SCREEN PRINTING

When you think of screen printing, the first application that comes to mind is probably textile decoration. But printing on fabric only scratches the surface of screen printing’s capabilities.

For a lot of business owners and managers, the hiring process can be intimidating. It’s difficult to know which applicants will become fantastic employees.

As a screen printer, your biggest concern is certainly a quality print for your customer. While this is important, today’s marketplace often demands more from vendors.

For what seems like all of screen printing’s history, screen printers have laid down their art on basic cotton shirts. While basic cotton still might be the industry standard, there are countless shirt options available for screen printing.

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.

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.

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.