News
3 Productivity Hacks to Save Screen Printers Time and Money
Every printer wants to save time and cash, right? Most screen printers know the most common time-saving hacks: optimizing print setup, keeping a stock of burned screens handy, and getting some scheduling help if you’re getting buried, to name a few. But there are tons of little ways to increase your productivity, one hack at a time.
Screen Printing Art Terms Every Printer Should Know
Stepping into screen printing? There are lots of terms to learn. Garment terms, printing terms, and art terms, it’s all important. If you’re creating your art for screen printing, you’ll need to pick up a few vocabulary words. Here’s a quick guide to some common art terms:
Tips for Reclaiming Screens for Best Results
Emulsion remover removes emulsion. Seems simple, right? This chemical reclaims stencils faster with a concentrated emulsion remover solution. The chemistry breaks down emulsion when applied to a screen, and can be used in either a dunk tank or a traditional reclaim setup using a washout booth. But what happens when reclaiming screens takes more effort than usual? How do you reclaim locked-up screens?
How to Create & Screen Print QR Codes on Garments
Quick Response codes, or QR codes, are everywhere. You sit down at a restaurant and to read the menu, you have to scan a QR code. You walk through a trade show, stop by a booth with stellar equipment, and to get that show discount, you gotta scan a QR code. You’re picking up a new couch you found on Facebook Marketplace. To Venmo the seller, they bring up the QR code for their account so you can scan it and easily reimburse them.
A Guide to Screen Printing T-Shirts
Each printer has their own unique story of why they got into screen printing. Some wanted to start their own clothing line. Others found it as a way to make a living. No matter what boat you're in, screen printing can be challenging. Check out this easy guide to learn the proper steps for screen printing t-shirts.
How To Dial In Exposure Times Using An Exposure Calculator
Figuring out exposure times is one of the most difficult tasks in screen printing. If you're struggling, you're not alone. The best thing you can do is invest in a 21-Step Exposure Calculator. How does it work? Let's dive in.
Calculate Screen Printing Profits for a DIY Printer in 4 Steps
One of the scariest parts of screen printing is turning a profit. Printers want to make a profit and stay competitive, but not price too high or too low. How do you make a profit in DIY screen printing? Let’s follow the blog “A Guide to Pricing Screen Printed Garments and Turning a Profit” and take a look at four steps to turning DIY screen printing into a profit.
How to Print White Plastisol Ink on a Black Shirt with a Smoothing Screen
Printing white ink on black shirts is a popular design combination. For this design choice to be most effective, the ink needs to be clean and bright. For the best results, printers should use a smoothing screen. Want to learn how to do it? Print expert Colin Huggins has the answers.
3 Ways to Create Soft Prints with Plastisol Ink
Soft hand prints are best achieved with water-based ink but can be done with plastisol ink as well. Between the inks you choose to use, the garments you're printing on, to the available ink additives, achieving soft plastisol prints is possible. Let's take a look at three ways to create soft hand prints with plastisol ink.
The Best Way to Set up a Screen Print Shop in a Garage
Tons of print shops start off in basements, spare rooms, and garages. Think about it, they're already investing a good chunk of cash into purchasing the equipment and supplies, why not set up shop in a space they have already paid for?
Print expert Darryl Sapp shares his past experiences of working in a garage shop, offering best practices to make the most efficient workflow in the space you have.
Control Print Shop Temperature with these 3 Tips
Temperatures in screen print shops can get uncomfortable. Whether you’re sweating in the summer or shivering in the winter, controlling the temperature in your shop makes a big difference. There are plenty of ways to keep your shop’s temperature comfortable, from venting conveyor dryers to simply opening a window. Let’s dive in.
The Basics of Mixing Emulsion and Coating a Screen
Not all emulsions respond the same when coating screens: some emulsions require adjustments in pressure and speed, depending on the emulsion thickness and the type of mesh you're working with on your screen. The end result should give a nice glisten that makes a great stencil for your next screen printing job. Darkroom expert Colin Huggins is on the case.
