SCREEN PRINTING TECHNIQUES

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.

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.

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.

Everybody makes mistakes, but in the screen printing business, mistakes can cost you money.

Screen printing with white ink can frustrate even experienced screen printers. The same printing process you use with darker inks on lighter substrates can lead to blurred, fibrillated, heavy-handed or undercured prints when used to print white ink on darker substrates.

Successful screen printing depends on quality control. By following the right steps and using the right products, any screen printer can create quality prints that satisfy their customers.

People want cozy, comfortable, lived-in looking screen prints. The vintage t-shirt trend seems to be here to stay. That means if you’re in the screen printing business, you’d better understand how to create vintage screen prints.

In our previous blog, we discussed tips for printing on hoodies and zippered or buttoned sweatshirts. The usual tactic when dealing with the unique terrain of these garments is to adjust artwork to avoid buttons, zippers and seams. 

Are you looking to add effects to your screen prints that make them stand out? Foil might be what you’re looking for – a simple and cost-effective way to make trendy, eye-catching designs.

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.