Screen printing is a difficult and creative process. It requires you to have proper information knowledge about the basics of screen printing first. Many screen printers begin as a hobby or as a sideline to other forms of garment decoration, such as vinyl or embroidery and after that, they plan to start their own business.
Screen printing does not have to be a large investment, but it can significantly impact your business. You might not know, but if you are planning to start a business in which screen printing is involved, you must know about some of the tips and things you must have. Let’s go over how to get started with screen printing and how it can be combined with other aspects of garment decoration.
Some Of The Tips For Getting Started For Screen Printing For DIY Enthusiasts And Saving Money:
You should know about some of the important tips for you if you are thinking of going for screen printing and want to give it a professional look. First, you need to know that you must buy materials from reliable screen printing supplies that can help you get the best quality materials and easily get the expected results.
Understand The Fundamentals:
Familiarize yourself with the screen printing process. You need to reach out to professionals who can help you give proper shape to your hobby and ensure that you can easily maximize your abilities. Even if you are a DIY enthusiast still you need time and practice to master proper printing techniques. You don’t have to hurry. You should do it slowly and see your growth.
For instance, the basics include checking that the ink is being applied evenly and smoothly across the screen. You must know about the materials, and techniques used. This will provide you with a solid foundation before you begin. These are some of the things that you need to keep in mind while doing the printing.
Take Small Steps:
Begin with simple designs and a limited color palette. For starting your screen printing, you have to ensure that you are making any sort of investment because in the initial stage, you need to learn and then grow. By buying a small amount of color, you will ensure that you will learn and, at the same time, you will not waste a lot of material. This will allow you to practice and improve your skills without becoming overwhelmed or spending too much money on supplies.
Always start with small because when you are thinking of making your hobby a professional business, you need to learn properly first, and then slowly and steadily, you will make big changes, and then you can increase the color pattern and go for hard designs.
Buy The Required Materials:
To start the screen printing, you need supplies and some equipment to ensure that you can design anything you want with screen printing. The following are the basic materials you’ll need to get started:
Screen:
Select a screen that is appropriate for your project. Consider the mesh count, which determines the level of detail possible. Attach the screen to a frame, making sure it’s taut and secure. The screen should be used appropriately to achieve the right print.
Ink:
Use screen printing ink that is specifically designed for fabric or the surface you’re printing on. The link should be used with the right amount of consistency to ensure that the design is consistent throughout the object.
Emulsion:
Apply emulsion to the screen to create a light-sensitive surface for transferring your design. This will ensure that the design can be easily traced on the surface.
Light source:
You’ll need a UV light source to expose your design to the screen. The light source is important, and choose wisely so that the whole procedure can be done with precision.
Build A Proper Printing Area:
Deciding the location is one of the first thing and for that you should select a clean, well-ventilated area for your screen printing station. You need a proper location where you don’t have to worry about the mess and can easily do your printing in the right environment. Finding the right place may be difficult, but you need to keep all the important measures in your mind so that you can get the expected results from your screen printing.
Cover the surface with a protective layer, such as a drop cloth or newspaper, to avoid ink stains. You can organize the place accordingly and get the equipment and furniture to set up the printing area comfortably.
Design and Preparation of Your Artwork:
Make your design either digitally or by hand. Remember that screen printing has limitations, such as the number of colors and the level of detail that can be achieved. If you are a DIY enthusiast and want to make your hobby a professional work, then you should start doing it by your hand first and then do digital so that you can first learn, and then you can go digital to print them on the object with ease.
For better exposure, convert your design to a high-contrast black-and-white image. This helps a lot, and you can take professional guidance to ensure proper printing.
Test And Adjust:
This is something that mostly lot of people need to remember to do. Before going with the final use of color, you need to do some trials first. Print a few test prints on scrap fabric or paper before printing on your final substrate. This will allow you to fine-tune your design’s pressure, ink consistency, and registration. Make any necessary changes until you are satisfied with the results.
Bottom Line
You know about the basics now and if you want to save your money then you need to keep all these in your mind. This article will ensure that you make the right investment and grow your business or your abilities with time. You don’t need to hurry, first, you need to learn and give time and eventually, you will become a professional in screen printing.
