News
What is Minimum Order Quantity and Why Does it Matter?
Every printer wants to make money. You don’t want to lose profit on a job, but don’t want to turn potential customers away. So what do you do? Set a minimum order quantity. A minimum order quantity will ensure that you are putting in the effort that isn’t going to waste. It also can help weed out customers who aren’t committed to quality like you are. Get your calculators out; this is going to take a bit of math. Don’t worry though. Here’s everything you need to find your minimum order quantity for every job.
Pigment Dyeing vs. Garment Dyeing: What's the Difference?
When dyeing a garment, two methods exist — pigment dyeing and traditional garment dyeing. These two processes create different dyes in a garment. Both are great options for screen printers. So what’s the big difference? Let’s jump in and find out.
Should You Buy Static Screens, Click Screens, or Stretch Your Own?
You pull a squeegee across a screen, and it doesn’t lift off the shirt. You sigh. Another screen to replace. What if there was a solution? Well, get excited. There are different types of screens to help printers improve print performance. Besides static frames, click frames and re-tensionable frames exist. They’re not for every shop but can improve performance. So what’s the difference? We’ll compare static and click frames to see which screen benefits your shop.
Ryan Moor's Experience with MADE Lab's Screen Printing 101 Course
At MADE, it’s been amazing to get to work with people who know more than me. Being the one who started teaching in classes and videos over the past 17 years I kinda thought of myself as an “expert” in most things screen printing but now, having a chance to work with ink and print geniuses like Tom, Brett, and Brian at Made Lab, the teacher has become the student. I’m learning new things even in our basic 101 class.
How Boyd Creative Print Shop’s commitment to Quality Produces Booming Business
Garage shops are the bread and butter of the manual screen printing industry. They’re perfect for printers interested in working close to home or making their real estate investment do double duty. One such shop is Boyd Creative Print Shop. Owners Andrew and Chantel Boyd opened the shop in 2020, running it out of their garage in Des Moines, Iowa. Their commitment to quality has made them a big hit in the print community.
How Do You Know it's Time to Upgrade to an Automatic Screen Printing Press?
Should you screen print on a manual or automatic press? That’s the million-dollar question. Some printers swear by a manual press, while others have goals to jump to automation as soon as possible. So when do you know it’s time to upgrade to an automatic screen printing press? Here are three questions to ask yourself before you make the jump to a new press.
3 Highlights from the Love Yourself Clothing Live Stream
You’ve probably heard it said that the best time to try something new is to try it live on camera. Haven’t heard that? Well for Maher Hachem (or Munch for short), trying new things during a live stream is the perfect time. So when the YouTube community suggested that he print a fountain print on a tote bag, Munch was up for the challenge.
“I get hype,” he said throughout the live stream.
Munch is the owner of Love Yourself Clothing. As a creative individual, he loves to try new things, all while jamming to original music written by himself and friends. Missed all the fun? Here are three highlights from the stream.
Should You Print with Metallic Ink or Decorate with Foil Transfers?
Want to make prints stand out from the crowd? There are a couple of ways to make a screen print shimmer and shine, LIKE using foil transfers or printing with metallic inks. But which is better? What’s the best method for your shop? There are merits to both; let’s compare the two and discover what’s best for your process.
What is a Laser Guiding System and How Does it Improve Screen Printing Performance?
It’s no secret that lasers are cool. They’re not just for laser tag or entertaining cats. Screen printers can take advantage of laser precision using a laser guiding system to line up prints on press. Why is this system a game-changer for printers? Let’s find out.
How Moving Shops Helped Abi-Saad Print & Design Work Toward Goals and Create Community
Moving to a new shop space is exciting but also intimidating. The process can be riddled with challenges or go smoothly. Anthony Abi-Saad found both when he moved his shop, Abi-Saad Print & Design, to a new location in Taunton, Massachusetts. It wasn’t the first time he’d moved, but it was a big new challenge. One main challenge: creating a darkroom from scratch. With a bit of creativity and some expert help, he was able to make it all happen.
WTF is DTF: Comparing Screen Printing and DTF for DIY Screen Printers
So you want to decorate garments. There are so many ways of doing that. Do you want to use transfers? Interested in direct-to-garment printing? Want to try out screen printing? With so many options to start, it can be overwhelming for a DIY printer to decide. Let’s compare two popular methods: DTF and screen printing.
A Guide to Industry Standard for Screen Print Placements and Dimensions
There’s a lot to consider when talking about print placement on a garment. How tall should it be? Where should it be placed? Don’t worry about having all the answers. Here’s a guide to lining up and sizing popular design placements on garments.
