SCREEN PRINTING TECHNIQUES

Looking for creative ways to break free from traditional screen prints? Give HD printing a try! High density screen printing can make any logoed or artistic print standout. Available in plastisol, gel and even water-based varieties, high density inks are laid down in a thick layer, and they cure with crisp, sharp edges to create […]

Offering customized jackets is a benefit to screen printers, but printing them has some challenges to consider! Jackets provide great opportunity for screen printers. Jackets are a popular choice to complete a work uniform, and fall, winter and spring sports teams love to have coordinating jackets to wear on the road and on the sidelines. […]

Creating and manipulating art can be one of the most time consuming parts of a screen printer’s day. Here’s how to make it easier! Where do you see a slowdown in your production process? If work isn’t flowing quickly through your screen printing shop, your business is losing time and money. While many screen printing […]

A high quality multicolor screen print depends on tight registration – here are some ways to achieve it! This article was written for Printwearmag.com by Michael Jirasek Once upon a time… Some people viewed it as an art that could not be taught. To others it was a mystery that only a special few with “the eye” […]

If you’re not careful about keeping your shop clean, you might be costing yourself time and money! A dirty shop can cause a host of problems: Lint marks in the ink on finished prints, time lost searching for the right can of ink or the right screen, spills that can cause slips, boxes left out […]

While many factors determine the quality of your screen prints, it’s especially important not to overlook the condition of your pallets!  This article was written for Printwearmag.com by Michael Jirasek  It’s a part of the screen printing press that is known by many names – pallet, platen, shirtboard – to name a few of the more common descriptions. They’ve […]

When it comes to printing basic garments, most screen printers turn to 100-percent cotton substrates. More and more, however, customers are looking for alternatives. For that reason, cotton/polyester blends are becoming more common. These blended garments have plenty of advantages, but they also pose some of the same challenges that come with printing on fully […]

Heat presses are great tools to use to quickly and easily apply designs to apparel, accessories, mugs and other promotional items. As easy as the process is, there’s still a learning curve involved in applying heat transfers. Here are some of the most common heat transfer mistakes and how to avoid them. 1. Misplaced, crooked or backward […]

The market for screen printing on metal provides ample opportunities for screen printing businesses. To succeed in that market, screen printers have to understand the technical aspects of screen printing on metal substrates. Not all metal substrates are created equal, and not all inks will adhere to all metals. Laying down a great print means […]

Koozies — those insulating foam can and bottle holders — have become a mainstay at backyard barbecues, summer holiday picnics, tailgates and sporting and musical events. For consumers, koozies help keep drinks colder by insulating them from warm air and warm hands, and by wicking away condensation. They also help set apart cans and bottles from the crowd, so everyone can keep track of their own drinks at social gatherings. 

Screen printing requires heat. Every screen printer knows that applying the right amount of heat for the right amount of time results in a crisp screen print that’s fully bonded to your substrate. Sometimes, however, heat can prove the enemy. 

For most screen printers, liquid emulsion is the preferred tool for coating screens to make stencils. There is an alternative that’s often overlooked and undervalued: capillary film. Capillary films are sheets of hardened emulsion on a polyester backing. The emulsion side of the film is applied directly to a wetted mesh screen. The emulsion forms a firm bond with the mesh as it dries, and the backing is peeled away. From there, the printer can expose a stencil much as they would a screen coated with liquid emulsion.