Garment and Fabric Screen Printing

Many organisations have caught on to the advantages of screen printing as a statement-making trend. From chain stores and independents to universities and schools, screen-printing offers an inexpensive and versatile method of bringing your designs to life.

Your image will be separated into different colours and each colour will have its own separation, which will be printed out onto a clear film in black ink. Each colour of your design requires a separate screen. Screens are metal or wooden frames stretched with a nylon mesh. The screens are coated with a photosensitive emulsion, dried and then placed on top of the artwork and exposed to light. The screens are then rinsed with water. The printed areas where the light could not penetrate remain soft and wash away, leaving a negative image. The prepared screens are then set up so each colour will print in exactly the right place . Plastisol or water based ink is applied to the garment through the screen mesh using a rubber bladed squeegee leaving the desired image on the garment. The colours are printed one at a time until the image is complete.
Plastisol inks have a high opacity producing bright, vibrant prints with superb durability. Water based inks produce a softer feel but are best suited to white or light coloured garments. To achieve a wide colour spectrum with limited colours, the 4 colour process can be used (cyan, magenta, yellow and black).
PROS - Once your screens are made, you can print as many garments as you like. The more prints you do, the quicker the set up cost will be absorbed. You also have the option to try out different colours, or combinations of colours within the design.
CONS - There is usually a set up charge for each screen of £15. If your design has several colours but you are looking for a small number of garments or garments with lots of different names or numbers , please look at our heat transfer or heat transfer vinyl option. This will probably be more cost effective for you.

Transfers

Transfers are a quick and easy method of applying designs to garments. If your design is photographic, or contains too many colours for traditional screen printing, then transfers can an ideal alternative.
To create a transfer, special inks are printed onto a backing sheet. The backing sheet is placed onto the garment and using pressure and heat, the image is transferred onto the material. New materials allow transfers to be produced for a wide-range of garments, from standard cotton, polyester & nylon mixtures, even the wickable mesh weaves of today's hi-tec sports clothes.
PROS - photographic quality, discount for volume.
CONS - has to be produced in advance, not suitable for fleece, woollen or other heavily woven materials

Vinyl

Vinyl sheets, sometimes known as garment film, are incredibly thin sheets of plastic, that come in a wide assortment of finishes and colours.
A cutter feeds the sheets forward and backward while a tiny blade goes from side to side "drawing" a shape on the vinyl. When the cutting is finished, the material in the area out with the design is carefully peeled away, leaving the finished design on a backing sheet. This is pressed onto the garment with high heat and pressure.
Some vinyl can be washed at high temperatures, dry-cleaned and ironed directly onto. They come in a wide-range of finishes including metallic, glow in the dark, and flock.
PROS - Great when you need individual details on a series of garments, have a short run, or quick turnaround is required.
CONS - Not suitable for photographic images, or very intricate designs. Comes in a finite range of colours.

Get in touch with us to explore the options.