1. Choose or Create the Artwork to Be Screen Printed
The best way to prepare artwork to be screen printed is to have it copied onto a transparency. Most copy shops do this for a very small fee. Original artwork can be painted directly onto a transparency or onto any piece of sturdy, clear plastic. Beginners should create simple designs with fairly clear, thick lines since screen printing delicate, fine-lined artwork can be tricky.

The objective is to create what artists call a “film positive” of the artwork, which is 100 percent black on a clear background. Whether it is printed or hand-drawn, the artwork blocks the emulsion on the screen and the emulsion is washed off the design, allowing the ink to pass through the screen and transfer the design onto the T-shirt or other object that is imprinted.

2. Gather the Materials Needed for Screen Printing
Once the artwork to be screen printed has been selected and prepared, it is time to gather the rest of the necessary materials and equipment.

Object to Be Printed
The screen printing can be done on paper, on canvas, or on just about anything made from fabric, like a T-shirt, a tablecloth and napkins, a scarf, a tote bag, or simply a piece of fabric that is framed and hung as art. The object should be clean and ready to absorb the ink.

Screen Frame
The screen frame is usually made of wood and is very tightly covered with a fine mesh material. This is the screen through which the ink is transferred onto the object to be printed. Metal screens are the most durable and stand up to many washings and printings.

Black Paper, Plastic, or Fabric
This flat black object should be large enough on which to place the frame. It is the surface on which the screen is placed to burn the image onto the screen.

Photosensitive Emulsion and Activator
The sensitizer and emulsion come separately and must be mixed together and applied to the screen. Users must make sure to mix enough to thoroughly cover the screen.

Screen Printing Ink
Users need to buy enough screen printing ink to transfer the design to the object being printed. It might be fun to choose several different colors and make several versions of the screen print art.

Squeegee
A squeegee is an important tool in screen printing. It is used to apply and spread the ink through the screen onto the T-shirt or other object. Squeegees are available in several different sizes, and they are made from a single piece of vinyl or from a comfortable wooden holder with a rubber blade.

3. Prepare the Frame and Screen
Some people make their own mesh screens for printing by taking an old wooden picture frame and covering it tightly with an organdy silk screen fabric, or even cut-up old gauzy nylon curtains. Users should make sure that the fabric is stretched as tight as possible and is secured thoroughly with a staple gun applied all around the frame. It is important to keep the fabric straight so that the holes in the mesh of the fabric allow the ink to pass through it evenly.

A commercially prepared screen that has already been used should be prepared for printing by washing it thoroughly with a mild abrasive to ensure that none of the holes are clogged with dirt, grease, or previously used ink. The screen should also be allowed to dry thoroughly.

4. Spread the Photo Emulsion onto the Screen
First, users should mix the sensitizer and the emulsion thoroughly according to the directions on the containers. The emulsions are light-sensitive liquid chemicals that are applied to the screen, and they become more sensitive as they dry.

The side of the screen that comes in contact with the object to be printed is known as the substrate side, while the side where the ink is placed and pushed through the screen is called the “inkwell” side. Both sides need to be covered with the emulsion mixture, and it is best to begin on the substrate side. Some people prefer to place the screen on top of a piece of black fabric or plastic. Users should pour some emulsion on the screen and spread it thinly and evenly, making sure that all of the holes are covered.

Next, users should place the screen in a dark place to dry (a closet works well). Some people like to point a fan at the screen to help it dry faster. Users need to make sure that the emulsion on the screen has dried completely, and this can take as little as a couple of hours or as long as overnight.

5. Burn the Image onto the Screen
The next steps are to attach the artwork to the screen and expose it all to light in order to burn the image onto the screen, so that the ink can pass through the screen and be transferred to the object being printed.

Attaching the Artwork
Once the emulsion on the screen is completely dry, users should lay it down on top of a clean piece of black cloth or sturdy paper, with the substrate side facing down and the inkwell side facing up. They should then lay the template with the design on it down on the inkwell side of the screen and attach it with tape. Alternatively, they could also lay a piece of clean glass on top of the artwork, while making sure that the glass is bigger than the design while still fitting inside the frame.

If the emulsion being used is highly photosensitive, it may be best to do this step in a fairly dark room so that the emulsion does not begin to react to the light until the artwork is securely in place.

