The top colors for Spring 2017 fashion are:

PANTONE 17-4123 Niagara

Comfortable and dependable, Niagara leads the PANTONE Fashion Color Report as the most prevalent color for spring 2017. Niagara is a classic denim-like blue that speaks to our desire for ease and relaxation.

PANTONE 13-0755 Primrose Yellow

By contrast, Primrose Yellow sparkles with heat and vitality. Inviting us into its instant warmth, this joyful yellow shade takes us to a destination marked by enthusiasm, good cheer and sunny days.

PANTONE 19-4045 Lapis Blue

Conveying even more energy is Lapis Blue. Strong and confident, this intense blue shade is imbued with an inner radiance.

PANTONE 17-1462 Flame

A red-based orange, Flame, is gregarious and fun loving. Flamboyant and vivacious, this wonderfully theatrical shade adds fiery heat to the spring 2017 palette.

PANTONE 14-4620 Island Paradise

Island Paradise is a refreshing aqua that calls to mind a change of scenery. A cool blue green shade that speaks to our dream of the great escape, Island Paradise is emblematic of tropical settings and our desire to unwind.

PANTONE 13-1404 Pale Dogwood

Continuing the tranquil mood, Pale Dogwood is a quiet and peaceful pink shade that engenders an aura of innocence and purity. The unobtrusive Pale Dogwood is a subtle pink whose soft touch infuses a healthy glow.

PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery

Bringing forth a refreshing take, Greenery is a tangy yellow-green that speaks to our need to explore, experiment and reinvent. Illustrative of flourishing foliage, the fertile attributes of Greenery signals one to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

PANTONE 17-2034 Pink Yarrow

Tropical and festive, Pink Yarrow is a whimsical, unignorable hue that tempts and tantalizes. Bold, attention getting and tempestuous, the lively Pink Yarrow is a captivating and stimulating color that lifts spirits and gets the adrenaline going.

PANTONE 18-0107 Kale

Evocative of the great outdoors and a healthy lifestyle, Kale is another foliage-based green that conjures up our desire to connect to nature, similar to the more vivacious Greenery. And, just as we see in nature, this lush and fertile natural green shade provides the perfect complementary background to the more vibrant tones in the palette.

PANTONE 14-1315 Hazelnut

Rounding out the spring 2017 colors is Hazelnut, a key neutral for spring. This shade brings to mind a natural earthiness. Unpretentious and with an inherent warmth, Hazelnut is a transitional color that effortlessly connects the seasons.

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1. Pinch and Saw the Tip Method: For needles smaller than size #10, snip the very end of your embroidery floss or thread so the thread is not puffy and frayed (a clean cut is necessary for this method). Next, pull the thread between your thumb and forefinger (so the tip of the thread is barely visible between the two). Lay the eye of your needle up on the tip of the thread, using a gently sawing motion, move the needle down between the skin of your thumb and forefinger. With this method, you will “saw” the thread into the eye of your needle. If this doesn’t work, turn your needle over and try the other side.

2. Fold and Pinch Method: Take your thread and fold your thread around the shaft of your needle. Slide your thread off, pinch the fold, and stick the thread in the eye of your needle. Next, pull your thread through the needle so the folded over part is all the way through (situate the length of the tail however you like it). You might have to hold the pinched fold close between your finger and thumb and lay the eye on the folded thread and gently “saw” the needle down onto the thread. This method works great with  needle size #10 and larger needles. It also works with size 11, depending on the thread you’re using.

3. Assisted Method: If the first two methods prove to be too difficult. Acquire a fine needle threader and use it (simple). There are many brands available which you can find in the needlework section of most hobby, craft, and sewing places.

We hope you have found this article useful. Imagescapes Embroidery (located in Apex, North Carolina offers professional embroidery and screen printing services for your company.

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Have you ever been to a business event and noticed certain individuals with eye-catching and professional looking work shirts with the company or group logo embroidered right on the shirt? Have you ever considered a professional embroidery service for your own company? If you have ever wondered what are the benefits of professional embroidery, keep reading on. In this article, IMAGEscapes provides 3 great advantages of professional embroidery for your business!

First of all, embroidery is the art of stitching your design onto a shirt using high tech computerized embroidery machines. The finished product is polished, durable and professional which makes embroidery one of the preferred methods of logo apparel decoration for several reasons:

Advertisement For Your Business

For many years, custom embroidered shirts have been a great way to get your business’ name out there, think of it is as walking advertisement. Solid colored button down shirts or plain polo’s are too simple and boring. Custom professionally embroidered shirts are a fantastic way to stand out from the crowd and send the message that your employees are all a team working together. Imagine the statement your company would make with your logo embroidered on the front of the shirt!

