SCREEN PRINTING BASICS | These 3 Tips Will Improve Your Screen Printing Game
In this screen printing basics tutorial these three tips will improve your screen printing game.
Tip number 1 how much off contact is too much? How much off contact is too much. In screen printing textiles we use what’s known as off contact. It’s something critical to know.
Tip number two. So, if you have ever wondered how much squeegee pressure is too much then this video is a must see. I briefly discuss how you know when you’re using too much squeegee press and what it can do to your printing.
Tip number 3. How much plastisol ink you have to place on the screen?
Placing too much plastisol ink on the screen is not a good idea. in this video I will explain the reason not to place too much ink.
Not using off-contact
I wrote a whole post about this. In short, you should keep a bit of gap between the screen and the substrate so it doesn’t stick together as you push/pull ink.
Using WAY too much ink
Unless you’re printing a 100 pieces at once, most beginners don’t need to use more than a few spoonfuls of ink. Too much ink on the screen will no doubt make it harder to manage the glob.
Squeegee-ing down too hard
You want a firm grip with a firm push (or pull) down of the squeegee. Do not press down too hard else you might experience slight ghosting or smearing of the image which will obviously botch the job.
Not flashing after laying down white ink
There are professionals that say you don’t need to, but I prefer to flash after I lay down a white coat. Letting the white base cure allows other colors to be printed on with more vibrancy. Printing wet-on-wet is okay when you’re using plastisol inks but never water-based.
Not using a screen printing press
Unless you always have someone present to hold the screen down for you, you’ll need, at the very least a 1-station press. The press will keep the screen locked and firm, eliminating any risk of jerking or shifting as you work the squeegee.
Leaving ink in the screen
Water-based inks dries up faster than plastisol so if you’re using water-based inks (and I hope you are), immediately run some water through the screens once you’re done printing. This will make sure you’re able to reclaim your screens 100%. I also have a spray with some water that I use during a print run. Having some mist on the screen helps moisten up the liquids.
Screen printing is the process of pressing ink through a stencilled mesh screen to create a printed design. It’s a popular technique used in a whole range of different industries, so even if you've never heard of the term before today, it’s likely that you’ve worn or used a screen-printed product at some point without even realising. The process is sometimes called serigraphy or silk screen printing, but all of these names refer to the same basic method.
Screen printing is an effective technique for creating bold canvases, posters and artwork, but the method can also be used to print fabrics and textiles, so it's great for creating all sorts of custom clothing and products. In this channel, we'll cover all of your questions about silk screen printing, including:
What is screen printing?
Why is screen printing used?
The screen printing process step-by-step
A guide to screen printing equipment
Will screen printing wash out?
What’s the difference between digital printing and screen printing?
What's the difference between heat transfer printing and screen printing?
And many more.
Checkout the Automatic t-shirt folder:
www.automatict-shirtfolder.com/
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Equipment I use: Anatol Thunder 6x6, Anatol Rapid Cure Flash Dryer, Anatol Aurora Exposure Unit and Anatol Solution Conveyor Dryer.
Go to Anatol Equipment: anatol.com/
Пікірлер: 53
Thanks for these tips, Taino! I was applying too much pressure and I’d get one good shirt then it would all go wrong. Now I go smooth and light and get much better results. With one video you upped my game. Thanks again! 🙌
I’ve owned a shop over 30 yrs and now that I’ve lost most of my employees I’m back in production , your vids have been really helpful, thanks bro!
Taino you’re my savior, I watch all your videos you’re always there to guide me in all the right directions
I wanted to like for each tip honestly. Thanks for the tips
One of the best tips videos I’ve seen
Really needed to see this. I routinely get myself into cleaning frames off and the squeegee too. I need to pull back on ink going in the screen. Thanks Taino!
You must have been watching me print the last three shirts, had red bleed into the underbase white, and on the other shirt it was bleeding out under the screen.😟was about to give up but remembered your video talking about failing is not losing, it’s learning... or something like that. your a great inspiration thanks for the help...🙏
Great advice! Thank you
Great video! Another tip for keeping your wood handle squeegees clean is to varnish them. Any type of waterproof clearcoat will work, makes the ink really easy to remove as it can't soak in to the wood. I'm using waterbased ink though, the cleaning solvents for plastisol might remove the varnish.
