T-Shirt Screen Printing
T-Shirt screen printing is the oldest way to make custom T-shirts. It also gives the best results. The process is fascinating but can be extremely costly. If, however, you want to make the best quality T-shirts, you might want to invest in a silk screen press.
The silk screening process uses a printing press and ink in order to transfer a design or wording onto fabric. Creating the design onto the screens takes time. Once this is set up, the printing process is easy. You will most likely charge more for an initial order than subsequent orders because of the set up process.
The design must be first drawn out and then created on a series of screens. They are then put in the printing machine so that they create an image. This technology uses ink and a printing press to make the shirt. It is similar to how newspapers were printed long before computer technology.
The most difficult part of this process, as well as the most time consuming, is setting up the screens. Once they are set up and inserted into the machine, the printing is easy. The type of printing that you can do will depend on the type of press that you have.
While some machine presses can print up to four colors, many only print one or two. You will have to set up the screen in the machine and also insert the proper color ink into the press. If you have ever ordered designed T-shirts, you know that there is an extra charge for additional colors in the silk screening process. This is because it take extra work to add more than one color. If the press only takes one color at a time, the shirt must be printed twice, once for each color in the design.
Once the machine is set up with the screens and proper color ink, you are ready to press the fabric. The machine will then press each shirt very quickly. In most factories, one person puts the T-shirt on the machine and the other takes it off and inspects it. The T-shirts should all be inspected for printing errors before they move off the assembly line, however this is a most effective way to print on fabric.
In addition to T-shirts, any type of fabric can be used in the silk screening process. Sweatshirts, pants, hats and purses are commonly silk-screened.
A silk screen press is a large machine and is not portable. You need an industrial business in order use this equipment effectively. However, if you are seeking to make custom T-shirts on a large scale level, this is the way you want to work. Not only will you be able to mass produce shirts quickly and efficiently, but this is the best method for getting a true quality custom T-shirt.
