What is screen printing?
Screen printing is the best choice if you are seeking a print of exceptional quality that will endure multiple items of washing. When it comes to laundry day durability, DTG and other digital substitutes fall short. Your screen-printed products will become your consumers’ new favorite t-shirts thanks to full-color graphics and long-lasting prints.
Screen printing are Best for lively designs, done in bulk, manually handled
How does screen printing work
Using a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee, screen printing involves transferring a stenciled image onto a flat surface. The most popular media for screen printing are fabric and paper, but it is also feasible to print on wood, metal, plastic, and even glass with specific inks. The fundamental technique entails making a stencil on a fine mesh screen, pushing ink (or paint, in the case of artwork and posters) through it to leave an imprint of your design on the material underneath, and then removing the stencil.
While the actual printing technique is always fairly identical, the procedure for creating the stencil might vary depending on the materials employed. The procedure is frequently referred to as “silk screening” or “silk screen printing.” Various stenciling methods include:
- To cover the desired portions of the screen, use masking tape or vinyl.
- Using “screen blockers” like glue or lacquer, paint the stencil onto the mesh.
- creating a stencil with a light-sensitive emulsion, which is then processed similarly to a photograph.
- Depending on the design, there may be one or more ink colors used in the screen-printing process. Multicolored things require the application of the colors in separate layers using distinct stencils for each ink.
Types of Printing
Plasticsol printing
The classic screen-printing technique uses plastisol. This ink produces a design that is printed directly onto the fabric, giving it a classic appearance. These inks work best in small print areas and can be used to print on any type of fabric or garment. All blended tees commonly use Plastisol screen printing inks instead of our Standard inks.
Metallic printing
Metallic ink is a specialized ink that gives your designs a special, glossy finish. Metallic ink, which is composed of plastisol-based ink, generates glossy colors in gold, silver, and bronze. These bold colors have a reflecting interaction with the fabric that accentuates the printed design. Also, eliminating the need for heat press transfer.
For colors other than the standard color (gold, silver, bronze) needs to be custom quoted, based on the inks available
Discharge printing
Discharge printing is the process of bleaching out the manufacturer’s dye from a garment and replacing it with whatever dye color you want. It uses water-based inks. With this type of discharge screen printing, water-based inks are used, which seep into the fabric rather than simply resting on top of it. Usually, cotton t-shirts in darker hues like black, gray, or brown are used for this.
Water-base printing or Textile Printing
Inks used for water-based printing are malleable, perspirant, and capable of soaking into the fabric of the garment rather than remaining on top of it. When done correctly, water-based printing produces sharp, vibrant prints that are imperceptible to the touch.
HD Rubber
HD rubber print is known for its high-quality, high-resolution prints that are resistant to fading, peeling, and cracking. It is also a versatile printing method that can be used on a wide range of materials, including cotton, polyester, nylon, and more. Additionally, HD rubber print is very efficient in creating big runs of garments or other items, making it a popular choice for large-scale production of garments and promotional products. Also, it gives a 3D effect on the print.
Rubber Printing
This type of printing is like HD Rubber. However, the 3D effect is absent.
Foam Printing
Foam printing is a method of screen printing that uses a foam stencil or “screen” to apply ink onto the surface of a material. The foam stencil is made by cutting a design into a piece of foam, which is then placed on top of the material being printed. Ink is then pressed through the stencil and onto the surface of the material, creating a print of the design. Another advantage of foam screen printing is that it allows for the creation of prints with a 3D or “puffed” effect, as the ink is pushed into the surface of the material, creating a raised print. This technique is often used for creating designs on clothing and accessories, such as t-shirts, hats, and bags.
Velvet Printing
Velvet screen printing is a method that is used to create a soft, raised and plush texture on the printed surface. This is achieved by using a special type of ink and a specific printing technique. The ink is formulated to dry slowly, and the stencil or screen is pressed on the fabric firmly and repeatedly, this causes the fibers of the fabric to raise, creating a velvet-like texture.
HD puff/Emboss or Puff/Emboss Printing:
Emboss printing can be done using a screen-printing method, also known as “screen embossing”. This method involves creating a stencil or “screen” of the design, which is then used to apply ink onto the surface of the material. The ink is then cured, or hardened, using heat or UV light. The surface of the material is then pressed onto the stencil, causing the ink to be impressed or “embossed” onto the surface, creating a raised or three-dimensional effect.
Multicolour Print
Multicolor printing is a method of screen printing that uses multiple screens, each with a different stencil or “screen” of a design, to apply different colors onto the surface of a material. This allows for the creation of designs with multiple colors, such as photographs or illustrations.
Photoprint
The photo print is a method of printing that uses a photographic image as the basis for the design. The image is first captured digitally or on film, then it’s processed and manipulated on a computer to create the final design. The design is then printed onto a variety of surfaces, such as fabrics, paper, and more, using methods such as digital printing, screen printing, and others.
Fluorescent printing
The method of printing that uses fluorescent inks to create designs that appear to glow or fluoresce under ultraviolet (UV) light. The inks contain special pigments that react to UV light and emit a bright, vibrant color. The process of fluorescent printing is like traditional screen printing or digital printing, and it’s used to create designs on a wide range of materials such as fabrics, paper, and more.
HD crack printing
Also known as crackle printing, is a printing method that creates a crackled or distressed look on the surface of a material. The process involves applying a special type of ink or varnish that dries and cracks as it cures. The ink or varnish is applied to the surface of the material and then exposed to heat or UV light, which causes it to dry and crack, creating a unique, distressed look.
Plastic Glass Printing, Glitter Printing
It’s a screen-printing method where a base is printed, and plastic glass bead or Glitter are sprinkled in top. Then, Heat transfer via Heat on not with Heat press.
