Silkscreen or Screen Printing Business

May 10, 2006 by Leo   32,872 Views

The heart of the process involves a fine mesh or screen that is tightly stretched around a rigid frame. The areas that are not to be printed are masked out on the screen. To create the print, the framed screen is positioned over the item to be printed along with a dollop of thick ink. A squeegee is then used to press the ink through the screen. The masked areas prevent ink from passing through, but the unmasked areas allow the ink to be imprinted on the material. If more colors are desired in the final design, the process is repeated with different screens. Therefore, a design that requires four different colors would require four different screens.

There are a variety of ways that the screen can be masked. The most straightforward way is to apply masking fluid directly on the screen. This technique is suitable for simple one or two color graphics but is ineffective for more complex prints. For multicolor jobs, screen-printers often use photosensitive emulsions to create the masked areas. First, the design is created on a clear piece of plastic film. Meanwhile, a photosensitive coating is applied to the entire surface of the screen and then dried. The film is placed on the prepared screen and they are exposed to bright light. After a period of time, the exposed areas can be washed off the screen with water which makes the screen ready to print.

Silk screen printing can be done on t-shirts, sweatshirts, mouse pads, stickers, binders, and much more. This opportunity is great a person looking for a second income. Everyone owns a shirt, so why not make money from it. Screen printing or silkscreening is a printing technique particularly suited for flat or relatively flat surfaces. The part that is to be printed is made up of silk, nylon or a stainless-steel mesh. Ink can pass through this area but not through the other part of the stencil which is contained inside a frame.

The photo on the right displays the most basic components of a single color screen printing setup. The screen is tightly stretched around the frame which in this case is made out of wood; the blue emulsion is dried on the screen and serves as the mask. The squeegee is nothing more than a strip of rigid rubber mounted in a wooden handle. To begin the screen printing process, the operator positions the screen directly on top the item to be printed. Next, ink is be applied to the area directly above the unmasked logo, and the squeegee is used to press the ink through to the substrate. As the operator firmly presses down with the squeegee, it is slid along the surface to ensure that ink penetrates through all areas of the unmasked logo. If additional colors are required, the process is repeated with additional screens. When finished, the screen is removed and the printed item is ready for curing.

Basic materials can be purchased at any bookstores. Plain white cotton shirt can be purchased wholesale in Divisoria or any other malls. Estimated price for the materials to print 1 dozen t-shirts: P1,400

  • Silkscreen (Note: A silkscreen costs P1,000+, but they can be used up to thousand times depending on your care of them. You can change images as often as you need).
  • Emulsion (coating you put on a screen in order to place the image in the silkscreen)
  • Plastic tape
  • Ink
  • 1 dz plain T-shirt

Estimated cost price is P 116/shirt which you can sell for P150-175. Remember art work is a separate charge and is extra profit if you do the art work your self.

Silkscreen printing is not limited to just t-shirts. This process will work on many different items like Sweatshirts, Aprons, Tote Bags, Lunch Bags, Muscle Shirts, Mouse Pads, Jackets, Vinyl Binders, Tiles, Flags and Signs

For more info, check the following sites:

Training and Seminars:
TLRC
Silkscreen Printing P 4,169.00
Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. cor. Bautista St., Makati City
Tel: 7291508 7294447 6336726 and 6336733.

Silk Screen Supplies and Materials:

Bevan Supplies – GS EDSA Central Bldg. Mandaluyong City
Tel. No/s.: 631-3680

Screen Grafix Inc – Matrinco Bldg. Makati City
Tel. No/s.: 892-4298

Atlas Screen Printing Supplies – 290-B Shaw Blvd Mandaluyong City
Tel. No/s.: 531-6092

Screen Grafix Inc – 9032-C Angono Makati City
Tel. No/s.: 897-7007

Simcas Philippines – 5048 P Burgos Makati City
Tel. No/s.: 897-9105

Castle Multi Commercial Corp. – 798 Aurora Blvd Quezon City
Tel. No/s.: 724-2985

Printwork Sales, Inc. – 1022 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Brgy. Mariana. Quezon City
Tel. No/s: 727-8430, 722-9798


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Comments

77 Responses to “Silkscreen or Screen Printing Business”
  1. Van Owen says:

    I want to go into balloon silk screen printing & i don’t know what inks/paints to use & where to buy it. you may text me @ 09322147658 thanks.

