screen printing methods

Every winter — when the moisture in the air drops outside and furnaces further dry the indoor air — static electricity abounds. Unfortunately for printers, print shops create the perfect environment for the generation of static electricity.

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.

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.

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

From time to time, screen printing will throw some challenges at you that leave you guessing. How can you overcome particularly difficult jobs?

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.