Screen printing pushes ink through open areas of a mesh stencil. It is well suited to repeated designs because the setup work is distributed across the quantity. Every additional color and location adds preparation and press work.
1. Artwork preparation
The design is sized for the print location, cleaned for production and separated by ink color. Fine lines and tiny type may need adjustment. A dark garment can require an underbase beneath the visible colors.
2. Films and screen exposure
Each separation becomes an opaque film. Screens coated with light-sensitive emulsion are exposed with those films, then washed so the image areas remain open for ink.
3. Press setup and registration
The screens are aligned so their colors land in the correct relationship. Print order, off-contact, squeegee pressure and flash timing are adjusted around the design and garment.
4. Printing and curing
Ink is printed one color at a time. The garment then passes through a controlled dryer so the ink reaches the manufacturer-specified cure. Correct cure is essential to wash durability.
5. Final inspection
Finished apparel is counted and checked, but blank garments can carry manufacturer defects or sizing variation. Review the shop policy before providing customer-supplied goods.