Screen Printing Tips

Tips on Paint preparation for Screen Printing

1) Consider non toxic, Water-based fabric inks

Water-based fabric inks are odorless, easy to clean, and safe for kids. They are also environment-friendly.

A water-based ink is a type of ink that is made from water and a pigment or dye. It is a type of screen printing ink that can be used on fabric instead of paper. The water-based inks are more environmentally friendly than the solvent-based inks. They do not emit any odor and they are much easier to clean up when they spill on the floor.

2) Mix the paint well before applying

Achieving a good water based fabric ink is all about preparation. Mix the paint well before applying, and be sure to shake it to minimize bubbles before use as this will help with even results. The consistency of your paint will also be important, so you should make sure that it is not too thick or too runny. This will ensure that you get long lasting t-shirts with beautiful colors.

3) Use flooding technique after laying down the ink

The most important part about painting with a water-based fabric ink is to make sure that you have even coverage on your frame. To achieve this, use a squeegee to lay down the ink evenly on your frame.

This will also prevent ink to clog mesh and provide longer printing times.

4) Print quickly to prevent Ink drying on the mesh

Waiting without printing will result in paint drying hence clogging the mesh.

Do not leave the screen while ink is on for more than a minute.
Always wash with running water after each use. (if you have a pressure water sprayer,even better)

Tips on Screen Printing process

1) Make sure the frame and squeegee is clean

It is important to make sure that your frame and squeegee are clean before you begin.

You can use microfiber cloth or air blower to clean any dust from the mesh of the wooden screen printer.

If you've used water, please wait for squeegee and the frame to completely dry.

2) Prepare the printing surface

Whether you're printing a t-shirt or a tote bag, it's important to make sure the surface is clean of any loose threads or dust.

Ironing might help to flatten the surface if needed.

3) Mark the placement of your design

Before applying ink to the frame, you can mark the perfect placement for your garment and the frame on top of it. You can use masking tape, or just placing a small item to remember where to place the frame after applying ink to it.

4) Apply water-based fabric paint

After mixing the water-based fabric paint well, you can use any wooden stick to put a blob of paint on the mesh. Flooding technique is also important to mention. Spreading the ink evenly over the design before placing the frame on to the printing area is called Flooding technique in screen printing. This will ensure every detail of the design will transfer easily onto the printed surface.

5) Rinse and repeat

Wait as minimum as possible between printing each garment. Water-based prints can dry and clog the mesh pretty quickly.

After finishing each print run, clean the frame and the squeegee with running water. No need for soap or any chemicals.

Let it dry completely before using it again,
with different colors if you like.