Screen Printing Process

Artwork
The first and possibly most important step in the screen printing process is creating the proper artwork. The final print is only a reflection of the quality of the artwork. To get started the customer gives us a copy of the desired image to be printed. We then create a vectored format of the image. Next we produce a virtual preview of what the image will look like once it is printed. After approval from the customer we then color separate the image and print each color onto a film positive. Each color of the image will require its own screen. The artwork is now ready for the screen printing process.
The Screening Process
We must first select the correct screens for the job depending on the colors used. The screens are then taken to the dark room where they are coated with emulsion. After the emulsion has dried the screens are combined with the artwork and set into the exposing unit. The unit holds the artwork to the screen with a vacuum and emits a 3000 watt halogen light which burns the image into the screen. After being burned in, each screen is taken to the washing station where they are sprayed with a high pressure washer that knocks out the emulsion where the image was. After the screens have dried they are sent to the taping station. The borders of the screens are taped and any registration marks used to align the artwork are blocked out so as not show up on the print. The screens are now ready for the press.

The Press
The screens are taken to the printing press and inserted into the corresponding head setting depending on the order of the colors to be printed. The screens are then aligned so that the resulting image exactly matches the original artwork. The required ink colors are then chosen and spread across the top of the matching screens. Next, a T-shirt is centered on one of the printing platens. The platen and t shirt go under each screen and receives the color of ink chosen for that screen. This is done by a squeegee pressing on the top of the screen and pushing the ink through the image down onto the shirt underneath it. After each color has been printed on the t shirt it is taken off the platen and placed on a conveyor belt that travels through a drier set at 350 degrees. This process not only dries the ink but also burns the image into the t-shirt ensuring that the image remains for the lifetime of the shirt. After final inspection the shirts are then stacked, folded, boxed and ready for delivery.
Pricing Factors
When you need to get something printed there are a number of factors that go into your final price. We will give you the info you will need to know to get a price.
• What kind of garment or product do you want?
• What color you want?
• What sizes is not important only knowing youth or adult?
• How many do you want?
• How do you want it printed? eg. 1 color small front and 4 colors large back
• What you will be using for artwork? (supplied, custom, one of ours)