Add Uniqueness To Your Business

A well embroidered design will always give a good impression; you want a design that gives you a professional look and has a carefully design with high value. This adds uniqueness to your business! Also, the embroidered design must be consistent from piece to piece. As the customer, you have full control over the design, after-all, your company design is a representation of your company.

A Durable Product

Professional custom embroidery designed shirts are an expense, but well worth the investment. One of the advantages of these products is the quality and durability. A quality embroidered design is very hard wearing and is designed to stand heavy laundering and the colors will not fade on high temperatures. In fact, it is more likely for a shirt to wear out before the embroidered image does. The stitching is tough and hard-wearing and will not be ruined by common wear and tear! Your money will be well spent on such durable materials.

There are many reasons why embroidery is important for your business. IMAGEscapes is a custom embroidery and screen printing workshop that takes pride in creating unique embroidered and screen printed designs for all your apparel and gift item needs.  Our custom embroidery and custom screen printing is considered the state of the art in value, quality and service. Inquire about our custom professional embroidery services today and your business can experience the benefits!

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Embroidery has been around for a very long time. In fact, did you know that Egyptians used embroidery for decoration purposes on the hems of royal robes? Embroidery was also used in tapestries during the Middle Ages! Embroidery has always been considered an art form, one which is certainly worth learning. ImageScapes Embroidery has put together this guide to help you get started on your embroidery journey, find out what the 5 hand embroidery must have tools are:

#1: Lighting and Magnification

This is one of the most important necessities because the last thing you want to do is strain your eyes due to poor lighting conditions (this would make your experience much less enjoyable). Magnifying is not necessary for everyone but it certainly does help too.

#2: Storage

Storage for your embroidery projects is necessary in order to keep your embroidery materials not only organized, but also to have effective management for your projects (plus, it also helps keep your work area clean).

#3: Use The Right Needle

A needle is the most basic tool you will use during this process. Now, any needle can draw a piece of thread through the fabric, however, using the right needle for the task at hand will guarantee better results (it really does make all the difference in the world!).

The most common needles used in embroidery are the following:

• Tapestry Needle– The tapestry needle has a much longer eye and a shorter shaft and a blunt tip.
• Milliner Needle– The milliner needle has a short (almost round) eye, and a very long shaft with a sharp tip.
• Crewel Needle– The crewel needle is the most basic needle for embroidery and it is is a sharp, tipped needle that has a medium-long eye which is slightly larger than the shaft of the needle.

#4: Frames and Hoops

This tool is helpful for a couple of reasons. One, it helps keep your embroidery fabric in place. Two, it helps avoid making your embroidery warped. Frames and hoops are available in both wood and plastic.

#5: Scissors

When it comes to scissors, you don’t want to use just any pair. Embroidery scissors are different from regular craft scissors. They are sharp and thin; they are designed this way to be able to get really close to the ground fabric to cut threads cleanly.

Of course, there are many other embroidery tools available but these 5 are the must haves you need to get you started on your very own embroidery project! Investing a little time and a little bit of money will allow you to create beautiful art. For more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing, we are always happy to be of assistance.

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Screen printing (also known as silk printing) can be a lot of fun, it’s easy, and you can use a lot of things you already have at home (it doesn’t take a whole lot to get a project done). If you have ever felt the desire to learn how to screen print as a fun and creative hobby, you have come to the right place because Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing has put together this informative guide to walk you through the steps and help you get started!

First, gather the following things on this list which you will need:

• T-shirt
• Scrap fabric or old T-shirt
• A yard of chiffon or voile
• 2 plastic embroidery hoops (10-12 inches)
• A template or drawing
• Paintbrushes
• A dull Pencil
• Masking tape or painter’s tape
• Mod Podge
• Thick acrylic paint
• A plastic gift card or old credit card
• Cardboard and plenty of newspaper and paper towels (this can get messy)

Once you have all of these things, follow this step-by-step guide:

Step #1: Create the Screens

If you are planning to use different colors, you will need on per color. To crate a screen, cut a circle from the chiffon or voile about 4 inches wider than the hoop. Next, stretch the fabric as tightly as you can between the inner and outer hoops and tighten the screw to secure it. Trim any excess fabric, leaving a 1-inch border.

