Metallic Screen Printing
Shine with Every Print. Metallic screen printing delivers a high-end, reflective finish that turns heads and elevates your brand. Metallic screen printing delivers a high-end, reflective finish that turns heads and elevates your brand.
Fast Quote Response Free Expert Advice Get a Fast Quote Now Contact Sales
What is Metallic Screen Printing?
Metallic screen printing is a speciality screen printing technique that uses metallic inks to create a shiny, reflective finish that mimics the look of real metal — like gold, silver, bronze, or copper. It’s often used to add a luxurious, eye-catching element to garments and merchandise.
Unlike standard inks, metallic inks contain tiny metallic or mica particles that give the print its shimmer and sheen. When applied to fabric, these inks catch the light and create a subtle sparkle or high-shine effect, depending on the ink type and colour used.
Why Choose Metallic Screen Printing?
If you want your designs to shine — literally — metallic screen printing is the perfect choice. Using reflective inks with real metal particles, this technique adds a luxurious, high-impact finish that instantly grabs attention.
Whether you're launching a limited-edition drop, dressing up your logo, or creating event merch that turns heads, metallic ink offers a level of visual flair that standard inks can’t match.
Process Of Metallic Screen Printing
The process of metallic screen printing is the same as standard screen printing with the bonus of making your designs shimmer and sparkle with the use of excellent metallic inks.
Metallic screen printing inks offer the possibility of incorporating metallic elements into your designs to ensure that they stand out above the rest.
Metallic screen printing is an excellent choice for promotional purposes or fashion-related designs and clients. Metallic screen printing can be used on a wide variety of garments which includes T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, polos and much more.
It’s also a great option for printing on tote bags and other promotional merchandise as well.
Metallic T Shirt printing
Metallic shirts are a bold and stylish way to make your designs shine. Using metallic screen printing techniques, garments are transformed with shimmering inks that reflect light and grab attention. Whether you're using metallic gold screen print, metallic silver screen printing ink, or even copper metallic screen printing ink, the result is a high-impact finish that elevates any design. By adding metallic pigment to screen printing inks, we can achieve vibrant, reflective metallic prints that stand out on both light and dark fabrics.
At Garment Printing, we specialise in custom metallic screen print services, ideal for branding, fashion collections, or standout promotional gear. Our experts use premium metallic screen printing ink to create detailed, durable designs on screen printed t shirts, hoodies, and more. Whether you're looking to screen print a t shirt with subtle shimmer or go all-in with a bold metallic print across your screen printed tshirt, our high-quality metallic ink screen printing delivers stunning results every time. Perfect for retail, events, or limited edition releases, screen printing on t shirts with metallics brings your ideas to life in a dazzling, professional way.
Please Note
Printed garments are more sensitive and need extra attention when it comes to washing. To preserve the print and the garment, it is recommended that you wash it inside out on a cold wash. Do not use a tumble-dryer and do not iron over the print.
Advantages of Metallic Screen Printing
1. Eye-Catching Shine
Metallic inks reflect light, creating a shimmering effect that instantly draws attention — perfect for making your design stand out.
2. Premium, High-End Look
Gold, silver, and other metallic finishes add a touch of luxury and sophistication to any garment, making them ideal for fashion collections, VIP merch, and special editions.
3. Ideal for Logos & Bold Lettering
Metallic screen printing is especially effective for highlighting brand names, slogans, or design elements that deserve the spotlight.
4. Great for Special Occasions & Limited Runs
Whether it's for a product launch, holiday collection, or promotional campaign, metallic ink adds a unique edge that enhances the perceived value of your apparel.
5. Works on a Variety of Fabrics
Metallic inks adhere well to most natural fabrics like cotton and cotton-blend garments, making them versatile for t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and more.
6. Durable with Proper Care
When cured correctly and washed with care, metallic prints can maintain their shine and structure over time.
Disadvantages of Metallic Screen Printing
1. Higher Cost Than Standard Inks
Metallic inks are more expensive due to the pigments and specialty formulation, which can increase the overall cost per unit — especially for smaller runs.
2. Slightly Thicker Texture
Because of the metallic particles, the ink has a heavier feel on the fabric compared to standard water-based or plastisol inks. This may not be ideal for designs that require a soft finish.
3. Not Ideal for Fine Detail
Metallic inks work best on bold graphics and lettering. They may not hold intricate lines or very small details as cleanly as traditional inks.
4. May Fade or Dull Over Time
With frequent washing and exposure to heat, the shine of metallic prints can gradually reduce. Gentle care is required to maintain their finish.
5. Limited Colour Range
Common metallics like gold, silver, and bronze are widely available, but more niche shades (like metallic blue or rose gold) may require custom mixing, which adds cost and production time.
Your Order, Made Easy in 4 Steps
1. Tell us about your project needs
Share your requirements, quantities and deadlines with our team so we can recommend the best solution.
2. Expert advice & visual mock-ups
We recommend the best products and printing methods, then provide mock-ups for approval before production.
3. Production & Quality control
Your order is produced using professional printing and checked at every stage to ensure quality.
4. On-time delivery, every time
We deliver your order on time to offices, events and venues across the UK and worldwide.
Need Expert Advice?
Fill in the details below and our team will get back to you shortly.
Check Out Prices & Artwork Guidelines
Explore printing prices and artwork guidelines — everything you need to get started with confidence, with expert support whenever you need it.
Printing Prices Artwork GuidelinesAdvanced Screen Printing Effects & Finishes - Screen Printing Techniques
Our advanced screen printing effects and finishes create a wide range of visual and tactile results — from ultra-soft prints and subtle tonal designs to bold textures and eye-catching finishes.
Our team recommends the best approach based on your artwork, garment choice and brand goals, considering colour count, durability, feel and budget to achieve the best result for your project.
More Garment Printing Techniques Explained
Looking for the best printing method for your design and garment choice? At Garment Printing, we offer a wide range of professional printing techniques to suit every style, budget and project requirement. Whether you need vibrant full-colour detail, fast turnaround or eco-friendly options, our team has the expertise to deliver. Explore the techniques below and find the right solution for your next project — we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Our Metallic Screen Printing Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can screen print metallic?
Yes, screen printing can absolutely be used to print metallic designs. By using special metallic inks, you can achieve reflective, shimmering effects, like gold, silver, or copper, on a wide variety of garments and products.
Q: What printer can print metallic ink?
Metallic inks are typically used in traditional screen printing setups with mesh screens and squeegees. Unlike digital or inkjet printers, screen printing presses allow for the thickness and opacity needed to make metallic inks stand out vividly on fabric.
Q: How do you print metallic?
To print metallic, a screen is prepared with your design and a metallic ink is pushed through the screen onto the garment. The process is similar to standard screen printing but uses inks with metallic pigments that catch the light for a bold, reflective finish.
Q: What are the three types of screen printing?
The three main types of screen printing are:
- Flat-bed screen printing: the most common, where garments lie flat during printing.
- Rotary screen printing: typically used for continuous patterns, often in industrial settings.
- Cylinder screen printing: mainly for printing on cylindrical objects like bottles or cans.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Project
At Garment Printing, we support you from product selection to production and delivery. Share your requirements and timelines, and our team will guide your project from start to finish.
Get a Fast Quote