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Screen printing is a popular technique used to create printed designs on various surfaces. It involves pushing ink through a fine mesh fabric that has a stencilled design. The process can be used to print on canvases, posters, artwork, fabrics, and textiles. While traditionally the mesh was made from silk, modern screens are often made from synthetic materials like terylene and attached to a metal or wooden frame. The screen blocks areas where ink is impervious, and the ink that passes through forms the printed image on the product.

This technique, also known as serigraphy or silk screen printing, is used widely in many industries for printing custom clothing and other products. Whether you are printing on a surface like clothing or posters, screen printing allows for vibrant colors and bold designs. The ink passing through the mesh creates a unique, durable image that can be used on various materials like fabrics and textiles. The method is forced through the screen, ensuring precision and high-quality results.

What Is Screen Printing? A Must-Know Technique!

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a mesh screen, ink, and a stencil to transfer designs onto various surfaces like fabric and paper. It’s popular for its durability, vibrant colors, and versatility in custom apparel and product branding.

Why is screen printing so popular?

Screen printing is a favored method because it allows for high-quality and efficient printing on a variety of surfaces such as fabrics, paper, and even custom clothing. The technique uses a mesh screen and a stencil to transfer ink or paint onto a material, creating a sharp imprint of your design. One of the reasons for its popularity is its ability to print multi-colored designs with various shades of ink, and it can be done on materials that might not be ideal for other printing methods, like darker fabrics. The tactile quality of the print gives it a unique look and feel, especially when using professional equipment.

The screen printing process is also well-suited for bulk production, making it ideal for printing bulk garments and accessories, such as work uniforms or sports teams apparel. The method is effective at reproducing designs quickly and with intense coloring, even in large quantities. Since screen printing allows printers to replicate designs easily using the same stencil, it remains one of the most cost-effective methods for producing multiple copies of high-quality custom designs. While there are some limitations in terms of the complexity of the designs and the number of colors, an experienced printer can still create intricate designs with vivid colors that stand out.

Will Screen Printing Ink Wash Out?

When an item is professionally screen printed by a trained professional using correct, heat-treated washable ink, it shouldn’t wash out. The process involves several important elements, like following the manufacturer’s guidelines for the drying temperature and timings. If the printer uses the right type of ink and the proper fabric, the product will have a colourfast finish that lasts. With the right care, such as following the instructions, you can be sure that the garment will maintain its design without fading or washing out.

The Screen Printing Process Step by Step

The screen printing process begins with using a light-reactive emulsion to create a custom stencil. This method is part of a basic technique that’s highly popular in commercial printing, especially when it comes to creating intricate stencils. From there, the process involves a step-by-step approach: applying the emulsion to the screen, exposing it to light, and then using the stencil to transfer ink onto a surface, whether it’s a shirt or a poster.

In our workshop, we have a video that shows the whole screen printing process as it happens in real time. This video helps you understand how we create top-quality custom screen-printed clothing. By following this detailed method, we’re able to deliver products that stand out in terms of both design and durability.

To Begin the Process

To start, the printer takes the design they want to create on the finished product. This design is then printed onto a transparent acetate film, which will later be used to make the stencil. Once the design is transferred onto the film, the stencil will be ready for the next steps in the screen printing process. The film helps in transferring the exact details of the design, ensuring a sharp and clear image on the finished product. This is a key step in making the final design come to life!

Prepare the Screen

To start the screen printing process, the printer must select the right type of mesh screen based on the design’s stylistics and the texture of the fabrics being used. Once the mesh screen is chosen, it is coated with a light-reactive emulsion. This emulsion will harden when developed under a bright light, allowing the printer to create a layer that will hold the printed design. The complexity of the design and the fabric used both play a big role in this step.

Expose the Emulsion

The process of exposing the emulsion is critical in screen printing. First, the acetate sheet with the design is placed onto the mesh coated with emulsion. The screen is then exposed to bright light, which causes the emulsion to harden where the design does not cover it, leaving those parts in a liquid state. If you’re working with multi-coloured products, a new screen is needed for each layer of ink to be applied. The printer must align the screens with precision by hand to ensure the final design is seamless, with each stencil properly lined up to create the right colour and precision for the end product.

Emulsion is Washed Off, and the Stencil is Created

After the correct time period, the areas of the screen that were covered by the design remain unhardened. These parts are then rinsed away, leaving a clear imprint of the design on the screen, ready for the ink to pass through. Any unhardened emulsion is carefully removed, ensuring a sharp stencil of the original design. After this, the screen is dried and, if needed, the printer will make any touch-ups or corrections to ensure the imprint is accurate. This process leaves the stencil ready to be used for printing.

The Screen is Dried, and Touch-Ups are Made

After step 4 is complete, the screen is left to dry thoroughly. Once the screen is dry, the printer checks it for any imperfections or areas that need adjustment. If necessary, corrections and touch-ups are made to ensure the design looks perfect. This makes the stencil prepped and ready to be used for the next steps in the screen printing process. The screen is now in optimal condition, ready to transfer the design onto the chosen surface with precision.

Items Prepared for Printing

Before starting screen printing, the item to be printed, like a garment, must be properly positioned. The screen is placed on top of the printing press, with the garment laid down flat on the printing board, directly underneath the screen. Depending on the design, this item could be prepared using various styles of presses, from manual to automatic ones. A modern commercial printer will often use an automatic rotary carousel printer, especially for multicoloured prints, as it allows separate colour layers to be applied in quick succession. This setup ensures that the design is transferred smoothly and efficiently.

