Screen printing is also commonly called silk screening — and in fine art and specialty print contexts, it goes by serigraphy. All three terms describe the same core process: pushing ink through a mesh stencil onto a substrate, most often a garment.
Knowing the terminology matters when you’re sourcing custom apparel in Houston. Different vendors, designers, and procurement platforms use these names interchangeably, and understanding what each one means helps you ask the right questions and compare quotes accurately.
This page defines each alternative name, explains where the terminology comes from, and clarifies what it means for buyers placing custom apparel orders.
The Most Common Alternative Names for Screen Printing
Screen printing has three names in regular use. Each comes from a different context — trade, craft, and fine art — but all refer to the same printing method.
Silk Screening
Silk screening is the most widely used alternative name for screen printing. The term comes from the original mesh material used in the process: woven silk. Early screens were made from silk fabric stretched over a frame, and ink was pushed through the weave using a squeegee. Modern screens use polyester mesh instead of silk, but the name stuck. You’ll hear silk screening used most often in trade and commercial print contexts, including custom t-shirt orders, promotional merchandise, and branded uniform production.
Serigraphy
Serigraphy is the fine art term for screen printing. It comes from the Latin sericum (silk) and the Greek graphein (to write or draw). Artists and printmakers use serigraphy when referring to limited-edition prints, gallery work, and hand-pulled screen prints on paper or canvas. The process is identical to commercial screen printing — the distinction is context and application, not technique. You’re unlikely to hear serigraphy used when ordering bulk custom apparel, but it’s useful to recognize if you’re working with a designer or artist who uses the term.
Screen printing — also called silk screening or serigraphy — is the core garment decoration method Hub92prints uses for bulk custom apparel orders across Houston; our screen printing services page covers every method, ink type, and order minimum in full detail.
Why Screen Printing Has Multiple Names
The terminology split happened across two separate industries developing the same technique independently. Commercial printers adopted silk screening as a production term in the early twentieth century. Fine artists and printmakers developed serigraphy as a distinct label to separate their work from industrial output. Screen printing emerged later as a neutral, descriptive term that works across both contexts. Today, all three names are in active use, and none is more technically accurate than the others. The process itself has not changed — only the vocabulary used to describe it.
Understanding the terminology behind garment decoration helps Houston buyers ask the right questions before placing an order — explore the full range of custom apparel options Hub92prints offers, from bulk t-shirt printing to branded uniforms.
If you want to go deeper on the mechanics behind the method, a dedicated page covering the full process step by step is a useful next resource — how screen printing works breaks down mesh counts, ink types, and curing methods in plain language.
What These Names Mean for Custom Apparel Buyers in Houston
When you’re requesting quotes or reviewing vendor capabilities in Houston, you may see silk screening, serigraphy, and screen printing listed as separate services. They are not. If a vendor lists all three, they are describing the same production method under different names. What actually matters when evaluating a screen printing order is ink type, mesh count, color count, and minimum order quantity — not which name the vendor uses. Ask about those specifics, and you’ll get a clearer picture of what you’re buying.
If you’re ready to move from terminology to an actual order, Hub92prints makes it straightforward — request a quote and a Houston print specialist will confirm method, ink type, and turnaround for your specific project.
For buyers comparing screen printing against other decoration methods, a side-by-side breakdown of both options is worth reviewing before committing to a method — screen printing vs. embroidery covers the key differences in durability, cost, and application.
Conclusion
Screen printing, silk screening, and serigraphy are three names for one process. The terminology varies by industry context, not by technique. For Houston buyers ordering custom apparel, the name a vendor uses matters far less than the production specifics behind the order. Hub92prints uses screen printing across bulk apparel, branded uniforms, and custom merchandise — reach out to confirm the right method for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is silk screening the same as screen printing?
Yes. Silk screening and screen printing are the same process. Silk screening is an older trade term that comes from the original silk mesh used in early screens. Modern production uses polyester mesh, but the name remains in common use.
What is serigraphy used for?
Serigraphy is the fine art term for screen printing, used primarily by artists and printmakers producing limited-edition work on paper or canvas. The technique is identical to commercial screen printing — the difference is context and application, not method.
Which name should I use when ordering custom apparel?
Screen printing is the standard term in commercial apparel production. Using silk screening is also widely understood. Serigraphy is less common in trade contexts. Any of the three will be recognized by a professional print shop, but screen printing is the clearest and most universally used term for custom garment orders.
