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Best Screen Printing Services in San Jose, CA

Our Recommended Top 10

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored San Jose Screen Printing Services on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

222Reviewed

137Curated

10Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

San Jose, CA 95112

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (8)
Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Eminence Fronts Graphics is a provider of custom screen printing for individuals and organizations in San Jose. The founder has more than 25 years of industry experience, and the crew describes its price schedule as the best and most competitive in the Bay Area. Eminence Fronts Graphics uses American Apparel, Bella+Canvas, Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, Jerzees, and Rabbit Skins for its shirts, and it also engages in direct-to-garment, banner, decal, vinyl lettering, and vehicle wrap production. The shop accommodates inquiries by phone or e-mail.

San Jose, CA 95112

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (19)
Facebook
3.1 (14)

Why choose this provider?

Spartan Screen Printing is a studio in San Jose that designs and produces custom t-shirts, shorts, fight banners, stickers, and decals. The crew aims “to deliver high-quality products, with five-star customer service, at the most competitive price,” and it ships orders nationwide. Spartan Screen Printing uses top-notch brands, including Nike and Under Armour, and some of its corporate clients are the American Cancer Society, American Kickboxing Academy, San Francisco 49ers, Stanford University, Whole Foods, Intel, and March of Dimes. The company website features a design app, a catalog, and the current specials.

San Jose, CA 95148

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Ink City is a screen printing shop in San Jose that caters to clients throughout the Bay Area and in other parts of the United States. The crew welcomes orders ranging from one to one thousand, or even more, and it commits to delivering quality prints at competitive prices. The team uses proven design and delivery, as well as the latest technology, and some of the company’s products are tees and collared shirts. Ink City provides free custom quotes, and it accommodates inquiries by phone or e-mail.

San Jose, CA 95133

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (37)
Google
4.5 (17)

Why choose this provider?

Stitch N Ink is an apparel decoration studio in San Jose that offers embroidery and screen printing services. The team helps customers from conceptualization to the timely delivery of the orders, and it accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa payments. Stitch N Ink provides quality products for personal and corporate use, and it also engages in the design and fabrication of outdoor signs, car decals, and fleet graphics. The company has flexible work hours, and the staff members who can discuss the project in Spanish. Customers can read the artwork submission, ordering, and shipping policies on the shop’s website.

San Jose, CA 95123

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (19)
Google
4.2 (6)

Why choose this provider?

San Jose Screenprinting is a studio in San Jose that transforms fabrics into wearable masterpieces. The owner began professionally decorating apparel in the 1970s, and his decades of experience have enabled him to bring life to intricate designs. San Jose Screenprinting also creates digital-to-garment and non-fabric custom products, including glass beer steins and water bottles, and it accepts electronically transmitted files. The team commits to delivering correct, on-time, and high-quality orders, and it can silkscreen up to 11 vibrant colors. Clients need not worry about hidden costs because there are none.

San Jose, CA 95112

Why choose this provider?

BG Labels & Tees is a company in San Jose that provides custom embroidery, screen printing, and engraving. The team does not outsource the silkscreening and other processes to subcontractors, and some of the items are tees, polos, jackets, sweats, and safety vests. BG Labels & Tees designs and manufactures all products according to the specifications of the American National Standards Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and it takes pride in being a customer-oriented business establishment. Clients can call, fax, or e-mail the staff to start discussing their project.

San Jose, CA 95126

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (44)
Google
5.0 (18)
Facebook
4.5 (13)

Why choose this provider?

Spectrum Apparel Printing is a company in San Jose that turns plain-looking clothes into wearable, screen-printed works of art. The shop helps people “make their mark in society” by designing and producing visual expressions that matter, and it commits to fast turnaround times, awesome customer service, and affordable pricing without the headache-causing hidden fees. The team provides instant quotes through its website, and it prints on any part of the garment, including the sleeve. Spectrum Apparel Printing is a Living Wage employer, and it supports the buy-local and Bike To Work campaigns.

San Jose, CA 95112

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (58)
Facebook
5.0 (7)
Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Polar Bear Embroidery is a shop in San Jose that offers screen printing, digitizing, and embroidery services. The company opened in 1982, and its Japan Town workshop has state-of-the-art machines that cater to individuals, couples, families, schools, religious groups, trade associations, non-profits, and business establishments throughout Silicon Valley. Polar Bear Embroidery enjoys the reputation as the go-to provider of promotional items and team uniforms in the metro, and some of its clients are Applebee’s, Cisco, and San José State University. The staff accepts rush orders.

San Jose, CA 95123

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.5 (32)

Why choose this provider?