The printing press uses the precise number of screens needed, and each layer of ink is carefully applied through the screen. This approach helps achieve multicoloured prints where the colours are added one at a time. Each screen is perfectly aligned with the previous one to ensure that the design appears seamless, with all the colours matching up as intended.

Inking and Squeegee

The screen is lowered onto the printing board, and ink is added to the top of the screen. A squeegee is then used to pull the ink across the full length of the screen, pushing the ink through the open areas of the stencil. This process results in the design being imprinted onto the product underneath. If the order involves multiple items, the process is repeated until the job is complete. Once done, the emulsion is removed using washing fluid, and the mesh can be reused to create a new stencil for another garment. The printer will continue this process, ensuring each item is printed precisely, with the stencil being raised and a new item placed to be printed.

Dry, Check, and Finish

In the final stage, the printed product or garment is passed through a dryer where the heat helps cure the ink and ensure a smooth finish. Afterward, it is quality checked and washed thoroughly to remove any remaining residues, leaving the product with a clean and vibrant look. The process also creates a colourfast finish that guarantees the design will last. Once checked and cleaned, the garment is ready to be passed on to its new owner, ensuring the highest quality.

Screen Printing vs. Digital Printing: Key Differences

When it comes to printing on fabric, two popular methods are screen and DTG digital printing. The main way digital printing differs is in how the image is transferred onto the textile. Screen printing relies on a stencil to apply solid blocks of ink layer by layer, creating bold, long-lasting designs. On the other hand, DTG printing uses a printer similar to an inkjet computer printer, where the image is applied directly onto the clothing without needing a stencil.

While screen printing is great for producing intricate, colourful designs with high intensity, it involves a complex setup, making it less cost-effective for small batches or single items. DTG printing simplifies the process by using a computerised method that prints multiple colours at the same time, allowing for photographic and highly detailed results. However, because it prints using CMYK dots instead of thick layers of ink, it lacks the texturised effects and deep color vibrancy that screen printing achieves.

Silk Screen Printing vs. Heat Transfer Printing

When comparing screen printing with heat transfer printing, the biggest difference lies in how the design is applied to the fabric. Screen printing pushes ink through a stencil onto the surface, creating a long-lasting textile print. In contrast, heat transfer uses paper coated with adhesive, which is pressed onto the material using sublimation or heat-reactive techniques. A heat press helps bind the printed design securely, making it a great option for smaller batches or personalised items like bags, hats, and footwear, where traditional screen printing may not work due to their shape.

With advancements in digital technology, many businesses combine heat transfer with computer-based software for precise results. The design is first printed on white paper, then cut with a plotter machine following a digital outline to ensure an accurate fit. Once placed on a garment or accessory, it is heat-treated for durability. However, the quality can vary depending on the materials and printers used. Some low-quality processes have given heat transfer printing a shoddy reputation over the years. But with care, using premium, soft-feel materials and state-of-the-art technology, one can achieve high-quality, long-lasting prints, making it a confident choice in the market.

The Evolution of Screen Printing

Screen printing is an ancient art form that was pioneered in China around AD 950 as a technique to print patterns onto fabric. Over the centuries, Japanese artisans refined the method, using a stiff brush to push ink through a mesh woven from human hair onto paper and fabric. The process reached Europe in the 18th century but was slow to catch on due to the high cost of silk. However, as the Silk Road made imported silk more affordable, the craft became popular and profitable. By the early 20th century, printers developed photo-sensitised emulsions, making stencil creation more complex yet easily reproducible.

In the 1930s, artists began experimenting with screen printing as an artistic medium, calling it serigraphy to set it apart from industrial use. By the 1960s, figures like Eduardo Paolozzi and Andy Warhol turned it into fine art, creating pop-art with multiple copies of a single image, often questioning what constituted art. Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych remains a famous example. Nowadays, screen printing is both an artistic and commercial process, used to reproduce hundreds or even thousands of custom clothing pieces. At Custom Planet, we use top-of-the-range equipment and a professionally trained team to print on T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts, ensuring the best results in the market. Whether for personalised promotional products, a business, a sports team, or a band, our helpful guides can assist you in creating brilliant designs.

In Summary

Screen printing is a versatile and ideal process for printing on a variety of surfaces, including wood, glass, metal, paper, and plastic. It is especially useful for printing on darker-colored fabrics, making it perfect for many different types of projects. One of the main advantages of screen printing is the ability to use a stencil multiple times in succession, making it an excellent choice for bulk orders. Whether you’re printing for Athletic Teams, E-Sports Teams, Clubs, Schools, or businesses, screen printing services provide high-quality results that are perfect for everything from Spirit Wear to Event Merchandise and Personalized Gifts.
This process is ideal for creating large quantities of custom prints on a range of items, including bands, gyms, restaurants, cafes, summer camps, and even wedding groups or birthday celebrations. Screen printing offers a cost-effective way to make products like T-shirts, sweatshirts, and more. Whether you are looking to create branded items for a business or support a volunteer group, screen printing is a flexible solution that can meet the demands of any project. The possibilities are endless with screen printing!

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