When choosing a gamer tee, you can go for a large, bold screen print or a subtle embroidered design. At Round Door Workshop, we believe the clothes you wear every day shouldn’t be disposable. They should be high-quality, comfortable, and understated enough to wear anywhere. We believe this so strongly that we created our own range of discreet, in-house designs.

Quick comparison: Screen Printing vs Embroidery

Feature	Screen Printing	Machine Embroidery
Price	Often cost-effective for large runs; setup can make small runs more expensive.	Often practical for one-offs and small batches, depending on the design and setup.
Design size	Works well for large chest or back graphics.	Best suited to small, subtle designs; larger designs add weight and cost.
Fade resistance	Good: a quality print can last for years, but may fade with wear, washing, and UV exposure.	Very good: quality polyester thread resists fading, though prolonged UV exposure and wear can still affect it.
Crack resistance	Prints can crack over time as the ink layer wears or the fabric stretches.	Stitches don’t crack like a printed layer, but thread and fabric can still wear or become damaged.
Peel resistance	High when properly cured; poor curing or wear can cause peeling.	Very high: the design is stitched through the garment, though damaged stitches can loosen.
Snag resistance	Very good: the flat print is unlikely to snag.	Good: exposed stitches can catch or pull.
Texture and feel	Large prints can feel like a layer on the chest.	Stitching and backing add a distinct, textured feel.
Breathability	Large solid prints may reduce airflow over the area they cover.	Small designs have little effect on overall breathability, though stitching adds thickness locally.
Ironing and heat	Direct high heat can damage some prints; follow the garment and print care instructions.	Polyester thread can be damaged by high heat. Iron inside out on the garment’s recommended setting.

The Gamer’s Wardrobe

Let’s face it: most gamers don’t set out to build a wardrobe. They collect band shirts, licensed screen-printed tees, and a few basics over the years, from convention trips and late-night online shopping to the occasional pre-order bonus. The result can be a sea of black shirts in varying states of wear. Some graphics crack or stretch; a few shirts become house shirts.

I’m not here to convince you to hit the fashion subreddits or spend thousands on a new wardrobe. Instead, take a look at our Hearts Life Bar tee. The small hearts on the left chest are a subtle gaming reference. The shirt is an AS Colour Classic Tee, and the design is embroidered. That means there is no printed layer to crack or peel, and the thread is highly resistant to fading. It’s made for everyday wear and priced accordingly.

The Limits of Screen Printing

Screen printing is a practical choice for producing clothing in large quantities. Designs can be printed efficiently, and bold, solid colours can look excellent. For the wearer, though, there are a few trade-offs.

Cracking

Screen prints don’t all behave the same way, and a well-made print can last a long time. Some prints, particularly thicker prints, may crack as they age. The garment’s fabric stretches and moves, while the cured ink layer is less flexible. Repeated stretching, washing, and wear can eventually cause fine cracks.

Breathability

A large screen print may look great, but it can feel warm in summer. Solid prints cover more of the fabric and can reduce airflow over that area. Smaller designs are less likely to have a noticeable effect.

Sensitivity to Heat

Directly ironing a screen print can damage the ink and transfer it onto the iron. Check the care instructions, and avoid ironing directly over the design.

High dryer temperatures can also contribute to wear or damage, depending on the print and garment. Follow the care label; when in doubt, turn the shirt inside out and line-dry it.

Machine Embroidery

Embroidered shirts have a distinct, textured look and feel. The thread is stitched through the fabric, giving the design a durable finish. Embroidery isn’t indestructible, though: it adds some weight and thickness, and exposed threads can snag or pull. These trade-offs are less noticeable with small designs on heavyweight cotton shirts like ours.

Breathability

Our shirts feature small, subtle designs on 220 GSM, 100% cotton tees. The embroidery adds thickness around the design, but because it covers a small area, it has little effect on the shirt’s overall breathability. The shirt remains comfortable for everyday wear, including in warm weather.

Heat Handling

Polyester embroidery thread holds up well to normal wear and washing, but high heat can damage polyester. We recommend turning the shirt inside out before ironing and avoiding direct heat on the design and backing. Follow the garment’s care label, and line-dry rather than tumble-drying to help protect the shirt.

The Round Door Workshop Difference

We make subtle, high-quality shirts with gaming and fantasy designs. In a sea of loud, screen-printed licensed tees, ours offer a quieter alternative: designs you can wear for years, including to the office, stitched onto heavyweight cotton shirts.

Explore our full range of shirts, including the Hearts Life Bar, Rogue, and Warrior designs. All our shirts include free shipping Australia-wide.