Exposing the Screen to Light
Next, they should place a lamp with a 200- or 250-watt bulb about a foot or two above the screen. Professional screen printing lamps are also available for purchase, while some people like to take the frame with the artwork attached outdoors so that the UV rays of the sun burn the image. With the exposure to light, the emulsion hardens, and the area of the screen that is covered by the design does not harden. Usually 10 to 15 minutes is enough time for this process to be complete.

6. Rinse the Screen
Once the photosensitive emulsion has hardened, users should remove the artwork and rinse the screen under very cold water. This can be done in a sink, in a shower or tub, or outdoors with a garden hose. The emulsion that was under the design flakes off. It may be necessary to gently rub the area where the emulsion is being removed, using a hand or the scratchy side of a kitchen sponge. Once the screen is thoroughly rinsed, the design should be visible as a see-through part of the screen, like a stencil made out of mesh.

7. Print
For the printing stage, it is a good idea to put masking tape or painter’s tape along the edges of the screen to prevent any sloppy leaks. Users should place the fabric or object to be printed down on some newspapers to protect the surface underneath. It is important to work on a flat surface so that the image is not distorted. If it is a T-shirt that is being printed, users can place some layers of paper or cardboard inside the shirt to prevent the ink from leaking through to the other side of the shirt.

When users are ready to begin the printing process, they can lay the screen down with the substrate side touching the fabric to be printed. Next, they can pour a small amount of ink horizontally across the top of the screen and use a squeegee to pull the ink down across the image, pressing the ink through the screen onto the fabric underneath. They can then move the squeegee up and down and back and forth to ensure that the ink is pressed through the screen thoroughly and evenly. The screen should be held in place, or else the image may not come through crisply. At this point, the artwork should be in printed form.

8. Cure and Clean Up
Some screen printing ink manufacturers recommend “curing,” which is placing the printed object in an oven preheated to 400 degrees F for just about 30 seconds. Other ink makers recommend ironing the back of the printed fabric to help set the ink. Users should be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the ink being used.

We hope you have found this guide useful and remember, if you are ever in need of any screen printing services. Imagescapes Embroidery is here to help.

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There are numerous screen printing companies out there that choosing the right one can seem overwhelming and difficult. When preparing for a new project, it would be wise to research reputable companies to ensure you will be working with a quality printer. Working with a good screen printing service offers many benefit that benefit just about any type of business. What kind of benefits you may ask? Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing explores the benefits screen printing companies offer and provides a helpful guide in this article:

Experience: In this industry, most of the professional screen printing companies have acquired extensive experience. Thanks to their experiences, they have learned a lot about the potential challenges and pitfalls that they face as a business when developing custom t-shirt orders. Partnering with a truly professional company is the only way t guarantee your order will be fulfilled and delivered on time (especially for businesses placing large and/or detailed orders.

Reliability: Another significant advantage of partnering with a professional screen printing company is knowing that your products will be produced with a clear time table. It is imperative to know exactly when your custom designed t-shirt will be ready and a good professional screen printer will be able to offer you reliable fulfillment and distribution.

Quality: Keep in mind that when choosing to partner with an established professional screen printing company, you choose a company that will ensure you are getting a high level of quality for whatever screen printing needs your business has. Remember, your custom t-shirts will essentially be an extension of your brand, which is why it is important to find a reputable and reliable screen printing company that will help your business put its best foot forward.

Customer Service: A good customer service experience includes everything from troubleshooting issues to consulting with you prior to your order being placed and everything in between. Working with a screen printing company that offers exceptional customer is extremely helpful; if you are unsure about the process or the screen printing needs of your business, speaking with a qualified professional is a great way to begin sorting out your options.

Pricing: Although there are plenty of other benefits of using a professional screen printing service, there is little surprise that this bottom line consideration is one of the most commonly cited ones. Working with an established professional screen printing service company means that they are able to operate in bulk and therefore, benefit from huge savings that they are able to pass along to their clients.

Choosing to partner with a professional screen printing service that has a great track record is your best option (regardless of what industry you are in). Ultimately, you want to make sure your company stands out in a positive way by working with a professional screen printing services for your next custom printing order. Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing is one of the leading distributors for custom embroidered and screen printed apparel and they take pride in providing quality service above all else for their customers. Please make sure to contact them if you have any questions or you are interested in any of their professional services.

