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Best Practices to Keep Your Screen Printing Platens in Great Shape

Jacelyn WedmanMar 23, 2023

When you take care of your platens, you’ll be able to keep them around longer without having to replace them. Platens can be expensive, so you’ll want to replace them as little as possible. So how do you take care of those precious platens? Here are a few best practices to get the most life out of your platens.

Best Practices to Keep Your Screen Printing Platens in Great Shape

Jacelyn WedmanMar 23, 2023

When you take care of your platens, you’ll be able to keep them around longer without having to replace them. Platens can be expensive, so you’ll want to replace them as little as possible. So how do you take care of those precious platens? Here are a few best practices to get the most life out of your platens.

Dual Tack Platen Tape vs. Platen Adhesive: Which is Better?

Jacelyn WedmanMar 22, 2023

When taping platens and applying adhesive, every screen printer has a couple of options. You could tape your platens with regular platen tape and then apply adhesive, or use dual tack platen tape and knock the process out in one step. So which method is better? Are there instances where you should use one method over the other? Strap in, we’re about to answer your questions.

Should You Go Auto or Hire Another Printer?

Jacelyn WedmanMar 16, 2023

Boxes of shirts are stacked from the floor to the ceiling. You’re covered with pallet adhesive and ink. Your wrists ache with pain, your legs are numb, fingers are stiff. You pause, staring at the 716th shirt you printed that day. You stare at the stack of t-shirts behind the press, printing 1,500 to be exact. The clock reads 11:17 PM. This order is due tomorrow. You look down and sigh, staring at your cracked, callous hands. This is the 12th time you’ve had to work late to finish a high-volume order this month. You can’t take it anymore. Something has got to change.

So, you, the printer, have two options. Hire another printer or go auto. But which should you do? Let’s explore these options so you can decide which is best for your growing shop.

What is Minimum Order Quantity and Why Does it Matter?

Jacelyn WedmanMar 15, 2023

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?

Jacelyn WedmanMar 10, 2023

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?

Jacelyn WedmanMar 08, 2023

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

Ryan MoorMar 07, 2023

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

Jacelyn WedmanMar 03, 2023

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?

Jacelyn WedmanFeb 24, 2023

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.

Live Screen Printing with Munch from Love Yourself Clothing | Screenprinting.com

3 Highlights from the Love Yourself Clothing Live Stream

Jacelyn WedmanFeb 22, 2023

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?

Jacelyn WedmanFeb 17, 2023

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?

Jacelyn WedmanFeb 15, 2023

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

Jacelyn WedmanFeb 10, 2023

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.