Enjoy 5%
OFF 
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Ever wanted to print a photo on a t-shirt and wondered how it’s even possible with screen printing? That’s where Simulated Process Printing—or sim process for short—comes in. It’s a smart screen printing technique that gives you full-colour designs using a surprisingly small number of inks.
Whether it’s a vibrant image of a sunset or a detailed band graphic, simulated process printing is what brings those colour-rich, high-detail designs to life on fabric, without compromising the softness of the shirt.
What Exactly Is Simulated Process Printing?
Simulated process printing uses spot colour inks (not CMYK) and blends them through halftones and gradients to mimic full-colour printing. Instead of needing 30+ individual screens for each colour in your design, sim process lets us recreate the look of dozens of colours using as few as 6 to 10 inks.
Products Available for Simulated Printing
This method works well on both light and dark garments, and is ideal for designs with:
- Photographic elements
- Complex gradients
- Multicolour artwork
- Textures and blending
And yes, it’s all done through screen printing.
What Is Simulated Process Printing Used For?
Sim process is most commonly used for photorealistic prints, intricate illustrations, or vibrant graphic tees that use many colours. If you’re printing band tees, festival merch, or fashion-forward apparel, this method is a go-to.
If you’ve seen a shirt with an actual photo on it, there’s a good chance it was printed using simulated process.
Why Choose Simulated Process Printing?
Here’s why many brands and designers choose the sim process:
- Vibrant colours that pop on both dark and light garments
- Photo-quality detail with sharp gradients and smooth blending
- Soft-hand feel when printed with water-based or discharge inks
- Durability—screen printing inks hold up over time
It strikes the perfect balance between stunning visuals and wearability.
What Shirt Colours Work Best?
Choosing the right shirt colour is key for a high-quality print.
- White shirts are the easiest option. They act like a clean canvas for colours to blend on.
- Dark colours (like black or navy) also work well—if they discharge properly. Discharge inks remove the garment’s dye and replace it with pigment, leaving a soft, vibrant finish.
- Mid-tone colours may be trickier and might not discharge evenly, so they’re less commonly used for this print method.
Pro tip: If you want a super-soft print with zero “plasticky” feel, go with water-based or discharge inks on 100% cotton tees. At T-Shirt Plus, we specialise in these inks so your shirts feel as good as they look.
Sim Process vs CMYK – What’s the Difference?
Sim process printing isn’t the same as CMYK process printing.
- CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) printing uses just four inks and works best on white garments. It often struggles with colour accuracy on dark fabrics.
- Simulated process uses carefully selected spot colours to simulate full colour, offering much better results across various fabric colours and styles.
What Are Art Separations in Simulated Process?
Before we can print, your artwork must be colour-separated. This means breaking the design into individual ink layers:
- All red tones on one screen
- Blues on another
- Skin tones, shadows, and highlights each mapped out
This separation is technical and requires a skilled artist to prep your files for print. The good news? It’s a one-time fee. So next time you reorder, your artwork’s already good to go.
How Many Colours Can Simulated Process Printing Reproduce?
Even though we typically only use 6–10 spot colours, sim process printing can reproduce hundreds of colours through clever blending and halftones. It’s the magic of screen printing—illusion of depth and colour using just a handful of inks. This makes it ideal for artwork that would otherwise be impossible to replicate without digital printing.
What File Types Are Best for Simulated Process Printing?
To get the best result, provide your artwork in vector or high-resolution raster format. We recommend:
- .AI (Adobe Illustrator)
- .EPS
- .PDF (vector-based)
- .PSD (300 DPI at actual size)
- .TIFF (flattened and high-res)
If you’re not sure if your file will work, our in-house design team at T-Shirt Plus will review it and help you prepare it for print.
Can Simulated Process Be Done on Hoodies, Tote Bags, or Other Items?
Absolutely. While it’s most common on t-shirts, simulated process screen printing works well on:
- Hoodies and sweatshirts (especially 100% cotton)
- Tote bags
- Tank tops
- Long sleeve shirts
We’ll help you choose the right garment and ink combination so your detailed artwork comes out crisp and vibrant—no matter the fabric.
Best Fabrics for Simulated Process Printing
For optimal results, we recommend:
- 100% Combed Cotton: Works best with water-based/discharge inks. Soft finish and sharp colour rendering.
- Cotton-Poly Blends: Still works, but colours may be less vibrant with discharge inks.
- Tri-blends: Can be printed, but the results are unpredictable with water-based inks.
If you’re aiming for ultra-soft, breathable prints, stick with ringspun cotton tees from quality brands like AS Colour, JB’s Wear, or Gildan Softstyle.
Get Simulated Process Printing at T-Shirt Plus
T-Shirt Plus knows how to make sim process printing look flawless. With water-based and discharge inks, state-of-the-art screen printing equipment, and a detail-driven art team, your prints come out vibrant, sharp, and soft.
Whether you’re printing 50 or 5,000 units, we’ll guide you through shirt selection, artwork setup, and the best inks to suit your design and budget.
From imagination to photorealism, flawlessly executed.👉 Start your custom order today
📞 Call us on +61288065402
