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:
- Very Basic Instruction
- How to Expose Photo Emulsion for Silk Screen Printing
- How to Print a Single-Color Silk Screen
- How to Build a Printing Unit for Silk-Screening
- Learn how to silkscreen
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
2009 · All Rights Reversed ·
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.
i want full instructions on how to use do t shirt printing using the green film and emulsion. pls. send to my mail
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
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
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
@zhaina, we are publishing monthly schedules for all training centers a week before, just check this site from time to time.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I COULD PURCHASE TSHIRTS PARTICULARLY SOFTEX AND YALEX OR ANY TSHIRT SUPPLIER..THANKS
@erika, the best and cheapest source is in divisoria.
i am interesting in your business of printing t-shirt because i have talent wants to establish as my own printing shop or advertising
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
@cesar lagunay, ipo post ko po agad ang schedule dito kung available na.
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
@gerard, check mo dito:
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/classifieds+directory/q/heat+transfer+machine
CMYK po ang technique na yan. We can help you
For printing equipments and consumables, just call us 3832471 / 7251371
pano po ba malipat ung picture sa sik screen?ty po
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-
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
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!
hi, im looking for a slikscreen paint mixer …contact me at 2156394 or 09178599938
@john, yes, check the schedule here:
http://www.mixph.com/2009/07/nego-skwela-training-schedule-jul-aug-2009.html
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!
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
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