Screen printing is a massive industry. It’s a process that offers an opportunity to create vibrant, custom-designed apparel, from T-shirts and hoodies to posters and more. It’s also a medium that’s incredibly versatile, with options for a wide range of substrates and print locations.
But, before you can get the most out of this incredible printmaking technique, you’ll need to have a firm understanding of what goes into making that beautiful artwork on a shirt or poster. This article will explore the basics of screen printing – how it works, what makes for a successful print, and how it relates to other types of garment decoration like embroidery, sublimation, and laser engraving.
We’ll cover everything from the benefits of a high mesh count, to the purpose and troubleshooting of emulsion application, the differences between a manual press and a rotary press, the uses of plastisol and water-based inks, curing tips and tricks, shop setup and more. We’ll even touch on a few alternatives to screen printing, including digital printing, embroidery, and other more specialized methods for specific fabrics and materials.
If you’re looking to enter the world of custom clothing printing, then it’s imperative that you understand what it takes to make a product that will meet or exceed your customer’s expectations. This is a process that involves many different elements, and one mistake can throw the entire operation into disarray. It’s not uncommon for the administrative (order intake, quoting, art approvals and revisions) and preparation phases of a screen printing order to take more time than the actual printing itself.
That’s because screen printing isn’t just dragging a squeegee across a screen – it’s a comprehensive system of processes that are all interrelated and depend on each other to produce a finished garment.
In the end, a successful garment starts with a great design – which in turn depends on how the screen is prepared and loaded. If you’re going to be a top-notch printer, then you need to have a solid understanding of every aspect of your workflow, from the way that ink adheres to different substrates, to the right chemistry for emulsion and exposure, the right curing temperatures, and more.
So, the next time you’re tempted to skip over any of this information in order to jump straight to the printing process itself, think again! This is the area of your business where you should focus a majority of your time, because that’s the only way to ensure that you’re producing quality prints. And, as any good Minneapolis screen printing shop will tell you, there’s no such thing as a successful print without a solid pre-press process.
Spark Printshop is one of the best print shop in Minneapolis, MN, They offer a variety of customization options for your wholesale women’s t-shirts, including screen printing and embroidery. We will work with you to bring your vision to life and create a unique team identity that stands out from the competition.