@philipmazonson4694
Жыл бұрын
You can tape up the handle where it meets the squeegee too
@gabrielal6872
9 ай бұрын
@@philipmazonson4694I am so doing this thanks for the tip!
Hello sir Your videos are fresh and full of core information for screen printers.. Full of enthu.. 👍👌
This is a great video right here! Going to make sure my team watches this one. Great knowledge
great video as always. great tips !! 🤙🏼👏🏼
Great tips thank you! I’m a few months into screen printing and needed this
Always helping out. Your a legend
This video told me exactly what my problems have been. Was doing all of the three things you mentioned wrong.Will change my technique right away. Gracias Tiano.
Thanks. Nice tips. Nice video!
Thank you for these tips ❤
Thanks for these tips! 😁
Great Tips thank you 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾👍🏾
Good info bro,thank you!
Thank you amazing videos God Bless You
Solid advice 🔥
Thank you so much for this video
I learned a lot about your channel Best Screen Printing Channel ever
Thank you!!
I loved your video! ❤ The cardboard was a brilliant tip! I had the opposite problem with paint, however. Lol 😂 When starting out, I would have to save up to order another colour, so paint was like gold.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I'm very interested in screen printing & I know it's not an easy process but i like this method on a shirt & I'm willing to learn from the best to make my projects come out official. I'm definitely subscribing to ur channel
Gracias papa por los Tips !! Saludos desde Puerto Rico
Much appreciated brother!!!
@LOAMMX
4 ай бұрын
Love the passion behind what u said. Here I am scratching my head why I’m bleeding so much. Did the cardboard tip. That might help. Will use less ink as well!!! Yesh😂
Thank you so much
Thanks homie!
yes totally agree with you on all of that ...
Love your work!
@tainoink
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Needed this
Coolest guy alive
I love your channel! I've been doing screen printing for about a year now and im always looking to improve myself to do a better job! ... I have a question... what size are the dimensions of the platens where you put the shirts to print? ... thank you for everything you do! Much love from Silver Spring MD
Great video, what do you think the pros and cons are of pushing the squeegee vs pulling the squeegee?
Good video🔥🔥
Cool tips🤔. Question, what if I just started and I don't have the actual screen printing table, how do I go about the Level of contact with what I'm about to print on?
About how much ink you will put on the screen I think for plastisol inks a little is enough but for waterbased ink little is not enough because it tends to dry quickly if you put little amount of ink so you have to put not a lot but much more than needed to prevent the ink from drying and clogging on screen.
I prefer pushing the squeegee and using the off contact is easier with the tilt knob , ajusts fast
Thank you 🙏🏼 🇵🇷❤
U da best!
good job
Just came across your channel a few days ago boss, and your content is fire! I’m trying to get into screen printing because I’ve always wanted to get into clothing, and trying to be hands on with a clothing brand I started instead of going through other printers and manufacturers for the moment, but will eventually. Recently, I got back into graphic designing for my brand using Affinity designer and photo, and damn this learning curve! I know you work with photoshop, but can you create more tutorials on how to design for screen printing. I’m trying figure out how to create my designs so that they are mock up ready for that print method. I’ve made designs for DTG printing, but I’ve learned that the process may be different with screen printing and that you would have to use half tones for more detailed designs with colors and gradients. I know this might be a lot to ask for, but I know it would be really helpful for others in my shoes as well. Thanks and much love Taino!
Off contact distance causes the mesh to act as a spring where as your squeegee passes over the screen the mesh is pressed to the substrate just at the area where the ink is being pressed through the mesh and snapping back as the squeegee passes. Only the line of pressure at the very edge of the squeegee blade is making contact with the substrate and only for the moment that the blade passes by. Such an important principal! If I could add some advice. Don't use household products for cleaning and substituting for screen printing products. Duct tape and silicone caulk should not ever be near your screens! The glue and silicone will migrate onto everything. Silicone on your screens will prevent adhesion of your emulsion and possibly contaminate your ink. No cleaning with household cleaners that have fragrances and coloring agents, etc. Use screen printing supplies that are formulated for screen printing and that will play nice with each other.
Do I need off contact if I’m using water based ink?
Blurry prints is more of a screen tension problem, loose mesh, blurry print . Especially on wooden frames.
The more I learn the more its clear my co-worker needs fired. But our boss is his step-dad so he'll just continue to be overpaid & I'll continue to work more because of his sloppy laziness.