Are you curious about how the screen printing process is performed? If you are, you aren\’t the only one. Screen printed tee clothing is among the most widely used promotional gift, so it is useful to find out what\’s involved so you can maximize marketing budgets.

Screen printing is most often used to add business logos, slogans, and designs onto a variety of attire. It\’s commonly used to print artwork on cotton tee shirts, sweat shirts, and fabric shopping totes. More than likely you own something that has a screen printed design on it.

The initial step of the process begins by preparing a design that will be imprinted onto fabric. Artwork is converted into digital vector format so images can be modified and altered to adapt to the item that will be screen printed.

Common file extensions include ESP, PDF, and AI. These kinds of files prevent images from being distorted anytime the image size is decreased or increased. Designs will either be spot-color or full-color. Spot-color refers to designs that use only a few distinct shades. Full-color designs make use of light shades and subtle gradients.

The next step entails working with printers who will create ink screens. These screens are produced from an ultra-fine mesh. Screens are then stretched over frames and used as a design stencil. Inks are added to screen and pressed onto fabric through tiny screen holes.

Printers must prepare a separate screen for each color they apply to the design. For example, if a logo includes the colors of white, purple, and orange, printers would use three different screens to apply the design.

Once the screens are prepared, printers select ink and mix colors. Plastisol is the most common type of ink used in the screen printing process. It is produced using emulsified PVC particles.

Plastisol ink is the most cost effective method for screen printing because it is simple to use and does not require much labor to prepare. As soon as the ink is applied to fabric it undergoes a heating process to cure the ink and provide a permanent design.

The downside of plastisol inks is they cause fabrics to feel stiff and plastic; especially when large designs are applied. Alternative ink selections include water-based inks and discharge inks. While these inks leave fabric feeling softer, they are harder to work with and often are more costly to use.

The last phase of screen printing encompasses printing designs onto fabrics. Fabric is placed underneath frames and stretched tight. A rubber blade pulls inks across the screen in order to force it through the holes and onto the fabric. This procedure is repeated until each ink color is applied and the final design emerges.

Screen printing is just one of the ways to decorate T-shirts and other kinds of clothing. A good substitute is dye sublimation which is a process that uses very high temperatures to convert ink into gas that is infused into individual threads.

Dye sublimation is the preferred method for imprinting large, complex, or vibrant colored designs. It\’s important to note, this procedure can only be used on garments made from polyester.

One more option is direct-to-garment printing. This procedure can be compared to using a home inkjet printer that prints a design onto an iron-on transfer sheet. This process is best used with small designs that do not have much detail.

Learning about the various screen printing methods and the manner they are applied to different kinds of fabric will help you create corporate apparel that is appealing. When people enjoy the fabric and design they will want to wear the merchandise often. In turn, your company receives additional branding exposure at no additional cost.

Screen printing designs onto promotional items is an affordable way to create a brand identity. At Gorilla Marketing, we manufacture branded merchandise that is attractive, functional, and affordable. Let us help you design exciting promo gifts at GorillaMarketing.net.

Screen printing designs onto promotional items is an affordable way to create a brand identity. At Gorilla Marketing, we manufacture branded merchandise that is attractive, functional, and affordable. Let us help you design exciting promo gifts at http://www.GorillaMarketing.net.

Author Bio: Screen printing designs onto promotional items is an affordable way to create a brand identity. At Gorilla Marketing, we manufacture branded merchandise that is attractive, functional, and affordable. Let us help you design exciting promo gifts at GorillaMarketing.net.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: screen printing, screen printing techniques, screen printed tee shirts, screen printing process