Step #3: Mask the Non-Design Areas

Once you have traced your design, flip the hoop over to the other side. Tape around the design and fill in the space between that border and the hoop with more tape to minimize the amount of Mod Podge needed. Repeat on the other side of the fabric.

Step #4: Apply Modge Podge

Use a fine paintbrush to apply Mod Podge along the lines of the design (with the hoop fabric side up). For larger areas, use a bigger brush. You can check if your blocked areas are completely filled by holding the screen up to the light and dabbing more Mod Podge over any holes you see and flip it to check the other side as well. Holding the frame in one hand, use a clean brush to smooth out any blobs of Mod Podge and avoid touching the wet screen. Finally, place the hoop (fabric side up) and allow to dry for approximately 15 minutes. Again, repeat with each screen for each color.

Step #5: Prepare Your Shirt

Now, it’s time to prep your shirt! Iron out any wrinkles, this will make your screen printing process a lot smoother. In order to keep the paint from bleeding through the back of the shirt, place a piece of cardboard or a few layers of newspaper on the inside. Keep this step in mind with anything that has a second layer.

Step #6: Try a Test Print

To complete this step, place the first frame fabric side down onto a piece of scrap fabric or an old T-shirt. Apply a 1/2 inch thick line of paint across one edge of the design. Next, hold the old credit card or gift card at a 45 degree angle to the screen. While pressing firmly against the screen, scrape the paint across the design.

Step #7: You are Ready to Print!

Finally! (We know, it sure is a process to get to the actual printing part!)

Go over each section of the design only once (overlapping just a little is fine). Carefully lift the screen off your shirt. Make sure to use cold water to rinse the paint from the screens, inspect the print and add Mod Podge or tape to the screen as needed to fill any holes. Repeat with each screen for each color. Allow the Mod Podge to dry.

We recommend that you clean up as soon as you’re done making your prints. Rinse the screens thoroughly to remove the paint. If there are any stubborn bits, rub gently to get rid of them. Once you screens are dry, you can re-apply any tape that may have fallen off.

Step #8: Adding Another Color

If you are using multiple colors, you must first make sure the paint is dry on the first print (this process normally takes about 1 hour) before you can print the next color with the second screen.

Step #9: Set the Print

Once the paints are completely dry, place a sheet of paper or a clean cloth over the design and press with an iron set to the appropriate heat for your fabric.

Step #10: Enjoy!

Congratulations, you have successfully completed your first screen print! Now you can enjoy your beautiful work of art, this is the easiest and best of all the steps (and our personal favorite).

We hope you enjoy this experience and hope you found this article informative and helpful. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing, who is always more than happy to answer any questions you may have or provide you with quality screen printing services!

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Embroidery has always been considered an art, but what crafters are doing with needle and thread today totally exceeds “traditional” embroidery by far. Today, they are using innovative designs and materials, taking embroidery to new artistic realms!

One of the basics that makes embroidery possible is the use of embroidery patterns. There are several different ways to do this and the choice of techniques can often depend on the weight or color of the fabric being used. Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing explores different embroidery pattern transfer methods and provides 5 pattern transfer tips in this article:

Tip #1: Heat Transfer Pencils

Heat transfer pencils or pens are a great option for marking your embroidery design on fabric and will work on both light and heavy weight fabrics. They are available in blue or red and the ink is activated by the heat of an iron. Please be aware that these pencils are permanent and the markings will not wash out. The marked lines must be completely covered with the embroidery in order for them not to be visible.

To use a heat transfer pencil simply trace the design in reverse on a lightweight sheet of paper. The design must be traced in reverse because the pressing process creates a mirror image of the design marked on the paper. The easiest way to to do this is to print your patter, turn it over and then trace the design on the back side of the paper.

Once you have traced your pattern, place the paper against the fabric and press with a hot iron. Lift the iron off the paper before moving it to the next location, otherwise moving the iron back and forth will distort the image.

Tip #2: Use Light

You can transfer the designs directly onto your embroidery fabric using a light source such as a light box or window if your fabric is fairly thin. To transfer a design using this method, tape the pattern to the glass and cover the pattern with the fabric. You should be able to see the design very clearly through the fabric, mark the lines with a chalk based marking pencil or a water soluble transfer pen or pencil.

Tip #3: Transfer Paper

This method is oftentimes called the dressmakers’ carbon paper. Designs can be transferred to thicker fabrics using carbon or wax based transfer paper.

This lightweight transfer paper is coated on one side with a powdery colored ink and is made specifically for the use on fabrics that will wash out of the finished piece. When using these papers, use the light colored piece of paper to mark designs on darker fabrics and a darker color on lighter fabrics. Just in case the ink is a bit stubborn when washing it out, use the lightest color possible.

