Anatol blog

One of the most misunderstood — and often overlooked — elements of a screen printing shop is the darkroom.

If you’ve been thinking about starting your own screen printing business, you’ve likely been wondering just what you need to get your screen printing shop up and running.

Flash cure units are a mainstay in nearly every screen printing shop. They’re crucial when it comes to printing a white underbase or when printing abutting or overlapping colors.

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. 

Hoodies — whether pullover, quarter zips or full zips — are perennial favorites when it comes to screen printing garments. And while screen printed sweatshirts, jackets and fleeces are ubiquitous, that’s not to say that the garments are easy to screen print.

In screen printing, safety comes first. The well-being of your press operators and other employees is often contingent upon their knowledge of and familiarity with the equipment they’re using.

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.

Nylon products offer ample opportunity for screen printing orders. Jackets, banners, tote bags, brief cases, luggage, sports bags and umbrellas are perpetually popular items for promoting sports teams, businesses and events. But that’s not to say that printing on nylon is without its problems.

How many times have you asked yourself, “I wonder how much I made on that screen printing job?” In order to find out, you really have to answer two different questions: What did I charge for the job and what were the total expenses incurred? The answer to the first question is relatively easy; it’s the total of your invoice less applicable taxes. The second question is a little more difficult to answer, as there’s a multitude of costs that go into your business and screen printing production.

Who are you selling your screen printed apparel to? Who are you trying to sell it to? You might have set up your screen printing shop with the simple goal of selling screen printed goods. But to execute an effective business plan and lead your shop toward success, you have to know your target market, or who is most likely to order your goods.

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!