
Screen printing is a fun and inexpensive way to express your individual style by printing designs onto T-shirts. It is a simple process that can be done at home and is a great way to make custom pieces for friends and family. To get started, you will need a design, a screen, fabric paint, and a squeegee. You will also need a T-shirt, of course, and it is recommended to use 100% cotton for the best results.
The process begins with creating or selecting a design, which should be printed onto a clear transparency sheet. The screen is then prepared by coating it with emulsion, which is light-sensitive and will be used to create a stencil of your design. After exposing the emulsion to light, the screen is ready to be used for printing. Place the screen over your T-shirt and use the squeegee to spread the ink across the screen, transferring the design onto the fabric. Finally, the ink is left to dry and is then set with heat to ensure it stays on the shirt.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Materials | Non-toxic, water-based ink for fabric printing, ready-made screen, canvas stretcher frame, mesh, squeegee, plain paper, craft knife, masking tape, T-shirt, clear transparency sheet, emulsion, sensitizer, silkscreen, screen printing ink, cardboard, glass sheet, light source, garden hose with a spray nozzle, shower hose, iron, etc. |
Steps | Choose a design, gather materials, prepare the screen, prepare the T-shirt, transfer the design, cure the print, etc. |
Tips | Use high dpi screens, have someone hold the frame while pulling the squeegee, use an iron and a piece of brown paper to cure the print, look for ink labelled "super opaque" when using dark materials, etc. |
What You'll Learn
Choosing a design
Keep it Simple
If this is your first time screen printing, opt for a simple design such as a silhouette or a bold graphic. Complex designs with intricate details may be harder to execute and require more advanced techniques.
Black-and-White Image
For the screen printing process, your image must be in black and white. The black-and-white design will be used to create a stencil, which is a crucial step in transferring the design onto the T-shirt.
Determine Placement
Decide where you want the design to appear on the T-shirt. Common placement options include the full front, left chest, back, or sleeve. The placement will impact the size and orientation of your design.
Standard Design Sizes
There are standard design sizes based on the placement and the target audience (adults or youth). For instance, a standard full front design for an adult shirt is typically 11" x 11", while for youth sizes, it's recommended to be around 9" x 9".
Avoid Obstructions
When determining the placement and size of your design, avoid printing over seams, zippers, buttons, or other obstructions. Scaling down your design may be necessary to ensure it doesn't interfere with these elements.
Customise for Different Sizes
If you're printing shirts for a group with a wide range of sizes, consider creating custom transfer sizes for each type of apparel. This ensures that the design looks proportionate and well-placed on all shirts, regardless of size.
Use the Right Tools
When creating your design, utilise tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or Microsoft Word/PowerPoint to edit and manipulate your images. These programs can help you alter images, create stencils, and ensure your design is ready for the screen printing process.
Remember, the quality of your final screen-printed T-shirt is heavily dependent on the quality of your initial design. Take the time to plan and create a well-thought-out design that aligns with your vision and the technical requirements of the screen printing process.
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Preparing the screen
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Firstly, ensure you have all the necessary materials and equipment. You will need a screen (also known as a silkscreen), which consists of a wooden or aluminium frame stretched with polyester mesh. You can buy a pre-made screen or make your own by stretching mesh over a canvas stretcher frame and stapling it firmly to the sides. Other required materials include emulsion, a squeegee, a clear transparency sheet, a light source (such as a lamp with a 250-watt lightbulb), and, of course, your T-shirt.
Step 2: Set Up Your Workstation
Create a suitable workspace by clearing a large, flat surface and covering it with newspaper, an old sheet, or a tarp to protect it from the chemicals. Ensure the room is dimly lit, as UV light can cause the emulsion to harden prematurely.
Step 3: Mix the Emulsion
Put on some rubber gloves to protect your skin from the chemicals. Then, following the manufacturer's instructions, mix the emulsion and sensitizer together. This mixture will harden when exposed to UV light, creating a stencil of your design.
Step 4: Elevate and Coat the Screen
Place push pins in each corner of the flat side of the screen to elevate it. This will allow you to fill the well of the frame with emulsion. Pour 1-2 tablespoons of emulsion into the well, and use a squeegee to spread it over the screen, creating a thin, even coating. Be careful not to use too much emulsion, as it may drip off. Coat both sides of the screen.
Step 5: Let the Emulsion Set
Rest the screen on the push pins and leave it to set overnight in a dim space. You can speed up the drying process by placing a fan near the screen. If you need to transport the screen, cover it with a thick, dark fabric to protect it from UV light.
Step 6: Expose the Emulsion to Light
Once the emulsion has set, it's time to expose it to light. Place the transparency sheet with your design and a glass sheet onto the flat side of the frame. Ensure your image is backward if it's not symmetrical, especially for text-based designs, to prevent it from printing backward. Position a light source above the frame, about 18 inches away, and expose the emulsion to light according to the manufacturer's instructions. This will harden the exposed areas of the emulsion.
Step 7: Wash the Screen
After exposing the emulsion to light, quickly remove the glass and transparency sheet and wash the screen with cold water. Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle or a shower hose to remove the wet emulsion. Continue spraying until a stencil of your design appears on the screen. Then, pat the screen dry with a clean cloth and let it air dry for about 30 minutes.
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Exposing the design
Now that you have your silkscreen frame and your design ready, it's time to expose the design onto the screen. This process will transform your silkscreen into a stencil that can be used to print your design onto a T-shirt. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Prepare your workstation: Set up your workstation in a dim room and cover the surface with newspaper or any other protective covering. This is important because the process involves using harsh chemicals, and you want to protect your work area. Close the curtains or doors to block out any direct sunlight, as the UV light can affect the emulsion.
