Why make screen-printed t-shirts

There is no doubt that screen printing is one of the most used printing techniques today, with screen printed t-shirts being one of the most popular variants. And it is no wonder, since it allows for a great number of possibilities.

Screen printing is used both industrially and by artists. Next, we will see exactly what screen printing consists of and how it is applied. Thanks to it, countless designs can be reproduced such as logos, names, drawings, art, or phrases.

What is screen printing?

Screen printing is a printing method through which we can transfer the drawn images we want on a stencil onto a mesh with dye onto a surface such as a t-shirt.

In this way, the print does not lose quality no matter how many repetitions there are. This printing is done through inks that only reproduce flat and solid colors. This means that gradient designs and photographs are not suitable for screen printing.

Its advantages

• It is a technique that, besides being very fast, is really economical.
• You only need to learn some basic concepts to get good results.
• It is something tremendously creative. If you decide to apply it, you will see how many new ideas arise during the process.
• To start in the world of screen printing, basic tools and materials are enough (they are not even very expensive).
• By adapting to different textile fabrics, it is so versatile that it can also be used on other things like backpacks.

What do you need to start applying textile screen printing?

This is the basic printing kit to which certain accessories can also be added:

• Screen printing screen (the size depends on your design)
• Emulsion
• Squeegee
• Lacquers or acramins
• Raclets
• Retarder
• Screen reclaiming agent
• 1600/1800w hot air stripper
• Exposure unit or 500w halogen lamp
• Screen printing hinges

How is screen printing applied on t-shirts?

The screen printing process still has a lot of artisanal aspects. To get the best results, prior preparation is necessary:

• If the design you are going to print has several colors, you will have to separate them. You can do this using any design program like Photoshop.
• Then, photoliths are printed with black ink on a transparent acetate for each color of the design. That is, if the design is single-colored, you will only need to print one photolith.
• Next, the photolith is placed on a screen printing screen composed of mesh and frame. This is how exposure is done, which serves to make the design printed on the mesh, through which the ink will pass.
• When the screen is already exposed, it will be time to place the t-shirt on a carousel-type machine (also known as a screen printing spider).
• The ink is transferred to the fabric with the help of the squeegee. Several passes must be made. Thus, the ink will filter through the mesh of the screen until it reaches the fabric.
• Finally, the ink is fixed in the drying tunnel once the t-shirt is printed.

Another type of screen printing: digital

On the other hand, we have digital screen printing, which is a more current technique. The truth is that it is not screen printing in the strictest sense, but very similar. In this, screens or photoliths are not involved, only DGT or digital printing.

As you have seen, the screen printing process is not complicated at all and is also economical and fast. The possibilities in terms of design and demand are many, so there is no doubt that it is worth venturing into this world.