DIY From Custom Screen Printing Services

By Ida Dorsey


There are so many ways in having your shirts printed with designs or illustrations on them. But then again, you would want to do it on your own since having it from shops doing it for you might be fast and easy but can come at a price. If you are a person who likes to make your own craft, then this could be very useful for you.

This time though is for silk screens. You can freely do custom screen printing services in Fort Worth TX and any other places that offer this. Mostly they can give customers services that does not have to be in bulk, and this is quite an advantage for their businesses. Although you can actually do the same.

This is done by first coating the screens in photo emulsion then seemingly cut an image out from it by using bright light. What you need are necessary materials to be able to do this, and with careful and attention to detail, this would be done well. Just make sure you have everything set up and ready.

The materials you need are just a few. You need screens with a frame, and then a photo emulsion which comes with a sensitizer, for lighting you need a bulb for an evenly spread exposure which should be fifty watts, and lastly a pair of gloves. Also, the room you are using must be pitch black.

Additional stuff you need is of course a squeegee for splaying the paint all over the shirt through the screens, and then an article of clothing you want to be printed. The good thing about doing this on your own is personalization. This makes you free to do whatever you want with the design and other customizations you want.

To prepare the design of the screens, you need to first setup the frame and screens and make sure they are tightly placed. Then you add and splay over the photo emulsion which should be mixed in with the sensitizer. Use the squeegee to evenly spread it. Make sure that the covered area is twice the size of the design to leave room for it.

When that is done, you can then place the screen in a dark room. Make sure there is no leak in light and that it stays there for two hours or until it dries completely. Go inside the room after that without turning on the lights and place over the printed design from the transparent sheet. This is what does the cutting process. Use a masking tape so it is easier to take out later.

Do this for fifteen minutes before turning on the lights. Do not peel it completely just yet, take a look first if the cut out is faint enough before deciding to peel off the print out. Be careful not to overexpose it or the image would bleed over the screen.

Clean it with water and let it dry before placing it over the cloth. Make sure it is aligned well and that the cloth has a cardboard behind it. Pour the ink and spread it with the help of the squeegee and press it well and slide it in various directions to level the layer. Carefully take the screen out and let it dry.




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