Screen Printing Tee Shirts: You will need T-shirts were thought of as just undergarments. That time is extended past as printed T-shirts have become an art form and an extremely popular form of casual dress. You, too, can silk-screen print your own T-shirts – if you are serious enough to shell out about $2000 for the materials plus press. The folks at Detroit Sprinkles resolve show you how to do it.
- T-shirt
- Original artwork
- picture transparency stock
- Silk screens
- Frame
- Emulsion fluid
- Emulsion scoop coater
- Photographic-safe light
- Glass cover
- Halogen glow
- Spray bottle
- Shirt press
- Acrylic textile paint (plastisol)
Step 1: Print the Design
Artwork must be scanned into a digital file, and processed through Photoshop. From there, the design can be printed on a transparency by an inkjet printer. Set the saturation levels high, or use a “film” or “transfer” setting if available. create sure it’s a good print. It takes practice. Once you’ve got a good print, set it aside.
Step 2: Apply the Emulsion
This part of the process should be done in a dark room, or in photograph-safe light. Emulsion fluid is used to coat both sides of the silk screen. Though they’re still called silk screens, these silk screens are actually complete of nylon or polyester these days. They should be inserted into a frame, plus held taught. Coat both sides of the silk screen with emulsion fluid, using the scoop coater. create sure it’s even, and let it dry 30 to 40 minutes.
Step 3: Create the Stencil
The stencil is a pattern with cutouts through which ink or paint can pass, creating a design. To make it, place the print on top of the emulsion-covered screen. Cover with a thin piece of glass. The glass should be big enough to cover your entire design. If you use a halogen light (often provided in an essential silk screen printing kit) 12 minutes should be enough to burn the design into a stencil.
Sunlight or a easy bright light will too work, but those methods take longer. Next, fill a spray bottle with tap water. Spray your stencil thoroughly, on both sides, to wash out residue and sharpen the image. Now let the stencil dry for concerning 15 to 20 minutes in front of a fan.
Step 4: Print the Shirt
You’ll need a shirt press and an acrylic-based fabric paint called plastisol for this step. Place your screen/stencil in the press, leaving a small space between the screen/stencil and the platform. That space is where the shirt goes. Lower the screen on top of the shirt. Next, add dollops of paint at the top of the silk screen, and then spread them using a squeegee held at a 45 degree angle. Lift the silk screen.
Finally, use a heater (usually provided in an essential silk screen printing kit) to cure the design for about: 25 seconds. Now, the shirt is ready to be worn.