Gildan 3000 (light cotton)

The Gildan 3000 Light Cotton is a popular choice for screen printing projects, especially for large runs, because it offers a great balance of quality, printability, and cost. Made from 100% preshrunk cotton, it provides a smooth surface that holds ink well and delivers crisp, vibrant prints. Its midweight fabric (around 5.3 oz) is comfortable, durable, and ideal for everyday wear.

For large-scale projects—like events, promotional giveaways, or team apparel—choosing the Gildan 3000 makes financial sense. It's significantly more affordable than premium blanks, allowing businesses or organizers to stay within budget without compromising on print quality. The cost savings add up quickly, making it a go-to for bulk orders where value and reliability are key.

The Gildan 3000 Light Cotton holds up well to standard screen printing—it takes ink nicely, and the 100% preshrunk cotton helps reduce post-wash shrinking, keeping prints looking clean and aligned. Its smooth surface is ideal for basic to moderately detailed designs, and it works great with plastisol and water-based inks.

However, for higher-end printing techniques—like discharge printing, DTG (direct-to-garment), or high-detail simulated process prints—you might run into some limitations. The Gildan 3000 is a more budget-friendly, open-end cotton shirt, which means it doesn’t have the ultra-smooth, ring-spun texture that premium shirts offer. That can affect how fine details and soft ink applications look and feel.

In short, it's a dependable, cost-effective blank for most screen printing needs, but if you're aiming for super-soft prints, fashion-forward finishes, or intricate detail, you might want to step up to a ring-spun cotton option like the Bella+Canvas 3001 or the Gildan Softstyle 64000.