How To Screen Print Custom T-shirts

Silk screen printing is a method of printing that has a long and rich history and is still the preferred method of printing T-shirts and other articles of clothing. The quality you can get from screen printing plastisol inks on a T-shirt will give you a product that will last you a long time. Screen printing is also the easiest way to turn your design into a custom T-shirt.

Screen printing starts with the silk screen which can range in thread. Lower thread counts will accommodate thicker inks such as white or specialty inks and higher thread count is best suited for designs with high detail. A coat of light sensitive emulsion is placed over the screen and allowed to dry. Designs are then burned onto the screen by way of transparency and a light exposure in a light safe darkroom. The transparency is placed onto the screen in reverse and weighed down with a piece of thick glass in order to have good contact with the screen and burn the outline of the design correction. Once the design is exposed on the screen you can wash out the design with the use of a pressure washer or a hose with a high pressure nozzle. The water on the screen will make the emulsion light safe.

Once the screen is dry you are ready to set it in your press and begin printing. Place the screen in the press and set your off contact to provide enough space between the press and the T-shirt that you are printing on. Ink is then applied to the shirt by pulling a squeegee from one end of the screen to the other. The ink goes through the open areas of the screen onto the shirt and with good off contact the screen will separate from the T-shirt leaving your custom design crisp and with a good outline. The shirt is then dried by using a flash dryer which will evenly dry all areas where ink has been placed to prevent from washing out. Once the plastisol ink has fused together you know that the T-shirt has been dried. If the drying process is done right you can have your custom T-shirt last for many years.

By: Joseph Brones

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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Joseph Brones is a copywriter for a screen printing company that specializes in custom T-shirts in Atlanta, GA

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Designing your own T Shirt doesn't need to be a daunting prospect, and can be very rewarding, both financially and personally.

1.   With a T shirt that you designed yourself you'll stand out from the crowd, and won't look the same as everyone else who shops in the same stores either online or offline as you.

2.   If you're the creative sort, then ideas for your own limited edition T shirt will come much more naturally than if you're not that creative.

3.   By wearing something that you designed yourself, you know that it'll be unique, or at least an extremely limited edition.  You can pretty much guarantee that you won't bump into anyone else who's got the same T shirt as you.

4.   If you decide that there's a market for your T shirt designs, then you might be able to make some money by designing limited edition T shirts.

5.   You'll also be able to show off your talents and creativity, as well as your use of computer graphics packages through your T shirt designs.  Maybe you'll design something satirical, or very much of the moment, or perhaps your designs will be timeless classics.

6.   You might be inspired to design T shirts for your friends and family.  These can make great presents for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries or stag or hen weekends. 

7.   As your creativity starts to improve, and your designs get better, you'll soon be able to think about entering T shirt design contests.  The rules and entry details vary by competition, but often the T shirt design with the most votes, wins.  You'll have to think of some good ways to get people to vote for your designs, so that you can win.

8.   As you enter more competitions, you'll start to become well known in the T shirt design communities, and might even be asked to submit T shirt designs for other websites, or for special occasions.

9.   If you do become successful, and your T shirts become popular, then you'll get the enjoyment of knowing that people buy and wear your designs.  What could be better than actually seeing somebody in a T shirt that you designed yourself?

10.   Winning a T shirt design competition can make you serious money, and so they are well worth entering.  If you've the ideas, and the skills to produce a winning design, why don't you enter?!

Now you know more about T designs, and why you might want to design your own, is it time for you to design your own T shirts? 

Think of the fashion empires built by companies like,
Phat Farm, No Fear, Fubu, Billabong, etc.
They started with an idea printed on a T-shirt!

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