A logo is applied to a cotton tote bag by screen printing, digital printing or embroidery. Screen printing is sharp and economical for one- and two-colour logos in high quantities; digital printing suits multicolour and photographic designs and small to medium quantities; embroidery gives small logos with clean lines a prestigious look. The method is determined by the logo's number of colours and the order quantity.
The same logo can look completely different when printed with a different method. A single-colour text comes out sharp in screen printing, while a photographic image may not give the result you want with the same method. That is why choosing the method is one of the decisions that need to be made earliest in the ordering process.
In this guide we explain how screen printing, digital printing and embroidery work, which suits which logo, the difference between single-colour and multicolour and between one-sided and two-sided printing, the factors that affect the quote, and how to prepare the logo file.
How Is Printing Done on a Cotton Tote Bag?
On a cotton tote bag, the logo is applied by one of three methods, depending on the number of colours and the order quantity: screen printing, digital printing or embroidery. All three give the same bag a different look; the choice depends less on taste than on the structure of your logo. A plain single-colour logo and a photographic design do not give good results with the same method.
In our workshop the process starts with seeing your logo: we learn the number of colours and the quantity, recommend a method, submit the draft for your approval, and move on to application after approval. On the product pages of nonwoven (stitched nonwoven) bags, the method is given as offset printing; if you have another method in mind, you can ask about it during the quote; whether it is possible and on what terms is settled at that stage.
| Method | Suitable Logo | Quantity Trend | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen printing | One- or two-colour logo with flat colour areas | Preferred for high quantities | Sharp lines, economical result |
| Digital Printing | Multicolour design, photograph, colour gradient | Small and medium quantities | No separate preparation for each colour |
| Embroidery | Small logo with clean lines | Settled in the quote together with quantity | Prestigious, raised look |
| Offset printing (nonwoven bag) | This name appears on product pages for stitched nonwoven bags | Settled in the quote | Method name specific to nonwoven bags |
What Is Screen Printing and When Is It Chosen?
Screen printing is printing done by pushing ink through a fine mesh screen onto the fabric. Because a separate screen is prepared for each colour, it is most efficient with one- or two-colour logos; as the number of colours grows, so does the preparation. Since the same print can be repeated on many bags once the screen has been prepared, the share of preparation in the unit cost shrinks as the quantity grows.
Screen printing loves sharp lines and flat colour areas. It is the natural choice for simple content such as a corporate logo, name, slogan and contact details. Screen printing struggles with photographs, soft colour gradients or images with very fine detail; if you have such a design, you should consider digital printing.
Digital Printing for Multicolour and Photographic Work
In digital printing, the image is transferred directly from the file to the fabric; no separate screen is prepared for each colour. That is why multicolour logos, colour gradients and photographs can be printed in a single pass. For small and medium quantities this route makes sense because the preparation load is light; if your logo has a colour gradient or a photograph, this is most often the most natural method.
The resolution of the image determines the result: a low-resolution file that looks small on screen comes out blurry on the bag. Because fabric colour also affects how the print looks, we check the design together with the bag's background colour on the draft. For a high-quantity, single-colour job, however, screen printing is usually the more fitting choice.
When Is Embroidery Preferred?
Embroidery is the stitching of the logo with thread and, unlike printing, leaves a slight raised texture on the surface. It is preferred for jobs that call for a prestigious look, especially for small logos with clean lines. For bags to be given as gifts or packages going to special guests, embroidery is a strong option.
The limit of embroidery is detail: very thin lines, small text and photo-like gradients do not translate well in thread, so such logos are simplified for embroidery. The embroidery area can be narrower than for printing; so the size of the logo and its place on the bag need to be settled at the quote stage and, if necessary, a simple version of the logo suited to embroidery needs to be prepared.
Single Colour or Multicolour, One-Sided or Two-Sided?
On the product pages in the catalogue, single-colour, two-sided printed models are the most common. By colour, single colour appears in 86 products, two colours in 30, four colours in 16 and three colours in 7; by sides, 98 products say two-sided and 9 say one-sided. So having the brand visible on both faces of the bag is a common choice.
With two-sided printing, two surfaces are worked, so the quote is shaped accordingly. You can print the same logo on both faces, or put the logo on one and a slogan or contact details on the other. To make a decision in line with your budget, it makes sense to ask for a quote on a simple version and a multicolour version side by side.
| Number of colours | Number of Products in the Catalogue | General Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Single colour | 86 | The most common; the simplest case for screen printing, highly legible |
| Two colours | 30 | Still simple in screen printing; a second colour means extra preparation |
| Three colours | 7 | Preparation and colour-match checking increase |
| Four colours | 16 | Counts as multicolour; digital printing is also considered |
What Affects the Quote and the Price
The cost of applying a logo is not a single item; even on the same bag, the structure of the logo changes the quote. This is why we prepare quotes instead of a fixed list. Items that belong to the bag, such as fabric and size, are calculated separately on top of this. If you know the main factors that affect the price, you can write your requests in a comparable way and weed out unnecessary detail from the start:
- Order quantity: determines how many bags the preparation is spread across.
- Number of colours: each new colour usually means extra preparation.
- Method: screen printing, digital printing and embroidery are different workflows.
- Sides: one-sided or two-sided, i.e. one or both faces of the bag.
- The size of the logo and its level of detail.
- Fabric, bag size, handle and extra details.
- Whether the file is print-ready; if editing is needed, the process may take longer.
How Do You Prepare the Logo File?
The most trouble-free file is a vector one: formats such as AI, EPS, PDF or SVG whose edges do not degrade when enlarged. If you only have an image such as a JPG or PNG, you can send that too; we take care of making it print-ready. Even so, a low-resolution image or a small one taken from a screen can reduce sharpness in print.
Along with the file, write the colours you want used in the print, the approximate position of the logo on the bag and your choice of one or two sides. The draft we prepare is submitted for your approval, and the approved draft forms the basis of production. If you will use a multicolour image, stating this from the start lets us choose the method correctly.
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