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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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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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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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Having been in business for nearly 15 years, one of the most common questions we get is why you may need to print custom t-shirts. Well, the answer is quite simple; creating custom printed t-shirts is a great way to bring people together, grow your business or celebrate big accomplishments!

The following is a list of ten reasons why you may need to print custom t-shirts:

1. Marketing: Custom printed t-shirts is an exceptional marketing tool for your professional entity and there are various ways to use them to really make a lasting impression.

2. Employees: A custom printed t-shirt can help employees feel professional, confident and can even help them get into a positive frame of mind for the day ahead because they feel as part of team and a clear representative of the business they work for.

3. Advertisement: Whether you choose to giveaway free t-shirts, sell them, or use a combination of both methods, you will have people advertising your business just by walking around!

4. Customer Appreciation: Customer appreciation is often viewed as a lost art, but smart businesses know that showing customers how much they genuinely care is an opportunity to win people over for life.

5. Branding: Custom printed t-shirts is a wonderful way to make people aware of who you, promote your business and oftentimes even boosts sales!

6. Retreats: Custom printed retreat t-shirts serve as positive reminders of the team-building spirit long after the retreat is over and although not everyone loves to bond over team-building exercises, nobody ever complains about the chance to wear a comfy T-shirt.

7. Family Reunions: Family reunions can be a huge (but fun) event and printing custom t-shirts can show membership to a particular branch of the family or show solidarity with the family crest. You can even add each person’s name to their shirt as a way to get to know each other better!

8. Volunteers: Volunteers at charity events wear custom printed t-shirts so that attendees and other workers can quickly identify them. These types of shirts may also inculcate the wearer with a sense of pride.

9. Teams: Designing a custom printed t-shirt cultivates team spirit and a sense of belonging, pride and unity. A well designed t-shirt can even help recruit new members to your team!

10. Special Events: Custom printed t-shirts are an excellent way to declare a good cause or celebrate a special event for an important cause, such as a 5k for autism awareness or a food drive for the local homeless shelter.

Without a doubt, there is always a reason for custom printed t-shirts! And whatever the reason is Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing is ready to assist you with your custom t-shirt printing needs. Contact Imagescapes Embroidery and Screen Printing today!

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Are you the type of person who enjoys arts and crafts as a hobby? Well, you might find that screen printing at home is a great form of arts and crafts that is fun, creative and easy.

Screen printing is a basic stenciling process; this style of art allows you to be creative in so many ways. You may even be able to use things you already have in your home as tools for this type of project. For example, you are going to need a frame and using an old picture frames or an embroidery hoop would be perfect for a frame. You will also need a mesh, in which case, a white sheer nylon curtain could definitely work.

When it comes to the stencil, that can be applied to the screen by hand, eliminating the need for complicated equipment or light sensitive chemicals. When you screen print at home you usually use a squeegee to push ink through the screen but many people find that dabbing or swabbing different kinds of inks a good technique. Or, another method is painting through the screen with brushes or paint rollers, which is also very effective. Fabric additives for standard acrylic paints can be used as well, which only need to be set with an iron.

There are countless possibilities for screen printing at home, really it’s just up to your imagination. If you come to love screen printing, over time you can refine your techniques to screen print at home quite well. This craft is certainly fun and even educational and the result produces a lasting keepsake for yourself, your friends or your family.

In the meantime, for any other screen printing questions make sure you contact Imagescapes Embroidery. They are professionals in the screen printing industry and are always happy to assist you.

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Design files are important because high quality artwork is crucial in the screen printing process, and the design file can impact your artwork significantly. Afterall, the major selling point for any clothing brand or retail company is the printing design.

As professionals in this industry with many years of experience, Imagescapes Embroidery has a few tips that emphasize the importance of design files for professional and quality printing. First, you will need a high resolution or vectorized artwork.

What is vector art?

A vector file is a scalable art format that is most commonly associated with Adobe Illustrator. A vector file can be sized small enough to print on a small item (such as child’s shirt) or large enough to fit on a billboard, without deterioration or loss of clarity. It can easily be re-sized, which makes it the favored file format of screen printers.

All vector artwork is high resolution which means that it has well defined, crisp lines (without any blurriness or distortion). A design must have sharp clean edges in order to be printable. If it has even the slightest blur or malformation, the screen that the image is burned on will not pick up on the fine details and the end result will not look right.

