CUSTOM Screen printING
Screen Printing Overview
Custom screen printing is a very common and popular form of apparel decoration for custom shirts. An image is burned into a screen, and ink is pushed through the screen onto the garment with a squeegee. One screen is burned for each color in the design. The fewer colors in the design, and the larger the order is, the more sense screen printing makes over direct-to-garment or direct-to-film printing.
Equipment:
We utilize two, all-electric Anatol Volt-M for our presses. We use an Anatol UV-LED and the QS200 for our exposure units. All inks used are from One-Stroke Inks, which are made in the USA and CPSC certified.
Video of our Anatol Volt in operation
Artwork:
We require vector art for screen printing. For one color designs, please make the artwork solid RGB black (0/0/0). For multi-color designs, Pantone colors in the artwork are recommended. Our price chart lists the colors we stock. Custom colors can be made.
-File types: Corel Draw (.cdr), Adobe Illustrator (.ai), .svg, .eps, and in some cases, .pdf files. Please DO NOT use Photoshop and save it as an EPS file…it is not the same as a vector art .eps file made with vector art software.
If you don’t have professional graphic design software, you can hire a designer or have us create something for you. We can also convert raster images to vector art for a fee.
Print Locations:
We mainly screen print on the front and/or back of a garment, up to 16″ wide x 18″ tall. Short sleeves can be printed as well. Long sleeves can be printed if the sleeve fits onto our sleeve pallet. This varies by size and style. We do not print on non-flat areas of a garment (over or above pockets, seams, zippers), hoods, other specialty locations.
Printable Fabrics:
Using the colors listed below, we screen print on 100% cotton and cotton/polyester t-shirt blends, 100% polyester, fleece, CVC, tri-blends and more. Additional costs for ordering specialty inks in colors we do not already stock or nylon catalysts will apply.
Anatol Volt Screen Printing Press
Our QS2536 thermal screen maker
Ink Colors:
Our price chart shows the most up-to-date list of ink colors.
Curing:
Curing the ink is very important. Proper curing must occur to achieve washability and a long-lasting print. Many decorators rush this step and while the design looks done, will not make it through the wash. A good way to know if a print is cured is to stretch it. If the ink stays in place, the print is cured. If it cracks, the ink has not bonded to the shirt. This will fall off in the wash prematurely and you will not be pleased. Stop by our office and we can show you this in person.
Garment Care:
Once you have your garment, proper care is necessary to achieve a normal garment and print life. For all garments, we recommend cold-water washing inside out and hang drying. You may tumble dry on fluff (no heat). Never iron over the decoration. Following these steps will help you achieve the maximum amount of life for your garment. Remember, no garment or print is designed to last forever!
Black ink on white cotton shirts
Watercolor black ink on 50/50 cotton/poly shirts
White ink on black polyester
White ink on cotton t-shirt
Metallic Silver ink on black cotton
Two-color screen print design on cotton/poly shirts
We have samples of all this and more in our office. Please contact us to schedule an appointment and check them out, get your questions answered, and see if screen printing is right for your apparel project!
If you are looking for custom screen printing in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area (Alexandria, Anderson, Arcadia, Avon, Bargersville, Beech Grove, Broadripple, Brooklyn, Brownsburg, Camby, Carmel, Chesterfield, Cicero, Clayton, Clermont, Cloverdale, Cumberland, Danville, Edgewood, Edinburgh, Elwood, Fishers, Fortville, Franklin, Frankton, Greencastle, Greenfield, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Ingalls, Lapel, Lawrence, Lebanon, Martinsville, McCordsville, Meridian Hills, Monrovia, Mooresville, Morristown, Nashville, New Palestine, New Whiteland, Noblesville, Pendleton, Pittsboro, Plainfield, Princes Lakes, Shelbyville, Sheridan, Southport, Speedway, St. Paul, Thorntown, Trafalgar, Warren Park, Westfield, Whiteland, Whitestown, and Zionsville), A+ Images can help.
Not located in one of these cities? We also service Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, Evansville, Northwest Indiana, along with the entire country! Contract screen printing services are available.
For questions about the custom screen printing process, please contact Doug via email, or call 317-405-8955.