| T-shirt screen printing or 'Silk screen printing as it is | | | | ever needs to reprint. |
| often called, has been around in one form or another | | | | The pros of screen-printing are: a very clean solid |
| for decades. From the simpler hand printed method, | | | | color print. Great for logos and sharp text. Perfect |
| to large fully automated presses, the principle remains | | | | for mass production and keeping the printing price |
| essentially the same. A negative image of the | | | | low. Excellent durability for washing and re washing |
| artwork is burned onto a tight mess that is stretched | | | | many times before fading. Will last many more wash |
| between a frame or 'screen'. The image itself is | | | | cycles than its counterparts such as digital printing (as |
| opaque. Ink is pored onto the mesh, which is then | | | | used by large online 'print on demand' companies such |
| forced through the holes via a squeegee that is | | | | as Café Press). |
| either hand drawn or automated. The opaque | | | | Cons of screen-printing: Not really suitable for |
| negative image will not allow ink to pass through it, | | | | photographic reproduction unless you are willing to |
| and so the positive imprint only is then printed onto | | | | have a lower grade of photo image. Each color has |
| the t shirt, which is placed beneath the screen on a | | | | to be printed separately, and so there a separate |
| platen. | | | | screen has to be made and stored for each color. |
| A typical screen-printing set up can cost anywhere | | | | Screen-printing can also be a messy business to |
| from $8,000-$35,000. depending on the amount of | | | | enter into. |
| stations (platens) you use and the complexity of the | | | | Environmentally speaking, the t-shirt screen printing |
| press itself. A large conveyor heater is needed to dry | | | | industry has cleaned up considerably over the years. |
| the t shirts. An exposure unit, a make shift dark | | | | Many companies, will only use enviro friendly soy |
| room, and a washing station to clean the screens. | | | | based 'plastisol' inks. These are water soluble and |
| Tshirt screen printing has one distinct advantage over | | | | odor free. They contain no air-polluting solvents or |
| other alternative methods available. It is fast. | | | | volatile organic compounds. The manufacture, |
| Between 30-90 t shirts an hour can be produced | | | | transportation, storage, use, and disposal of their |
| from a simple 6 color press. Ink costs are minimal | | | | plastisol inks do not cause injury, illness, or |
| too. However, because it is time consuming to set up | | | | environmental contamination when used responsibly. |
| and clean the screens, most companies charge the | | | | If you are curious to see t-shirt screen printing in |
| client a one time set up fee for each color separation. | | | | action then a quick search of Youtube will provide |
| The screens are usually stored in case the customer | | | | many demonstrations by very capable experts. |