So, what happens if you create your artwork in Photoshop or another design program instead of Adobe Illustrator? Does that mean the artwork created in those programs is unusable? Not necessarily because luckily, there are other options such as the following:

Designing in 300dpi:

DPI (or dots per inch) is a measurement of literally every little dot of color that is in every square inch of a design. This measurement produces a very crisp edge and is easily translated to print, making it the industry’s standard for almost any kind of graphic art.

Creating you project at the size you want it printed:

If you favor the Photoshop program, always choose a larger canvas over a small one because you can always shrink your design down to work on the garment (but keep in mind that you wont be able to expand it to make it larger without pixelating the artwork).

When it comes to screen printing, these steps will make all the difference and they will not only help to make your artwork printable but will also provide you with the best quality possible, guaranteeing the best final product. If you have any questions or would like to use our professional screen printing services, contact Imagescapes Embroidery today!

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Let’s talk about ink in the world of screen printing! Before the 1970’s, water based ink was predominantly used. Many printers lean toward water based printing mostly because of the environmentally friendly advantages and soft hand. But, what about plastisol ink? Plastisol ink has its advantages too.

There are tons of water based inks that are exceptional for printing but the biggest difference between the two is that you don’t always get the burst of color you can with plastinol ink and that’s due to the fact that they settle down into the fibers. Although water based inks have greatly improved since the 1970’s, what’s made plastinol ink popular is the ability to create vibrant prints that stand out on top of the garment.

One of the main complaints of the plastinol inks is that they are thicker than water based inks and therefore, more difficult to push through with a squeegee. To alleviate this issue, you could mix the ink before a print run. Modulating the ink creates friction and makes the ink smoother and more manageable. Another alternative is to thin the plastinol ink by adding a reducer. However, something to keep in mind is not using too much reducer because not only will thinning the ink affect its opacity but as a result, it will not appear as vibrant on dark garments.

Unlike water based inks, another advantage of using plastinol inks is that you can leave the ink in you screens (water based inks do not dry if left out). Be cautious though because the ink can attract dust and contaminants. Protecting your screen by covering it would be a good idea of you intend on leaving it out or if you store them in a dusty environment. Also, remember to clean the ink from the stencil ares of the screen because it can become thick and difficult to clean when you are ready to use them again. Curing plastinol ink is simple; the integral ink layer must be heated to 320˚ F by using a flash dryer or conveyor dryer. Using this method will eliminate the need to purchase a forced air model. As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages whether you choose to use plastinol or a water based ink. Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you may have regarding screen printing, Imagescapes Embroidery is always happy to assist you with your screen printing needs.

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So, you’ve decided you want to try screen printing. That’s great! Screen printing is a lot of fun and a great way to use your creativity to express yourself artistically. Now what? Where do you even begin?

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started, especially when you have no idea what you’re talking about. The following is a guide to some of the basic terminology for terms screen printing pros use. Having having a basic understanding will help you go into any supply store, printing shop or art store and get the products you will need to get started on your screen printing projects.

Basic Screen Printing Terminology:

• Substrate: Term for the item that is being printed.
• Stencil: The portion of an exposed screen containing the image to be printed.
• Squeegee: Wooden or metal handled tool with a rubber blade used to drive ink through a stencil by pulling the squeegee across the screen.
• Mesh: Woven material that makes up the printable portion of the screen.
• Underbase: A thin coating of ink printed first and cured to act as a base for which all other colors are to be printed on. Underbasing is usually required when printing multi-color designs on colored shirts.
• Retensionable Frames: Special frames that allow the mesh to be applied over the screen without the use of adhesives or stretching equipment. The mesh is drawn tightly over the frame using either a roller or telescopic tightening system.
• Registration: The process of lining up the screen image to the original art and/or separations on a printing press and/or exposure unit.
• Print Side: The side of the screen that touches the substrate being printed on.
• Emulsion: Photosensitive chemical in either liquid, roll or sheet form that is applied to a screen and used for the purpose of making a stencil.
• Cure: The process of using heat to completely fuse plastisol ink. Technically incorrect term for “drying” ink.

These are just a few of the terms and their meanings that should get you started. If you have questions about screen printing or what we can do here, contact us. IMAGEscapes takes pride in providing quality and service above all else for our customers. We’ve been screen printing since 2002 and we’d love to work with you.

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