After you have determined what paper you will use, you are ready to transfer your design. First, lay the fabric (face up) on a hard surface, such as a table. Next, center the transfer paper over the fabric having the waxy ink towards the fabric and arrange the patter on top of the transfer paper. Finally, transfer the design to the fabric using an empty ball point marking pen or a stylus, making sure to press hard enough for the design to transfer successfully through the layers of paper.

Tip #4: Pouncing

Pouncing was a very common way to transfer embroidery designs to fabric long before transfer paper and iron-on inks were used. This is a very neat method and pouncing supplies can still be found in specialty needlework shops.

When using this method, a paper pattern is pricked with pins at regular intervals. The design pattern is then secured to the fabric, and a powdered pigment is worked through the holes in a pouncing motion using a soft fabric pad.

Tip #5: Hot Iron Transfers

This is one of the easiest methods available because you can purchase these patterns ready to use and they feature a wide range of subjects, usually available printed in gray or blue ink. The designs are transferred to the fabric using a hot iron in the same manner as patterns traced using transfer pens and pencils.

Don’t be afraid to try some (or all) of the methods discussed in this article. Being a little adventurous will help you determine which options and techniques you prefer and expand your creativity. Most importantly, have fun!

Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing takes pride in providing quality service above all else for our customers. For more information about embroidery pattern transfer methods or general questions about embroidery, do not hesitate to contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing today!

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Are you new to the world of machine embroidery? First and foremost, welcome! Machine embroidery is a wonderful form of art. If you have invested money and time into getting equipment, tools and designs, you might now be wondering, what’s next? You have come to the right place!

Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing provides 5 great tips for beginners to get started in machine embroidery in order to achieve success:

1.Read All You Can About Machine Embroidery:

Books are a great resource when it comes to just about any topic and machine embroidery isn’t any different. Machine embroidery books can be very helpful as you build sharpen your skills. But there are also a lot of other great resources too such as newsletters, e-books, magazines, internet and social media.

Newsletters are great because they are usually free and easily accessible just by signing up with your email address with your favorite embroidery-related shops. You can also find numerous e-books that some companies provide as an incentive for embroiderers to visit their websites and they are easy to download and can be accessed and read from just about anywhere (mobile device, laptop, tablet, etc.).

Magazines provide project inspiration as well as education in techniques and utilities such as stabilizers, threads and needles. Many magazines are also available electronically nowadays for instant download; sometimes they are free and sometimes you can obtain them at a reduced cost and publishers oftentimes even offer past volumes at a discount.

You can never really go wrong with the internet, it is vortex of resources! There are thousand of independent bloggers and most commercial websites have their own blogs as well. Today we also have they advantage of social media and many companies post sales and free designs through their social medial accounts so make sure to follow your favorite embroidery resources on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest!

2. Keep Good Notes:

Even the greatest scientists keep immaculate notes while doing research and beginning embroiderers shouldn’t be any different. Consider keeping an embroidery journal in which you document your projects and will help you learn what works, allowing you to easily mimic a project at a later date. Think of your notes as your embroidery recipes.

3. Take Classes:

Taking a class is not only educational but it can also be fun. Project classes further sharpen your skills and provide additional support from instructors and peers. Whether you take a class in person or online, embroidery classes are great for any level embroiderer because they help reinforce basic skills and machine functions.

Online classes and even YouTube tutorials are becoming more and more popular and the advantage of this resource is that you can view these instructional videos whenever, wherever and for as long as you want, plus you can use your own machine which is an opportunity to become familiar with your own tools and equipment.

4. Get to Know Your Dealer:

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced embroiderer, your machine dealer is your single best resource because manufacturers require dealers to be technically adept users of the machines they sell, making your dealer a true expert! Although all machine embroidery machines basically do the same thing, each machine is unique and operates in different ways. Most dealers are happy to provide owner classes that will help their customers become familiar with options specific to their own machines.

You can gain the knowledge, enthusiasm and confidence you need in order to succeed. Dealers become personal cheerleaders and offer and endless supply of tips, ideas, support and encouragement.

5. Schedule Time to Sew:

Learning machine embroidery does not happen over night, it is a progressive process and like anything else, practice makes perfect. Which is why it is important to make time for your embroidery passion whether you read, do research, take a class or sew (even if you only spend 30 minutes a day).

