A Step-By-Step Guide To Screen Printing - www.brandspeed.us

1. A Step-By-Step Guide To Screen Printing It’s a huge probability that you have at least one screen printed t-shirt or hoodie stuffed in a drawer somewhere in your house. Whether you own one or a dozen, each tells a story about you - your favorite band, a charity you have been involved in, a special event you attended, your favorite comic book hero, your favorite sports team, your sense of humor - the list is virtually endless! Although the art of screen printing has been around for centuries, it was artist Andy Warhol that made screen printed tees popular back in the 1960’s. This is because t-shirts and other printable media are blank canvases that can be used to convey any message or feeling you can think of, at a relatively low cost. Why Use Screen Printing? The answer to this question is fairly obvious! As mentioned above, it is the perfect way to get just about any message you want out into the world. Whether you need custom screen printed items to showcase school spirit, memorialize a corporate event, gifts for your customers or fans, spread the message about your charity, or advertise your business within your local community, screen printing in bulk provides a low cost option that meets any of these needs and more. Screen printing is a type of printing that can be used on all sorts of items from koozies to ink pens, hats and to posters, and just about everything in between. While t-shirts and hoodies are the most popular form of screen printed items, the sheer number of options and endless array of opportunities it gives you to say what you need to say is truly worth its weight in gold. Step-By-Step Process of Screen Printing Screen printing, also known as silk printing, is the process of using a stencil (known as the screen) to transfer layers of ink onto the printing surface one layer at a time. A different screen is used for every new color and layer. Most often used on paper and fabric, it is a very versatile form of printing that can also be used on plastic, metal, latex, glass and wood. When using professional custom screen printing in NC, your prints should last for a long time. Hiring an experienced screen printer ensures the proper washable heat-treated ink, the correct drying temperature, and the correct timing is used so that the print doesn’t wash out. While there are various methods used in screen printing, each uses a similar basic technique. Step 1: The design is created. This design is then printed onto a transparent acetate film. The film is then used to create the stencil. Step 2: The screen is prepped. The screen printer chooses the proper type of mesh screen to

2. use based on the design style and the type of media to be used. The mesh screen is then coated with a light-reactive emulsion, which will harden as it develops beneath a bright light. Step 3: The emulsion is exposed. The acetate sheet that has printed with the design is placed onto the emulsion coated mesh and exposed to a specialized bright light. This hardens the emulsion to ensure that any parts of the screen covered by the design remains in a liquid state. This process is repeated for each color in the design. Each screen is then precisely aligned by hand to ensure the design is printed correctly. Step 4: The emulsion is washed off and the stencil is created. After the correct amount of time has passed, every area of the screen not covered by the design will harden. This makes a definitive imprint of the design onto the screen that allows the ink to pass through. Step 5: The screen is dried and any needed touch ups are done. After step 4 is complete, the screen is fully dried and the screen printer will now make any necessary corrections or touch-ups. The stencil is now ready to use. Step 6: Media is prepped for printing. The screen is now placed on the printing press. The item to be printed is placed onto a printing board underneath the screen. Step 7: The stencil is inked and squeegeed onto the media. Once the screen is lowered onto the printing board, ink is then added to the top. The screen printer then uses a squeegee to pull the ink across the entire length of the screen, pushing the ink through any areas that are open in the stencil, printing the design onto the product. This process is repeated for each mesh to be used in the design. When the design has been imprinted, the emulsion is washed off the screen with a washing fluid, and the mesh is reused to create a new stencil. Step 8: The printed garment or item is then passed through a specialized dryer to cure the ink for a smooth, reliable finish. It is then checked for quality and washed to remove any residue that remains. Conclusion Screen printing is one of the most popular forms of printing for those who need to order items in bulk because the screen can be used multiple times in succession. It is an extremely versatile, low cost option for printing needs that are needed in larger quantities or require a fast turnaround time. Located in Mooresville, NC, BrandSpeed has worked with more than 3000 churches, businesses, teams and other organizations for custom screen print shirts since 2009. The company understands that shopping for custom screen printing online can be an overwhelming task and are always available to help! Whether you have questions about bulk custom t-shirts or

3. custom screen printing in NC, their knowledgeable staff has the answers. Contact BrandSpeed today for a free quote!