Why Screen Printing Beats Iron-On Transfers (And Why Coweta Trusts Rhodes Printing)
Coweta’s oldest printing shop explains the real difference between professional screen printing and hobby transfers
For more than 70 years, Rhodes Printing has been the trusted name for screen printing in Coweta, Oklahoma — long before iron-on transfers or craft cutters became popular.
Our shop has been owned and operated by three generations of real printers:
✔ my grandfather
✔ my father
✔ and now me
That heritage matters, especially as more and more “shirt businesses” are using cheap iron-on transfers and presenting it as professional printing.
Coweta customers often come to us with the same frustration:
“My last shirts cracked, peeled, or faded after one wash.”
This article explains exactly why — and why screen printing is the only method built to last.
1. Screen Printing Creates Permanent, Professional Prints
Keyword Focus: screen printing Coweta, custom shirts Coweta
Screen printing uses premium ink that is pressed into the shirt fibers, becoming part of the garment itself.
This means:
- vibrant color
- smooth feel
- years of durability
- no peeling, cracking, or bubbling
Iron-on transfers, by contrast, sit on top of the fabric like a sticker. The result?
Cracks, wrinkles, fading, peeling, and early failure — especially in Oklahoma heat.
2. Screen Printing Survives Washing, Heat, Sweat, and Sun
Keyword Focus: professional screen printing Oklahoma
At Rhodes Printing, every shirt goes through a commercial conveyor dryer (up to 320°F) to properly cure ink.
Iron-on transfers cannot be cured at the correct temperature because home craft presses:
- don’t reach consistent heat
- don’t stay hot long enough
- don’t maintain accurate pressure
If your shirt logo melts, wrinkled, or peeled — it was a transfer job.
3. Screen Printing Produces Brighter, Cleaner, Long-Lasting Color
Keyword Focus: high-quality screen printing Coweta
We mix Pantone-matched inks and use:
- plastisol
- water-based ink
- specialty inks (puff, metallic, shimmer, glitter, etc.)
Iron-ons rely on vinyl or printed sheets with limited color accuracy, grainy edges, and poor detail.
Screen printing always wins in quality.
4. Screen Printed Shirts Just Feel Better
Unlike vinyl transfers, screen printing results in prints that:
- stretch with the garment
- breathe with the fabric
- stay soft and flexible
- are comfortable for sports and daily wear
Transfers feel thick, rubbery, and often trap heat.
5. Screen Printing Handles Large Orders — Transfers Can’t
Keyword Focus: team shirts Coweta, school shirts Coweta
Rhodes Printing produces shirts for:
- Coweta schools
- local sports teams
- church groups
- community events
- small businesses
- fundraisers
We print hundreds to thousands of shirts quickly and consistently.
Iron-on transfers?
One at a time… in someone’s kitchen.
6. Professional Printing Looks… Professional
Keyword Focus: Coweta custom apparel
If your shirts represent a:
- business
- team
- school
- organization
- fundraising event
…you can’t risk having them look homemade, inconsistent, or low-quality.
Screen printing delivers crisp lines, smooth gradients, halftones, and exact color matching.
Transfers simply cannot compete.
7. Rhodes Printing Has 70+ Years of Real Printing Experience
Keyword Focus: Rhodes Printing Coweta Oklahoma
This is the advantage every customer feels.
We’re not a “side hustle.”
We are a third-generation Oklahoma printing business, rooted in Coweta, serving our community with craftsmanship you can’t learn in a weekend.
When you order shirts from Rhodes Printing, you’re working with real professionals using commercial equipment, real ink systems, and decades of proven expertise.
Final Thoughts: Choose Quality. Choose Experience. Choose Local.
If you want your shirts to:
✔ last
✔ look professional
✔ withstand washing and wear
✔ represent your group with pride
Choose screen printing, not iron-on transfers.
And choose the printer Coweta has trusted for over 70 years:
⭐ Rhodes Printing — Coweta, Oklahoma
Screen Printing | Embroidery | Custom Apparel