Remember that the more you stitch, the better your skills, knowledge and experience will grow and you will be a pro in no time! The time invested will definitely pay off and don’t forget that the most important thing is to have fun during this process. In the meantime, if you have any questions about machine embroidery or have any embroidery needs, contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing!

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It’s unbelievable how many different screen printing inks are out there today and frankly, it can be a little mind boggling! But when it comes to screen printing (even if it’s just as a hobby), it is really important to make sure you are choosing the right one before you start your next printing project.

There are many factors that come into play in choosing the right ink, the most important being what it is you are going to be printing on. You wouldn’t use the same ink you use for t-shirt printing that you do when printing on paper because each ink has a different feel, look and effect. But never fear, Imagescapes is here! The following is a guide provided by Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing to help you choose the right screen printing ink:

Water Based Screen Printing Ink:

Water based inks are ideal if you want an ink that is easy to cure, is fast drying and has a super soft feel when printed on t-shirts. A really cool thing about water based inks is that you can dry and cure them with a simple heat gun. There are some really good brands available, many offer lines of screen printing inks that are fairly cheap but, keep in mind that choosing higher quality inks are great for many other uses too.

Plastisol Screen Printing Ink:

Plastisol inks are very common, they are the standard ink for printing on t-shirts. These inks are plastic based ad require high heat in order to cure. We do not recommend this ink if you are going to be doing your printing at home unless you own a conveyor dryer because if plastisol ink doesn’t get cured properly, the ink will wash out, crack or peel off the shirt and you definitely don’t want that to happen. However, if done properly this ink will hold up for a long time (possible even longer that the actual shirt).

Glow In The Dark Screen Printing Ink:

This type of ink isn’t actually different but it is absolutely tons of fun to use on some designs. If you are feeling adventurous or just feel like trying something a little out of the ordinary, you might want to give it a try!

Discharge Screen Printing Ink:

These types of inks are definitely cool and a lot of fun because when you apply the ink, it removes the color from the shirt and then replaces it with the color of the ink, which leaves the shirt feeling like it doesn’t even have ink on it. It’s not necessarily the most user friendly if you are a beginner and it requires mixing a lot of chemicals but if you are able to master this printing style, the end result is pretty awesome. Also, be conscious of the material of the shirt you are printing on because this method works best on 100% cotton and if you are using a blend, the results might not come out how you’d expect.

Printing On Paper:

The inks we have covered above are ideal for printing on t-shirts however, water based inks are the best for printing on paper because they soak in and don’t require any curing, they can just air dry. We recommend this method if your printing project consists of printing your own poster or other paper products.

These are the most commonly used inks for screen printing and we hope that this guide will help you choose the right screen printing inks for your future projects. If you have any questions feel free to contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing, who are always happy to assist you with your screen printing needs.

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Shopping for machine embroidery thread can be a mission. Let’s face it, stopping at the thread rack can feel like going to the candy store because there are so many choices and colors! It’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed but once you gain a little thread knowledge, choosing the right machine embroidery thread can be a fun and satisfying experience!

First things first; always use quality embroidery thread which are manufactured specifically for machine embroidery. Luckily, they are available in a vast variety of colors!

Now, some types of machine embroidery thread are a little more trickier to use than others but for the most part, a few slight adjustments can reduce thread breakage, looping and other unwanted issues. Three things to definitely keep in mind that can affect breakage levels are the needle you use, thread tension and bobbin filament thread (we suggest using polyester pre-wound bobbins instead of purchasing bobbin thread and winding bobbins at home because experience has taught us that almost all embroidery machines perform better with factory-made bobbins.

So, how do you choose the right machine embroidery thread? Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing has put together the following informative list to guide you along the way:

Silk Thread:

Silk thread is the best choice when embroidering on silk or other luxurious fabrics because it is strong and stable with an unmatched noble sheen. Although it is more costly and harder to find than others, it is truly the aristocrat of specialty threads! Silk thread combines the strength of polyester and the stability of cotton, without being abrasive and sews smoothly without breaking. You can find silk threads in a wide range of weights but we have found that the 30 to 50 weights are the most suitable for machine embroidery.

Cotton Thread:

Cotton thread is great because it has a lovely and soft sheen with that is unattainable with other fibers. Cotton threads are also available in a wide range of weights (from 30 to 120, 120 being considered heirloom quality). 30 to 50 weights are usually the most popular due to their strength and sufficient fabric coverage. Cotton thread is particularly important when stitching complex designs with light and shade effects because with cotton you may achieve subtle shading between colors within a color family. If you want your designs to look much like hand stitched cross stitch then it is better to use cotton thread because the softer qualities it possesses is perfect for machine cross stitch.

