the best, so we meticulously handpick all the materials we use to produce your custom screen printed garments.

We’re willing to go above and beyond to make sure you’re happy with your finished products—that is the Scrappy Apparel way.

We’re a one-stop shop for all your custom apparel needs

In addition to jumbo screen printing, we offer a wide range of other services, including embroidery, sublimation printing, and the best custom hat program on the face of the Earth.

We are a fully online, customer-first service provider with enterprise-level scalability.

That was a mouthful—but here’s what we mean by that. When you work with us, you get:

The ability to order your custom apparel online without getting dressed or driving to your local print shop.
All your questions answered. Our Scrappy Sales Reps and rockstar customer support team will make sure you understand every step in our manufacturing and fulfillment processes. When you work with us, you will receive the same personalized service you’d expect from your local print shop.
Access to manufacturing resources that your local print shop simply doesn’t have. If you want to scale your brand big, you need a custom apparel partner that can keep up with your growth. We can produce orders of 100 shirts, 1,000, 10,000… every big number you can think of. You’ll never outgrow us because we can scale you to the enterprise level—and beyond.

We offer FREE shipping to the USA.

When you work with Scrappy Apparel, you’ll enjoy free shipping on all orders within the USA. That’s right—we’ll cover the cost of shipping so you can focus on what’s important: your business.

Our quotes are 100% transparent, all-inclusive (with no hidden fees), and FREE!

What you see is what you get with Scrappy Apparel. We believe in being upfront and honest with our customers, which is why we provide free, no-obligation, all-inclusive, and 100% transparent quotes.

We’re here to help you grow your brand.

At Scrappy Apparel, we’re not just in the business of screen printing—we’re in the business of helping our customers scale their brands to infinity and beyond. We’ll work with you to create a custom apparel solution that meets your specific needs and helps you achieve your goals.