- Karaca Çanta
- 6 min read
Short answer: The cost difference between single-colour and multicolour printing depends on the number of colours, the method and the quantity: in screen printing every colour means extra preparation, so one and two colours stay more economical; for multicolour and photographic designs, digital printing makes sense. At high quantities, because the preparation cost is spread across many bags, single colour keeps its advantage. The exact amount is set by the quote.
Your logo is single-colour, but your agency has also prepared a four-colour version. Which should you print? Often the answer depends less on visual preference than on the method and the quantity, because the number of colours determines the preparation work, and the preparation work determines the cost per bag.
In this article you will find the difference between single-colour and multicolour printing, a comparison of screen printing and digital printing, the effect of quantity on cost and the place of embroidery. There are no price figures: the amount is set by the quote; the aim is for you to be able to compare quotes correctly.
Should You Choose Single-Colour or Multicolour Printing?
If your logo has flat areas and consists of two colours at most, single- or two-colour printing usually gives a result that is both sharp and economical. If your logo contains a photograph, gradients or many tones, a multicolour method is needed; in that case trying to reduce the number of colours spoils the design.
On the product pages in our catalogue, single colour appears on 86 products, two colours on 30, four colours on 16 and three colours on 7; the most common model is two-sided, single-colour printing. So a plain logo is both often chosen and reads well on a bag.
How Does the Number of Colours Affect Printing Cost?
In screen printing a separate screen is prepared for each colour and a separate pass is made in printing; because colours sit on top of or next to one another, the alignment also has to be checked. So each new colour generally means extra preparation and extra labour. The preparation is done once, but the workload between one colour and four colours differs markedly.
In digital printing the image is transferred directly onto the fabric, so the number of colours is not as decisive as in screen printing; here the print area, quantity and sides shape the quote. In embroidery, the colour of the thread and the density of detail matter. Whichever method you choose, two-sided printing means working on two surfaces, and this is reflected in the quote.
Which Designs Is Screen Printing Suited To?
Screen printing handles flat colour areas and sharp lines well. Content such as a plain corporate logo, a name, a slogan or a telephone number is where this method is strong. Because the same print can be repeated on a large number of bags once the screen is prepared, the share of the preparation per bag shrinks as quantity rises.
- Single- or two-colour logos with flat areas.
- Bold lettering and short slogans.
- High-quantity jobs in which the same design is repeated on many bags.
- Plain compositions where the fabric background colour does not spoil the print.
- Weak point: photographs, soft colour gradients and very fine detail.
How Do Digital Printing and Screen Printing Compare?
The two methods need to be compared in terms of the structure of the design and the size of the quantity. The table summarises the criteria, placing embroidery alongside. These are general tendencies; the exact result is confirmed in the quote according to your logo, the bag fabric and your quantity.
Screen printing, digital printing and embroidery: comparison by criteria
| Criterion | Screen printing | Digital printing | Embroidery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suitable design | Flat-area logo, two colours at most | Multicolour design, photograph, gradients | Small logo with clean lines |
| Effect of number of colours | Each colour is extra preparation | Number of colours is less decisive | Thread colour and density of detail matter |
| Quantity tendency | Advantageous at high quantities | Makes sense at small and medium quantities | Confirmed in the quote together with quantity |
| Preparation | A separate screen per colour | No separate preparation per colour | A version suitable for embroidery is prepared from the logo |
| Look | Sharp line, flat colour | Photo-like gradients | Raised, prestigious surface |
How Does Quantity Affect Print Cost in Wholesale Cotton Tote Bags?
The preparation part of printing is largely independent of quantity; what really changes is how many bags this preparation is divided among. For example, whether you print the same two-colour logo on, say, 500 bags or on, say, 5,000 bags, the screen preparation requires the same work; in the second case its share per bag shrinks markedly. That is why in a wholesale order a plain logo with few colours becomes more advantageous as the quantity grows.
In digital printing the preparation load is small, so an advantage is seen at small quantities; as quantity grows, the difference between the two methods is compared again in the quote. We do not state an exact ratio, because fabric, size, handle and number of colours are all taken into account together; that is why requesting quotes for several different quantities gives the soundest comparison.
Decision Table: Which Print in Which Situation?
The table below gives a starting point for the most common situations. Use it as a preliminary decision in the quote process; we too do not determine the exact method without seeing your logo. Asking for quotes on two versions (plain and multicolour) side by side gives the soundest comparison for the decision.
Choosing a print by your situation
| Your situation | General tendency | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Single-colour logo, high quantity | Screen printing, single colour | Little preparation; the share per bag shrinks as quantity grows |
| Two-colour logo, high quantity | Screen printing, two colours | The second colour adds preparation but is still simple |
| Three-colour logo | Screen or digital; ask about both | Preparation increases, quantity becomes decisive |
| Multicolour logo, small or medium quantity | Digital printing | No separate preparation per colour |
| Design containing a photograph or gradient | Digital printing | Screen printing struggles with this content |
| Small logo with clean lines, for prestige | Embroidery | Raised surface; detail is limited |
| Multicolour logo, high quantity | Get simplified screen printing and digital quotes separately | The two options are compared on cost and look |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Single-Colour Printing More Economical Than Multicolour Printing?
In most cases yes; because screen printing requires separate preparation for each colour, the work gets simpler as the number of colours falls. In digital printing the number of colours is not as decisive; the difference varies with the method, quantity and print area. The exact amount is confirmed by the quote.
Should I Have a Three-Colour Logo Screen Printed or Digitally Printed?
A three-colour logo can also be screen printed, but each colour means extra preparation. If the quantity is high, screen printing may make sense; if small or medium, digital printing. The soundest course is to ask for a quote for each of the two methods separately and compare the difference in look on the draft.
How Does Two-Sided Printing Affect the Quote?
In two-sided printing two surfaces are worked on, so the quote takes shape accordingly. On the catalogue product pages, 98 products appear with two-sided printing and 9 with one-sided printing. If you want to limit the cost, you can ask for a plain one-sided version and a two-sided version quoted side by side.
How Should I State the Number of Colours When Requesting a Quote?
Fill in the number of print colours and print sides fields on the quote form; if your logo contains gradients or a photograph, write this in the details message. If you are not sure, upload the logo file and we will settle the number of colours together. Asking for separate quotes for two versions makes the comparison easier.
