Anatol blog

Loading shirts onto the screen printing press the right way — that is, with the shirt straight and properly positioned for the print — can be a challenge, especially for novice screen printers. Screen printers have to master the skill of loading shirts the right way. Your press-loading technique impacts how quickly you can print, as well as the amount of discarded prints you’ll have due to crooked or off-center prints.

If you have mastered printing on sweatshirts, t-shirts and polos, it’s time to consider what other items you could offer to help expand your screen printing business. Screen printed sweatpants, yoga pants and athletic pants are perennial favorites for athletic teams and clubs, and as spirit wear and promotional items.

Most screen prints involve laying down simple designs with finite borders, one color at a time. But every screen printer has to deal with more complex prints from time to time, whether it’s a four-color process job or a print with gradient tones for special effects.

If you’re reading this, it’s time to move up to a larger manual screen printing press, add one to your screen printing arsenal, or replace an older, worn out model.

When shopping for a screen printing press, there are many variables you’ll have to take into account. One of the most important decisions to make is how many colors and stations you want.

Even for established screen printers, opening your business to online sales can help you to boost your profits. Opening an online store can attract new customers and create a new source of revenue to help you through normal seasonal lulls.

Custom garment makers often line up on each side of the debate: Screen printing versus heat transfers. While the issue is one that can divide, the reality is that both types of garment decorating have their merits.

During the day to day operation of your screen printing business, it’s easy to get so busy working in your business that you forget to work on your business. As a business owner, if you have a team of employees working under you, it should free up time for you to step back from the fine details and take a look at improving the big picture.

Screen printers know that there’s an ebb and flow to the business; each year, business seems to pick up in the spring and summer and into the fall, as sports teams, schools, festivals and special events seek custom apparel. Though you know busy periods happen, knowing how to prepare for them can be more difficult.

For all of the work that goes into creating the perfect screen print, perhaps the biggest element that determines the success or failure of a print is heat. The right flash temperature determines the integrity of your underbase, or whether a heat transfer will, well, transfer. Getting your ink to the ideal curing temperature for the correct amount of time determines whether your finished print will crack, peel or wash out. 

In order to grow your screen printing business, it’s important to keep an eye out for new products you can add to your list of offerings. One customizable item that continues to grow in popularity is the reusable canvas tote bag.

Are you doing everything you can to keep employees safe in your screen printing shop? While our previous blog shared tips for protecting employee health and safe handling of screen printing chemicals, there’s one more danger to consider in your shop: Your screen printing equipment.