News

A Guide to Screen Printing T-Shirts

Sage LarsonApr 07, 2023

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.

What's the Difference Between the Riley Hopkins 250 and 300 Presses?

Jacelyn WedmanApr 05, 2023

Ready to step up your screen printing game? Whether you’re printing in a spare room, garage, or commercial space, a press upgrade can jumpstart your shop. Beginner presses like the Riley Hopkins 150 are perfect for learning the ropes. But eventually, you may find yourself wanting more printheads, stations, and upgraded manual press technology. There are two options in the Riley Hopkins press line: the 250 and 300. Which is best for you? Let’s break it down.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WTF is DTF: Comparing Screen Printing and DTF for DIY Screen Printers

Jacelyn WedmanFeb 08, 2023

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.

Answers to 5 Common Screen Printing Questions

Jacelyn WedmanJan 25, 2023

Print expert Jamie Leinbach went live on Instagram recently to talk about printing with white plastisol ink on black garments. During the live stream, she answered plenty of questions from the audience. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions.

What Is Water Based Ink in Screen Printing?

Jacelyn WedmanJan 06, 2023

What is water-based ink? What makes it a desirable ink for screen printers? The basic answer is that water-based ink uses water as a base. Seems pretty self-explanatory, right? There’s a lot more to know about water-based ink than just the base itself. Let’s dive in and talk about what water-based ink is and how printers can get the most out of it.