Screen Printing in Kampala
If you've ever worn a t-shirt with a bold logo that survived years of washing without fading — that was screen printing. Here's the quick version, then the deep version if you want it.
⚡ In 30 seconds
- What it is: Pushing ink through a mesh screen onto fabric — one screen per colour.
- Why people love it: Bold colour, unbeatable durability, cheapest method for bulk.
- Best on: T-shirts, polos, hoodies, sports kits, event shirts — in bulk.
- Not great for: Very small runs with many colours (use DTF instead).
- Pricing in Kampala: From UGX 12,000 per piece (bulk), drops with quantity.
- Minimum order: 5 pieces per design.
- Turnaround: 3–7 working days depending on quantity.
Is screen printing right for you?
Yes — choose screen printing if...
- • You're ordering 50+ pieces (per-piece cost drops fast)
- • Your design has 1–4 bold colours
- • You want maximum durability (100+ washes)
- • You need high-opacity colour on dark garments
- • You're printing event shirts, sports kits, or staff uniforms
- • You want special effects — puff, metallic, glow-in-dark
Skip screen printing if...
- • You're ordering under 20 pieces (setup cost per piece is high)
- • Your design is a full-colour photo with gradients
- • You want zero setup fee (use DTF instead)
- • You need it within 48 hours
- • You need all-over edge-to-edge coverage
- • Your design changes every piece (variable data)
Not sure? We'll honestly recommend DTF or embroidery if that suits you better.
How screen printing actually works
Think of it like a very precise stencil. A fine mesh fabric is stretched tight over a frame. Parts of it are blocked off with a light-sensitive coating — the open parts let ink through, the blocked parts don't.
You push ink across the screen with a rubber blade. Where the screen is open, ink goes through onto the fabric. Where it's blocked, nothing happens. One screen = one colour. Simple concept, beautiful results.
The whole thing happens in three simple stages:
Make the screen
Your design is burned into a mesh screen using light — like developing a photo.
Push the ink
Ink is squeezed through the open parts of the screen onto the garment.
Cure the print
Heat locks the ink permanently into the fabric. This is where quality is won or lost.
No computer or plotter can match the durability of a properly cured screen print. That's why bands, sports teams, and corporates still choose it decades after other methods appeared.
Why people in Kampala choose screen printing
Lasts the lifetime of the garment
100+ washes without fading or cracking. Nothing else comes close.
Cheapest for bulk orders
Setup cost spreads across every piece. At 500+ pieces, it's unbeatable on price.
Bold on dark fabrics
A white underbase makes colours pop on black, navy, or dark red — no compromise.
Special effects possible
Puff, metallic, glow-in-the-dark, high-density, discharge — real texture, not just flat ink.
Works on nearly all fabrics
Cotton, polyester, blends, canvas, tote bags — with the right ink for each.
Production at real speed
Automatic presses print 500+ pieces per day. Perfect for tight deadlines.
Who chooses screen printing in Kampala
Event organisers (conferences, marathons, concerts)
Schools printing house shirts & prefect uniforms
Sports teams & fan clubs
Corporates branding staff tees & polos
Churches printing retreat & camp shirts
Bands & artists selling merch
Campaigns, NGOs & awareness drives
Brands launching merch lines
Want the full technical detail?
Mesh counts, emulsion chemistry, ink types, curing temperatures, and everything else behind a proper screen print. Expand below.
Open the deep dive
Making the screen — step by step
1. Mesh selection. The mesh is a woven polyester fabric measured in threads per inch (TPI). Higher mesh = finer detail, thinner ink. Lower mesh = thicker ink, less detail.
| Mesh | Best For |
|---|---|
| 60–86 TPI | Athletic numbers, thick white underbase |
| 110–160 TPI | Standard textile printing |
| 180–230 TPI | Fine detail, halftones, 4-colour process |
| 280–350 TPI | Extremely fine detail (specialty) |
2. Frame stretching. Mesh is stretched across an aluminium frame at 18–25 Newtons/cm². Even tension = even ink deposit.
3. Emulsion coating. The screen is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion (1–2 coats print side, 1–2 squeegee side), then dried in a dark room at 30–40°C for 20–40 minutes. We aim for 10–15 microns over mesh for standard prints.
4. Film positive. Your design is printed onto a transparent film at 720–1440 DPI. Black blocks UV; clear lets it through. One film per colour.
5. Exposure. Screen + film go into a vacuum exposure unit. UV light cross-links the emulsion where the film is clear. Typical exposure time: 2–8 minutes.
6. Washout. Unhardened emulsion washes away with water. The screen is dried at 40°C for 15–30 minutes.
7. Tape & block-out. Frame edges, registration marks, and pinholes are taped or blocked with emulsion. The screen is now ready.
Printing — step by step
Setup on press: Screen clamped, registered to platen marks. Manual presses handle one screen; automatic carousels up to 14.
Platen setup: Garment sits on an adhesive platen so it doesn't move during printing.
Ink loading: Plastisol ink is loaded onto the screen. Curing agent (3–5% by weight) added for proper cure.
Printing stroke: Squeegee dragged at 75° angle for sharp edges, 45° for heavy deposit. White underbase printed first for dark garments, flash-cured, then top colours.
Flash curing: Between colours, ink is flash-cured (2–6 seconds at 150–200°C) so the next screen can print without smudging.
Final cure: Conveyor dryer at 160°C for 60–90 seconds fully cures the plastisol. Undercured ink is the #1 cause of printing failure.
Ink types explained
| Ink | Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Plastisol | Slight hand | Standard prints, high opacity |
| Water-based | Very soft | Vintage, soft-hand prints |
| Discharge | Zero hand | Printing on 100% cotton darks |
| Puff | Raised | 3D effects |
| High-density | Thick, raised | Premium logos |
Multi-colour printing
Each colour = one screen + one pass. Order matters:
- Underbase (white) — always first on dark garments
- Light colours — yellow, cyan
- Mid colours — red, magenta
- Dark colours — black, navy
- Top colours — highlights, final white accents
Designs use trapping (0.5–1 pt overlap) so registration errors don't cause gaps.
Common problems and how we prevent them
| Problem | Cause | Our Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ink bleeding | Too much ink, low mesh tension | Higher tension, adjusted squeegee angle |
| Pinholes | Dust on screen | Clean room, blocked with tape |
| Undercured print | Dryer too low, belt too fast | Temperature strips, verified 160°C cure |
| Registration off | Loose screens | Re-tension, service press |
| Cracking after wash | Undercure, thick ink | Proper cure, correct mesh |
Wash & care
- Wash inside out at 30–40°C
- No bleach or fabric softener
- Tumble dry low or hang dry
- Iron on reverse — never direct on the print
Common questions
What is the minimum order for screen printing in Kampala?
How much does screen printing cost in Kampala?
How many colours can you print?
How long does a screen print last?
Can you print on dark garments?
Can you print front, back, and sleeves?
How long does production take?
Do you print on polo shirts, hoodies, and caps?
Do you print samples before the full order?
Ready to screen print your designs?
Send us your design or idea — we'll send you a free mockup and a firm quote within 24 hours.