There are a few methods of applying words, graphics, and designs to clothing, including the following:
- DTG Printing
- Heat Transfer Printing Techniques
- Sublimation Printing
- Plastisol Transfers
- Heat Transfer Vinyl
None look as great or wear quite as well as screen printing, though. You probably own a few screen-printed shirts yourself and didn’t even know! Any shirts with graphics that are slightly raised are screen printed! But what exactly is screen printing and how does it work?
What Is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is also known as silk screening. Screen printing prints graphics onto shirts within minutes. Screen printing uses thick ink that sits on top of fabrics as opposed to soaking into the fabric. Because the ink doesn’t sink into the fabric, screen printing is extremely accurate and creates crisp lines. Since screen printing is designed for mass production, it is the perfect budget-friendly alternative to other types of printing. With that being said, it’s best for orders that only need one or two colours in the design.
How Does Screen Printing Work?
There are four main components of screen printing, each is essential to the printing process.
Canvas
The canvas refers to the garment on which the design will be printed on. Screen printing can be done on just about any fabric, however, it is most common on t-shirts, canvas tote bags, hoodies, jackets, shorts, jerseys, and other soft fabrics.
Ink
The ink is very special because it adheres to the shirt fabric, but the fabric doesn’t absorb the ink. You can find pretty much every colour in screen printing ink and a number of colours can be added. Keep in mind, the more complex the design, the more time each print will take. Each layer of ink needs to dry before a new colour can be added to the design.
Stencil
The stencil is the design that will appear on your canvas. The image will be inverted before the ink is added. Any open spaces will be covered in ink when the canvas is run through the screening machine.
Screen
The screen is where all the magic happens. The canvas will be laid flat and the stencil tightly on top. Ink is applied to the screen and the excess is scraped off. The stencil is lifted and the canvas is left to dry. This process, along with the staff at Above All Screening, allows us to create more than 4,000 custom shirts a day!
Need custom printed clothing or tote bags? Contact Above All Screening in Winnipeg for your free quote! Our fast turn-around time and unbeatable quality make us the best choice for all your screen printing needs. We can’t wait to get started with your custom design!