Imagination Embroidery is a studio in San Jose that engages in embroidery and screen printing work. The crew customizes and decorates most fabric types, and some of the products are agency patches, basketball jerseys, baseball shirts, Greek jackets, spa uniforms, and headwear. Imagination Embroidery delivers the standard orders in five business days or less, and it offers refunds on items returned within 30 calendar days. The company caters to individuals and organizations, including local businesses and multinational corporations, and its website contains the catalog and a logo design app.

San Jose, CA 95136

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (6)
Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

NBN Sports is a store in San Jose that offers screen printing and embroidery services. The crew personalizes most types of fabric, and the products include caps, backpacks, athletic gear, industrial work shirts and pants, medical scrubs, and safety vests. NBN Sports is a member of Advertising Specialty Institute, and it also produces promotional merchandise and fundraising items, such as stemware, coffee mugs, key fobs, inflatables, office supplies, and campaign buttons. Some of the company’s corporate clients are USA Track & Field, California Riptide Fastpitch Organization, and James Lick High School.

Compare our Top Screen Printing Services

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Eminence Fronts Graphics
San Jose, CA 95112
Spartan Screen Printing
San Jose, CA 95112
Ink City
San Jose, CA 95148
Stitch N Ink
San Jose, CA 95133
San Jose Screenprinting
San Jose, CA 95123
BG Labels & Tees
San Jose, CA 95112
Spectrum Apparel Printing
San Jose, CA 95126
Polar Bear Embroidery
San Jose, CA 95112
Imagination Embroidery
San Jose, CA 95123
NBN Sports
San Jose, CA 95136

FAQs

  • What is screen printing?

    Screen printing is a method of applying graphics to a T-shirt. It typically involves layering thick inks onto the shirt's surface instead of soaking them into the fabric. Screen printing is also sometimes called silk screening.

    Since screen printing generally uses thicker inks, this type of fabric printing is usually better for graphics with one or two colors. If you have more complicated, colorful graphics, direct to garment printing, or DTG, may be a better option.

    Major fabric printing methods include:

    • Screen printing or silk screening

    • Direct to garment printing

    • Stamp printing

    • Thermal transfer printing

    • Sublimation transfer printing

  • How does screen printing work?

    Screen printing works by using a silkscreen with an exposed design. Ink is swiped across the screen with a squeegee tool, and this action sends the ink design through the screen and onto the T-shirt.

    When graphics are printed onto a T-shirt using screen-printing techniques, the colors are sometimes allowed to dry between color applications, and subsequent colors are printed with another screen after the T-shirt is realigned on the press.


  • What is silk-screen printing?

    Traditionally, screen printing has been called silk-screen printing because originally, silk was the primary material used in the process. The mesh portion of the screen was made of silk. In modern times, synthetic threads are commonly used in the silk-screening process, with polyester being one of the most popular choices. Nylon and stainless steel are also used in some screen-printing applications.


  • How do I start screen printing?

    If you want to try screen printing at home, you can do it with a little bit of practice and some basic materials. To get started with screen printing, you may need:

    • A screen, usually made of polyester

    • Photo emulsion

    • A 150W light bulb

    • A screen-printing squeegee

    • Fabric paint

    • Two pieces of glass

  • How can I print T-shirts?

    To print T-shirts at home, you can try the screen-printing method described above. To print a lot of shirts, you may consider using a screen-printing company.

    While the exact steps and process varies by company, in general, you can expect to provide the T-shirt company with your desired design, either electronically or in person. You can choose other options, and the screen-printing company typically sends you a mock-up of what the finished design will look like; Then, after you approve it, they produce it according to your specifications.


  • How can I make a custom T-shirt?

    If you'd rather not go the screen-printing route, you can customize T-shirts in other ways.

    • Heat transfers, which involve using a printing machine and heat press machine to transfer designs to fabric

    • Embroidery, which involves intricate stitching using thread and special needles

    • Direct to garment (DTG) digital printing, a process that uses a special inkjet printer with special ink to print designs onto the fabric directly

    • Engraved roller printing, a process that involves dye being applied to fabric that’s passed through rollers engraved with designs in a printing machine

  • How do I design a T-shirt?

    When you design a T-shirt, there are a lot of factors to consider. Most of the time, screen-printing companies will ask you to submit a high-resolution file of the design you want printed. Sometimes, the company has in-house graphic designers who can create a design for you based on your specifications or ideas.

    Here are a few suggestions for optimizing your T-shirt design:

    • Ensure any text is readable, and you can do this by selecting the right fabric and paint color combination

    • Consider creating a contrast between your chosen T-shirt color and the screen-printing ink

    • Make sure the type size is big enough to read from a distance