Designing your own t-shirts with messages and graphics is a wonderful way to show your creative side. However, home screen printing is anything but easy, which is why most people use a professional company that specializes in printing to get the job done.
The basics of the process are the same for both home as well as commercial companies. However, at home, each step has to be done by hand and with precision with each shirt printed. With professional services the process is automated, providing a very accurate design for any number of shirts from just a few to hundreds or thousands.
The Process
The process of screen printing involves creating the specific design that will be printed on each shirt. It can include more than one color, but this creates a more complex printing process as each color is applied using a separate screen. The design is printed in black ink on a transparency, usually with a computer and printer.
Initially, the screen is coated with a combination of two products. These are the emulsion and the sensitizer. This is allowed to dry to cover an area of the screen that is larger than the design.
The covered screen is allowed to dry in a dark room for one to two hours. The printed transparency is then placed over the screen where the now dry emulsion is located. Light is then directed over the image or text for about 15 minutes.
After this, the transparency is removed and the screen is washed using cold water. The areas that were covered by the image or text will wash away, leaving the design you want.
Final Steps
The final steps in the screen printing process include placing the screen over the shirt in the desired location. The ink is then applied to the screen and, using a squeegee, it is spread over the open areas of the screen, transferring the image to the shirt.
For more than one color the process has to be completed separately. This adds to the time it takes to print the shirt using this method. It also increases the risk of errors when done by hand as compared to by automated systems.