  2. john erick ramos says:

    i want full instructions on how to use do t shirt printing using the green film and emulsion. pls. send to my mail

  3. stealth says:

    hello po, i’ve been started t-shirt printing since i was high school until now. pero, di ko pa rin alam kung ano ang gawin para ma preserved yong paint sa shirt.may topcoat paba na ilalagay?di ko pa rin po alam ang proseso para sa photographic procedures.pwede nyo po ba akong tulungan?

    more power
    stealth

    • gilbert sequitin says:

      hindi mo kailangan ang kahit anong preservatives o kaya kahit anong topcoat
      basta proper ang curing ng pintura(ink)and to be able to do that kailangan mo ng oven o dryer o kaya heat gun para matuyo ng maayos ang pintura

  4. zhaina says:

    hello po!Pls! need help how to silkscreen printing on ID lace, glass mug and other ceramic material..when u have training schedule for december po?

    do u provide po Cd tutorial if hindi makapunta sa seminars?need help from u to start small business. print on mug glasses, ceramic and ID lace..thank u!pls.reply to my email zepuan@yahoo.com

    • Leo says:

      @zhaina, we are publishing monthly schedules for all training centers a week before, just check this site from time to time.

  5. erika says:

    WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I COULD PURCHASE TSHIRTS PARTICULARLY SOFTEX AND YALEX OR ANY TSHIRT SUPPLIER..THANKS

  6. i am interesting in your business of printing t-shirt because i have talent wants to establish as my own printing shop or advertising

  7. kailan pa po ang libreng simenar ninyo this coming october 2009 para sa silkscreen processing and printing technics
    kasi po i’am 49 years old na kailangan kung matuto pa ng ibang technics about printing (t-shirt) marunong ako ng konti pero lito pa rin ako tell me naman kung kailan at saan? sir/ madam….thank u very much

  8. gerard says:

    mga tol…just want ask where can i buy materials used for heat transfer machines like flocs, foil and the likes… your help will be greatly appreciated. my contact no…09282576928

  9. sabile says:

    pano po ba malipat ung picture sa sik screen?ty po

  10. james says:

    guys I need help!!! do you know where to buy manual carousel screen printing machine or making one if there is!! im interested to buy just gve me some ideas if how much will it cost!!thanks email me the_watone@yahoo.com-

  11. kris cadenilla says:

    sir/ma’am,
    tatanong ko lang po kung anu anu ung mga ituturo sa seminars regarding tshitr printings, mga basic lang po ba? ano mga included sa seminar? salamat po.. interested po ako e..
    eto po pala contact ko…
    ako_si_dengot@yahoo.com

  12. Sally says:

    Pls!i need help & idea how to silk screen on ID LACE? if u can give me info send it my email skalayakan@yahoo.com…thank u so much!

  13. john says:

    hi, im looking for a slikscreen paint mixer …contact me at 2156394 or 09178599938

  14. jp says:

    We are conducting a feasibility Study on Silk Screen Tshirt printing to determine if it is really viable here in our community….i’ll be needing your help with regards to this study…cane you send me some information about this, what are the advantages and dis advantages of having such business like this…your help would be greatly appreciated… here’s my email add. cyber_jp2007@yahoo.com.ph or cyber_jp2008@yahoo.com, or text me 09056911304 thanks!

  15. jimboy m. odulio says:

    naghahanap po me ng printing company related sa t-shirt printing graduate po me ng vocational about that at may work experience na rin kung meron po pakitxt na lang me salamat…09169676845

    • anghel says:

      tol baka pwede mag tanong sayo about sa sceen printing nag start kasi ako ng bussines.. eh konti pa lang alam ko about screen priting

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  1. [...] Silkscreen Printing Lecture: computer/digital art preparation, photographic stencil making, finishing – curing and drying, pressing techniques. Hands-on: t-shirt, ceramics, decals, glass and metal printing. Bring #0.5 technical pen, ink and USB. [...]

  2. [...] Silkscreen Printing Lecture: basic, photographic and in-process silkscreen printing. Bring #0.5 technical pen and ink. [...]



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