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The
Screen Printing Process:
There are many
steps that go into creating your professional screen printed garments. Along
with the many details necessary for processing an order, there are a number of
steps that happen between print request and packing of the finished screen
printed product.
1. Art for Screenprinting.
There are a number of standards and
guidelines we use to determine if a piece of art will print well. We’ve developed these standards based on our
experience over the years. We review
each piece of art and offer suggestions and recommendations for better printing
if necessary. First we start with your
design, or your request for our design team to provide artwork for your
project. The idea is given to one of our
team of artists to produce a computer generated form of the design. Then the
design is approved by the customer via email or stopping by the shop for an in
person approval. Once we have art that is good for printing, we'll set up an
art proof for you showing a mock-up of the design on the garment style and
color(s).
2. Color
Separation. Once the design has
been approved by the customer, the artist will separate the art into its color
separations. Color Separation is the process for breaking down the artwork into
its single color components.
3. Film Positive for each color. Once the artwork is color separated, we
output a film positive for each color in the design.
4. Screen Exposure. Screen exposure or "burning screens"
is the process of creating a screen stencil from the image on the film
positive. A pre-stretched screen is coated with a photo-reactive emulsion and
dried. The film is then adhered to the coated screen and exposed to high
intensity light for a defined period of time. After exposure, the screen is
sprayed with water to remove the emulsion from the image.
5. Screen
Preparation for Production. Once the screen has
dried from the washout, we prep it for the production run. We apply "block
out" to the emulsion areas outside of the design to prevent the occurrence
of pin-holes (unwanted dots on a shirt), and helps to stabilize the stencil for
the production run. The edges of each screen is taped off to prevent other
leakage and to allow for ease in clean up.
6. Set
Up.
Each screen is set up on our printing
machine in the print order desired for the best outcome of the design. This
requires lining up each separate screen so that the design prints properly.
Depending on the design and desired outcome, many variables are addressed each
time a screen print design is set up on our press.
7. Mixing
Ink. We offer a
large selection of ink colors to match the design. Custom artwork can involve
the process of mixing of custom colors to create a unique design presentation. A separate color of ink is loaded onto the
screen for printing.
8. Printing. The selected ink in pushed through the screen
and onto your garment. Before adding a
second and subsequent color, the ink is cured under a flash dryer.
9. Curing process.
The garment is then sent down a special
dryer that cures the ink. We inspect the garment and check for quality. If the
garment meets our quality standards its packaged up and the customer is
notified of the completion of their order.
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