- Mix the emulsion and sensitizer: Put on some rubber gloves and mix the emulsion and sensitizer according to the manufacturer's instructions. These chemicals are light-sensitive and will harden when exposed to UV light, so be careful not to expose them to direct light.
- Elevate the silkscreen: Place a pushpin into each corner of the flat side of the silkscreen frame. This will allow you to elevate the frame and create a well for the emulsion.
- Coat the silkscreen with emulsion: Pour 1-2 tablespoons of emulsion into the well of the frame. Use a squeegee to spread the emulsion evenly over the screen, working from the centre outwards. Make sure to coat both sides of the screen. You may need to add more emulsion as you spread it to ensure a thin, even coating.
- Let the emulsion dry: Once the screen is coated, place the frame back on the pushpins and leave it to set overnight in a dim space. You can speed up the drying process by placing a fan near the screen.
- Prepare the transparency sheet: After the emulsion has dried, it's time to place your design onto the screen. Take your transparency sheet (with your black-and-white design printed on it) and place it onto the centre of the flat side of the frame. If your image is not symmetrical, make sure to place the transparency sheet so that the image appears backward. This is crucial, especially for text-based designs, to ensure the image prints correctly on your shirt.
- Add a glass sheet: Carefully layer a piece of clear glass over the transparency sheet. This will help keep the transparency sheet flat against the screen.
- Position the light source: Place a transportable lamp with a 250-watt light bulb above the layered frame. The light should be positioned approximately 18 inches (46 cm) above the screen and should spread light evenly over the entire screen.
- Expose the emulsion to light: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for exposing the emulsion to light. The exposure time can vary depending on the brand and light intensity. It can take anywhere from 1 minute to 1 hour for the emulsion to harden.
- Rinse the screen: After the exposure is complete, quickly remove the glass and transparency sheet. Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle or a shower hose to rinse away the wet emulsion. Continue spraying until a stencil of your design appears on the screen.
- Dry the screen: Use a clean cloth to pat excess water from the screen, then let it air dry for about 30 minutes or until it is completely dry.
Now that your design has been exposed onto the silkscreen, you are ready to move on to the next step of the screen printing process, which is transferring the design onto your T-shirt.
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Setting up the press
Firstly, right before clamping the screens into the press, use screen-printing tape to tape off the edges of the frame. This is an important step as it prevents ink from getting onto areas of the T-shirt that you don't want it to.
If you are printing a design with multiple colours, you will need to register the colours together. This is done to ensure that they line up correctly when printed on the T-shirt. Using a press with a laser guiding system or micro-registration is extremely helpful for this step, especially when printing fine details and multiple colour prints. Once you believe your screens are in registration, it is important to complete a test print to ensure that everything is lined up correctly.
Next, before loading the T-shirt onto the platen, apply pallet adhesive to it. This will help the T-shirt stick to the platen and prevent it from moving around during the printing process. Load your T-shirt onto the press and get your printhead aligned. Before locking the printhead into place above the T-shirt, be sure to flood the screen with ink.
Once the printhead is locked into place, push or pull the screen-printing ink across the screen to deposit the ink onto the T-shirt. You may need to do this more than once, depending on how much ink was deposited. If your design includes multiple colours, simply repeat this step with your other screens.
Finally, remember that you may need to flash your T-shirt in between prints, especially if you are printing on dark garments with a white underbase. This can be done using a flash dryer, which helps to cure/set the ink. This will allow you to print another colour on top of the first layer.
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Printing the shirt
Now that you have your screen and design ready, it's time to print your shirt!
First, make sure your work area is covered with newspaper, an old sheet, or a tarp to protect it from the ink. You will also want to wear gloves to protect your skin from the ink and chemicals.
Next, prepare your shirt by placing it on a flat surface and ironing out any wrinkles. You can place a piece of cardboard inside the shirt to prevent the ink from staining the back. Position your screen over the shirt, making sure the design is aligned correctly and the fabric underneath the screen is smooth and not bunched up.
Now, it's time to add the ink! Place a line of ink above your design, making sure it is the same width. Then, use a squeegee to pull the ink across your design in a single direction, creating a smooth and thin layer. You may need to add more ink and repeat this step a few times to get an even coat. Be careful not to oversaturate the fabric, as the ink may bleed outside of the stencil.
Once you are happy with the coverage, slowly lift the screen straight up from the shirt, being careful not to jostle the fabric. Allow the ink to air dry for 30-60 minutes, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Finally, set the ink by referring to the manufacturer's instructions for your particular ink. The most common method is to iron the design, but some inks may require exposure to sunlight or drying in a machine.
If you are printing multiple shirts, be sure to clean your screen and tools between uses to prevent the ink from drying and ruining your design.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a screen, fabric paint, emulsion, a squeegee, a frame, and a 250v generator.
It is best to use a 100% cotton T-shirt for screen printing. Avoid using 100% nylon or 100% polyester T-shirts.
Make sure your T-shirt is plain, clean, and unwrinkled. Avoid laundering your T-shirt with fabric softener or dryer sheets as this may prevent the ink from setting.
You can cure your print by passing it through a special heat tunnel, or you can simply use an iron and a piece of brown paper.
Throw out your paper stencil and wash the screen with cold water and a sponge to ensure all the ink is removed, then leave it out to dry completely before using it again.