The production of uniforms, team shirts, and other promotional items is greatly facilitated by screen printing. For best results, choose large, crisp, and high-resolution artwork. A fabulous screen printer can help you tighten up your image to make it work, if necessary. After your art is set, the screen is lowered onto a product and inked with a squeegee. After that, the screen must be cleansed to remove the emulsion and make it simple to print your artwork.
Know What You Want
Screen printing is a process that requires careful attention to detail. Even the slightest misstep can cause a poor-quality result, ultimately negatively impacting your brand. It’s essential to choose a high-resolution image for your custom screen prints. Low-resolution images don’t transfer well and can distort your final product. In addition, it’s essential to know what mesh count you want to use. Different mesh counts offer varying densities, which help prevent excess ink from saturating image features. It’s also essential to keep the screen tight throughout the printing process. A loose screen can distort your finished product and may cause the image to blur. It can be prevented by using the correct printing equipment and adhering to professional standards.
Get a Proof
If you’re planning on doing a large run of screen printing, it’s worth getting proof of your print. That way, you know everything is set up correctly, and the finished product will look exactly how you want it to. In custom screen printing, ink is applied to a shirt or other material using a stencil. The resulting image is a result of ink being pushed through the open areas of the stencil by a squeegee.
The final printed image’s quality depends on many factors, such as the mesh count of the screen used, the type of ink, and how much pressure is applied to the squeegee. It’s also essential to ensure the platen doesn’t move while printing, as this can distort the final image.
Know Your Budget
Screen printing is an expensive process, especially for smaller orders. A single screen requires a reasonable amount of time to set up and print, and multiple screens add up quickly. In light of this, it’s crucial to establish your budget before working with a custom screen printer. Using cheap or low-quality shirts can also be costly. They may not absorb the ink well, have inconsistencies that can cause problems, or contain fibers that don’t work with the screen-printing process. Remembering that water-based inks require back flooding after every print is essential. Failure to do this can lead to caking, distorting the final printed design. Lastly, ensure your screens and platens don’t move during printing.
Do Your Research
Screen printing is a stenciling process that uses a mesh screen and ink with a squeegee to apply the design. It’s commonly used on fabric but can also be applied to paper and metal using specialized inks. It’s labor-intensive and expensive for smaller runs, making it more cost-effective to produce in bulk. Knowing how many colors you are printing is essential, as this can impact your final costs. An experienced custom screen printer can help you reduce the number of colors without compromising your design. It’s a cash-intensive investment and can take time to get established, but you can save money on the initial purchase by looking for used equipment.
Make Sure You Have Enough Shirts
Screen printing is a very labor-intensive process and can be expensive. Having the number of shirts you need before getting started saves time and money. Regularly checking the screens will also help ensure you have a quality product. Loose screens can ruin the printed image and make it blurry. A tight screen, however, allows for supreme print quality. Do a head count before ordering your shirts, and if possible, add a few extras to be safe. It will help you avoid flooding the market with your brand name. Also, remember that screen printing can be more difficult with items with buttons, long sleeves, or a v-neck.