SCREEN PRINTING TECHNIQUES

By Michael Jirasek

I remember the first time I worked with a quartz flash. It was a little scary! Flash settings can be tricky and require attention to detail. However, the payoff in increased production more than makes up for the learning curve. Here’s a general guide to help you find the right quartz flash settings for your print jobs.

Screen printing is a competitive industry, so it’s important to always be on the lookout for ways to separate your business from the pack. It’s hard to attract new customers (and retain existing ones) if you can’t catch their eye…and giving metal flake ink a try can help you do just that!

Children’s wear has always been a large component of the screen printing market. Sports jerseys, school apparel and child-sized souvenir and promotional clothing are the bread and butter of many screen printing shops.

If you’ve ever tried to create the perfect color for a persnickety customer, you know color matching ink for screen printing can be a complicated proposition. Sure you have color matching systems to guide you, but many factors can interfere with color matching in screen printing.

There are countless screen printing inks that claim to be «ready for use», but in reality almost all inks require some care before they hit your press. Whether you’re seeking the right consistency, the right color or a special effect, there are proper ways to get your ink ready for printing.

Screen printing customers have been increasingly demanding a softer hand feel to their printed t-shirts. Many apparel screen printers have turned to water-based and discharge ink to achieve the soft, retro prints customers request. But plastisol can get the job done too!

If you’re ready to challenge yourself – and make your shop stand out – halftone printing could be for you. With halftone prints, you can create shaded effects and photorealistic images on garments.

With so much attention on applying ink to shirts, it’s easy to forget that pre-press is just as important! If your screen hasn’t been properly prepared before it goes on the press, even perfect printing technique won’t deliver a quality print. There are so many variables that factor into exposing your screens it can be difficult to get a good result, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the process.