Often Overlooked Screen Print Problem Areas
Welcome To Cora’s Corner, where I am going to help you with your artwork issues.
Screenprinting may be easy to get into. After all, if you have any handyman skills you can make your own equipment such as a screenprint press, light table, exposure unit, washout booth, screen drying racks, and if you are really handy even a dryer. Although it seems easy, there are many processes involved in screenprinting. You have art preparation, screen preparation, ink preparation, garment preparation, press set-up, printing and curing the garment. However, if you don’t know what you are doing, there are many things that can go wrong.
Several areas that tend to have major problems because they get overlooked are proper art preparation, screen preparation, off contact and dryer temperatures. Let’s have a little discussion about each one.
Art Preparation- This one is so critical. If this is not done right, there is very little one can do to fix it on the press. More time is wasted on doing this step improperly that any other. Make sure your separations fit together properly, everything is spelled correctly and if there are halftones, that they are set-up properly for your printing capabilities. Use the right tools to get the best output film possible. If the films are not done correctly it can lead to problems with the next process on my list.
Screen Preparation- The screens should be tight, clean, coated properly, exposed properly and taped up properly. Using the best films output, exposure procedures and equipment goes a long way in helping your press set-up later. Poor screen preparation is one of the major reason for poor print quality and down press time. The last thing a printer wants is the screen to break down before the job is done.
Off Contact- If the art separations and screens are done properly then press set-up is usually pretty simple. However, one area that printers tend to forget about is setting up their off contact of the screen from the garment platen. Without proper off contact the print tends to be too light or too much ink and messy. Off contact depends on whether you are printing t-shirts (1/8+ inch) or sweatshirts (1/4- inch). Testing what setting is best for how and what you print is a must do activity.
Dryer Temperatures- This one is one of the most important issues to get right. Improperly cured garments are one of the biggest reasons jobs have to be redone and why some printers do not get repeat business. Use the proper temperature for the garment and ink you are using. Use a temperature monitor that checks the actual heat in the dryer chamber. Or at the very least use temp test strips that go down the dryer. Sending the garments down the dryer twice is not a very good option because some garments and ink cannot handle the excessive heat.
As with any thing you do in life, it is best to try to do it right the first time. The best thing you can do for your shop is to set up proper processes and procedures. That way you save time, money and relationships. If something does go wrong it is easier to spot the problem and fix it if you have procedures in place. Happy printing.
I would also like to hear from you about your most pressing issues about artwork. Your question may be used in a future issue of this newsletter. If you have questions, please email me at cora@qdigitizing.com. And please reference this newsletter.
Looking forward to sharing an exciting journey of discovery into the world of Art.
Sincerely,
Cora Kromer
Qdigitizing.com
877-733-4390