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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.

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.

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.

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.

A Walkthrough of Screen Printing on Zipper Hoodies

Jacelyn WedmanDec 02, 2022

Screen printing on zipper hoodies is a great way to diversify your printing options. Zipper hoodies can be a bit difficult to print on. A normal platen won’t cut it, and print placement is key. Don’t worry though: we’ve got you covered. In this video, Josh Wells walks through the basics of printing over zipper hoodies.

Want to Screen Print? Here’s How to Choose the Best Start Up Press for You

Jacelyn WedmanNov 25, 2022

The day has come: you're ready to jump into the screen printing world. A key factor needed to get started in this adventure is a screen printing press. With tons of press options, it may be difficult to choose the best press to get started with. Luckily, there’s a guide to choosing the best startup press for your shop. Keep reading.

XY Versus XYZ Micros: What’s the Difference?

Jacelyn WedmanSep 23, 2022

There are a lot of options when it comes to buying a screen printing press. Before you even purchase a press, you have to consider versatility, budget, production volume, and so many other factors. One small component of screen printing presses that often gets overlooked is micro registration. Even if you’re taking micros into account, which do you go with? Are XY or XYZ micros better to have on a press? Let’s talk about why micro registration is important and the differences between XY and XYZ micros so you can make the best choice for your shop.

A Crash Course in Choosing Proper Scoop Coater & Squeegee Sizing for a Job

Jacelyn WedmanAug 12, 2022

Size matters in screen printing. But it’s not just about how big your press or conveyor is. The sizing of all your equipment and supplies is important, even down to squeegees and scoop coaters. If you’re having issues when coating screens or getting a good print, it might not be your technique. You might just not have properly sized supplies for the job. So what size scoop coater and squeegees should you use? What can happen if you don’t use the right size? Let’s find out.

4 Steps to Prepare Your Screen Print Shop for a Severe Storm

Jacelyn WedmanAug 10, 2022

It’s summer storm season again. You know what that means: natural disasters and storms that can impact your business. What should you do to prepare for a severe storm and protect your print shop? Here are six tips for prepping before a storm and what to do if your shop does get damaged.

From Steel to Screen: Riley Hopkins Production Tour | Screenprinting.com

6 Steps in the Riley Hopkins Manufacturing Process

Jacelyn WedmanJul 13, 2022

All Riley Hopkins presses and equipment are manufactured by a team of experienced engineers in the USA. This is great for customers, because it keeps quality standards high, offers fast shipping, and provides printers with great customer service.

Ever wondered how a Riley Hopkins press gets made? Chris Drury, Director of Manufacturing and Distribution, gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the making of a Riley Hopkins 300 6x4.

Why Live Printing? PRNT SCRN Screen Printing Weighs In

Jacelyn WedmanJun 17, 2022

Live printing: some printers love it, others don’t. Doing live printing takes a little bit of bravery and a whole lot of preparation. So why should you do live printing? What’s so great about it? Josh Dykstra, the owner of PRNT SCRN Screen Printing, discusses his experience in live screen printing.

Got Coffee? Here’s How to Screen Print With It

Jacelyn WedmanJun 03, 2022

Have you ever wanted to screen print with food? Ever looked down into your morning coffee and thought “I bet I could print with this”? Ronald Peters decided to give coffee ink a shot (get it?). He used techniques from natural dyeing processes, got a little creative with his own mix, and tried screen printing with coffee.