Printing is a process of pictures and text, commonly using ink, paper and a printing press. Over time, printing technology has improved significantly. Diverse techniques are available, but screen-printing is used most of the time.

Screen-printing, or silk-screening, is a process ideally used on fairly flat surfaces. In this procedure, a fine mesh screen is secured snugly across a sturdy frame, with the screen masking the region which remains unprinted. To make the print, the screen is positioned atop the material along with a swath of dense ink. Using a squeegee tool, the ink is pushed through the screen part. The ink soaks into the region that is not masked, forming the print, while the masking keeps any ink from making contact, resulting in distinguished areas. Next the printed material goes through a hot passageway until the ink dries and it is ready to be packed up.

For more than one color, this procedure is repeated with additional screens. For example, a print of four colors will be created with four different screens; this is either done on a rotary press or by hand to ensure that the screens are aligned correctly on the image.

There are several methods of masking a screen. The simplest thing to do is to employ masking fluid right onto the screen. This process works very well for two-color graphics, while a photosensitive emulsion process is utilized for jobs involving multiple colors.

If you don’t specify what you want when you order a custom shirt, you may end up with your design printed in a sticky, plastic-containing ink. Water-based inks work best for the worn, vintage-looking shirts. If you want the look of a stark and heavier print, request an ink that contains plastics and is applied by a hot press.

A lot of screen printing pros utilize plastic-based inks, since they are gentler on the screen printing gear and are often stronger, more vivid and bold. Inks containing plastic may begin cracking within a brief time. Choosing natural inks creates a more attractive and longer-wearing appearance.