Garment and fiber
Fabric content, dye, texture, weight, and heat sensitivity affect ink choice, opacity, cure strategy, and whether dye migration needs to be controlled.
All services
Custom screen printing in Chicago
Screen printing in Chicago.
Screen printing is more than pushing ink through mesh. The artwork, garment, color separation, screen, ink deposit, flash sequence, and final cure all have to work as one system. We make those decisions before the run starts.
CAOS CREATES / CHICAGO Spot colors and halftones Puff, metallic, and glow options Local pickup or shipping
Plan your order
What goes into your quote?
Garment choice, quantity per design, ink colors, print locations, artwork preparation, and specialty finishes affect the quote. Repeating an approved design across more pieces can spread setup costs; different designs or placements may need separate setups.
Before production
We review the artwork, selected garment, placements, and deadline together. Confirm the agreed decoration, garment availability, and delivery schedule with CAOS Creates before making commitments for your event or launch.
Serving Chicago businesses, brands, artists, schools, teams, and organizations, with nationwide shipping.
Send what you know
- Quantity per design and size breakdown
- Garment style, color, and preferred fit
- Original artwork, print size, and locations
- In-hand date and shipping ZIP
Still choosing? We can review the options with you.
Find Your Perfect BlankPrepare your artwork for a quote
More than ink on a shirt
A clean print starts long before the press.
Great screen printing begins with honest artwork preparation. We preflight the file, size it for the garment, separate every printable color, and decide whether the design needs an underbase, halftones, trapping, or a different production method altogether. That planning is what protects fine detail and keeps color consistent across a full run.
The blank matters just as much as the graphic. Cotton, blends, fleece, garment-dyed goods, and performance fabrics can react differently to heat and ink. We match the garment, ink system, and print sequence to the look and hand feel the project needs—not just the fastest route to the press.
ACTUAL CAOS WORKFrom our shop
Detail you can actually see.
Fine lines, multiple colors, and garment texture all change how a print needs to be approached. We review those relationships before production begins.
View the production piece Make Something Like ThisInside the work
How a professional screen print is built.
- 01
Artwork preflight
We inspect resolution, line weight, transparency, print size, color count, and placement. Weak details are corrected before they become weak stencils.
- 02
Color separation
Every spot color becomes its own printable layer. Complex artwork may use halftones to create tonal range while keeping the screen count controlled.
- 03
Screens and setup
Mesh count, stencil, off-contact, squeegee, and ink deposit are selected around the artwork and garment. The press is registered so each layer lands where it belongs.
- 04
Test print and approval
A test print confirms registration, opacity, color, placement, and hand feel. Adjustments happen before the production run—not halfway through it.
- 05
Print, flash, cure
Colors are printed in sequence, flashed only as needed, and cured through the ink film so the design bonds correctly instead of merely feeling dry on the surface.
- 06
Final quality control
We check placement, coverage, registration, contamination, and curing consistency before pieces move to packing, pickup, shipping, or fulfillment.
Expert production choices
The details that separate a print from a production.
There is no universal setup that works for every shirt. These are the choices that determine how the final piece looks, feels, and wears.
Ink system
Plastisol is strong for opacity, crisp spot color, and specialty effects. Water-based or discharge-style approaches can create a softer hand, but garment compatibility must be tested.
Mesh and ink deposit
Fine detail needs a different mesh and deposit than bold lettering, athletic numbers, puff ink, or a high-opacity base. The screen must serve the art.
Underbase and flash
Dark garments often need a controlled base layer so top colors stay bright. Too much base or heat creates a heavy print; too little leaves the design dull.
Placement and scale
A file that looks balanced on a screen can feel wrong on a small tee, oversized hoodie, pocket, or sleeve. We size for the actual garment range.
Specialty finish
Puff, metallic, glow, and other effects change the stencil, deposit, print sequence, and cure requirements. They are engineered into the setup from the start.
Artwork guide
Send art the press can respect.
The cleaner the source file, the more control we have over edges, color, detail, and final size. If the file is not production-ready, we can help rebuild it.
- Vector AI, EPS, SVG, or print-ready PDF is preferred for logos and spot-color artwork.
- Raster artwork should be transparent and approximately 300 DPI at the final print size.
- Convert fonts to outlines or include the font files so typography does not change.
- Provide Pantone Solid Coated references when a specific spot color matters; screen color alone is not a reliable match.
- Keep each print location separate and identify the intended size, garment color, and placement.
- Send the original layered artwork whenever possible—not a screenshot, mockup, or compressed social-media image.
Where it shines
Screen printing is the right move when...
- You need consistent tees or hoodies across a medium or large run.
- Your design uses bold spot colors, distressed artwork, or controlled halftones.
- You want puff, metallic, glow, or another specialty ink effect.
- The print needs strong opacity on dark garments.
- You are producing event merch, staff uniforms, team gear, or a brand drop.
- You want the unit cost to improve as quantity increases.
Before production
Questions, answered by printers.
Every design, garment, and deadline changes the best production route. We'll review the details before we quote.
Why does every color affect screen-printing price?
Traditional spot-color screen printing normally requires a separate separation, screen, registration step, and print pass for each color. Garment color, underbases, specialty inks, and print locations also affect setup and run time.
Do dark shirts need an underbase?
Most bright prints on dark garments need a base layer to block the fabric color and support opacity. The exact setup depends on the ink, shirt dye, artwork, and desired hand feel.
Can you match a brand color?
Yes. A Pantone Solid Coated reference gives the clearest target for spot-color mixing. Fabric color, ink deposit, and underbase can influence the final appearance, so critical matches should be discussed before production.
When should I use DTF instead?
DTF is often a better fit for small quantities, many colors, photographic detail, or designs that would require too many screens. Screen printing usually wins when consistency, specialty ink, or larger-run economics matter most.
How should printed garments be washed?
Turn garments inside out, wash cool with mild detergent, avoid bleach, and tumble dry low or air dry. Do not iron directly over the decoration.
What is your turnaround?
Turnaround depends on garment availability, artwork approval, quantity, print locations, specialty ink, finishing, and delivery. The production schedule is confirmed after the complete project is reviewed.
What quantity should I request for a screen-printing quote?
Send your actual quantity per design, even if it is only an estimate. CAOS Creates reviews the artwork and garment before recommending a method. Minimums, availability, and pricing are confirmed for the specific job.
Built for your project
Let's make the right piece.
Send the artwork, quantity, garment type, print locations, and deadline. We'll recommend the production plan.
Start your project DESIGN / MAKE / DELIVER