Rayon Machine Embroidery Thread:

This is a popular choice among embroiderers because of it’s widespread availability, consistent trouble-free performance, appealing high sheen and the fact that it holds up to high-speed stitching without breaking or fraying. Rayon thread can be found in 40 and 30 weight and like many of the others, is also available in a wide range of solid, diverse and “twist” of colors (which is composed of two or more solid colors twisted together to form a single strand, which adds a visual effect of shading and dimension to embroidery designs).

Metallic Thread and Glittery Mylar Thread:

Although these are a fantastic choice for adding sparkling accents to embroidery designs, they are also considered to be the most tricky. They are available in a wide range of colors as well as holographic hues (which pick up light and color from surrounding objects and add spectacular luminous accents to machine embroidery). Be sure to experiment with these to find the ones that perform best for you because some might perform better than others on your machine. These threads sometimes tend to break with high-speed sewing and you might need to adjust the thread tension and use specialty needles for these types of thread, but, they are well worth using!

Polyester Machine Embroidery Thread:

Polyester thread is usually a little cheaper than rayon because of it’s synthetic origin and it’s also a great choice because it has a sheen almost comparable to rayon. Polyester threads are colorfast, exceptionally durable (they will not fade or bleed) and they have a high resistance to bleach and chlorine making this thread ideal for embroidering catering items, hotels, sportswear, work-wear and any other item that will be frequently and/or heavily washed.

There are so many choices out there that it is easy to feel intimidated. However, experimenting with threads can be beneficial because you can expand your color and texture palettes and add new life to your designs. Once you have a little experience under your belt, you will become a pro in no time. Please contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing if you have any questions regarding embroidery or our embroidery services, we are always ready to help you!

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Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes and when it comes to screen printing, it’s no different. Screen printing is a laborious process that takes practice and patience to master and even the most experienced screen printers make mistakes from time to time.

In the screen printing world, some mistakes could lead to money loss and could potentially even harm the brand’s identity if not caught ahead of time. Therefore, Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing would like to share with you 5 of the most common screen printing mistakes you should try to avoid and some helpful suggestions:

Too Much Ink Printed Onto The Shirt:

• Getting too much ink into the mesh on the back flood. As you back flood don’t press down too hard or go over it too many times. If your ink get too heavy, pull a few prints on test sheets without back flooding to clear out the screen.
• Your ink may be too thinned out.
• Using too much pressure. You want to make sure that you are not pressing down too hard on the squeegee and use even pressure all the way across the print.
• You may be using an old squeegee with edges that are rounded and need to be sharpened.

Too Little Ink Printed Onto The Shirt:

• Try printing on a soft base. You could try using a platen covered in neoprene fabric especially when printing over collars or seams.
• Use a coarser mesh.
• The screen you’re using might be getting clogged. You can try rubbing the underside of the screen with a wet shop towel and then screen a test print or two to clear it out. Use misprinted t-shirts or test print squares to test print and if you are printing posters and art prints, you can use blank newsprint to test print.
• Some have suggested spraying water mixed with a little dish soap to the underside of the screen before you put any ink on it may help when you print.
• Make more than one squeegee pass to print, sometimes as many as 3 passes (that’s usually all it needs).

Art Problems:

• If you are working with a client, make sure you have a signed approval of the final design (you want to avoid having to reprint a design at your own expense because something was misspelled).
• You want to make sure you start with good and properly prepared artwork. The art you use should be a minimum of 300 ppi at print size, you cant expect to use a low resolution jpeg and think you will get a good screen print out of it.
• Make sure that you not only print the design you’re using correctly but also that the design matches with the correct screen mesh for the artwork.

• Mastering the angle of the squeegee takes some practice and a little experimentation. When you find an angle that works for you, keep it consistent. You could also consider the print stroke used (the push stroke as opposed to the usual pull print stroke). Always do one or the other, you don’t want to switch between strokes.
• When applying ink to the scree, we recommend using a consistent 45 degree angle as the ink goes on pretty smooth at this angle. Using an angle of 60 degrees or more will not allow the ink to get through the mesh correctly and evenly. Similarly, using an angle of 30 degrees or less can make the ink print too heavily onto the fabric.

Bad Registration:

• If the screen is not tightened enough the platen might move. Turn the screw as tight as possible without stripping it.
• If not tightened enough, the screens can become loose in the bracket on the press.
• Make sure the plate has enough adhesive, otherwise the shirt might move.

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