learn to screen print

My brother is a painter…mostly acrylic on canvas. I want to use some of his designs to screen print on shirts, bags, coasters, napkins, etc.

I have no idea where to start. His artwork is all original and amazing.

If anyone has ideas on how to get started in this business I am open.

Thank you.

to screenprint. I will tell you that you can learn how to do this in two hours. I took a workshop at Etsylabs in Brooklyn, but I’m willing to bet most any screen printing shop has more business than they can handle and would be willing to show you how to do it for a few hours free labor. You can also buy a kit with a dvd at Pearl Paint, with a lot of different colors of ink and a variety of tools.

So far we have completed two orders. We did canvas tote bags which were easy, we also printed vinyl lunch bags which were a bit trickier. We have other people really interested in ordering shirts from us, so we’ll have to see how all that works out. I really enjoy printing. I think I will stick with this, slowly build the business, and when I retire I will do it to supplement my retirement income. Currently we are looking to buy a multi-color press, and some other equipment to help us be more efficient.

so i found this website and it said speedball ink works well if your screen printing the cheap way. wouldn’t that wash out of clothing? whats another ink i can use?

Hi all, I just ‘tripped’ into this sight. Cool. Looks like lots of you want to screen print! I have done every kind of SP and I enjoy tees (apparel) the best. This is NOT a sales ad…I’m just saying that I have proven my interest even more by inventing a really accurate screen/color alignment component. If you want to do white(or light inks on dark, like black tees)images or multi-color images with the best quality…it is a must. I SO understand people who want to print and either get faced with too big and expensive equipment, or the little stuff that cost less and yet is not capable of much. I have built and sold personally, over 1,250 screen printing presses that sit on your kitchen countertop and use your electic oven. Of course there is more to it than that, and so I marry my simple/small but REALLY accurate printing equipment with the seasoned knowledge I have from many years in every phase of screen printing. Screen printing is so fun that I will likely never stop doing it. Already have the squeegee picked out that I want to be buried with!!!! Please go see my YouTube videos. There are lots of basic ‘same old same old’ vids there(with due respect)...I go into some things they don’t tell you about! At least it will open your eyes to what can really be done better than it is otherwise being taught. I feel like if you really like something and are very good at it the natural progression is to IMPROVE IT in at least one way. I have. Search: Raven Prints’A better way to screen print..’ If you do not see them for any reason you can access all of them via my YouTube channel which is: Raven Prints.
have fun, whichever way you do your tees! I was a silversmith for years, even before I graduated HS; professional afterward. In HS art class we had to design an image and screen print it. I was one of the students whose finished result SUCKED! I WISH I could forget that teeshirt!!! WHO KNEW that I would end up being a pro screener, with more knowledge; versatility and experience than most in the field!? I do other stuff too…but I know so much about SP that I always keep my equipment available for others to see, or get if they want. Never any push. I remember missing a great opportunity not long after I got into screen printing to be in business with the BEST artist I have ever known. His art skills and my print skills would have done very well for us. But we could not afford the equipment!!! I remembered that every time I sold/sell a press and/or taught/teach someone else how to print RIGHT. Screen printing is very, very cool. I do my part to make it easier; much less costly; and backed with true skill and experience than most can. This is not ‘spam’. In fact, I have purposely downsized what I offer and how many I make(and so profits) so I can have more time for printing! But I am here for those who do want what I offer. I meet people who think they will be ‘four color screen printers’ as soon as they get equipment out of the box(No!)...and people who are afraid to do more than one color images. So MY focus(with either type of person)is to lead them in the best ways of learning and doing the process so that they will not have the illusion that it is ‘easy’ or ‘hard’. It is a process and the fun/profits YOU have will be a direct result of the practicality you approach it with and the practice; attention you give to it. I have had easy/fun print jobs and real pain in the a** jobs/days in this field. It made me learn or invent what I needed to to make it MORE fun. NO real screen printer or shop will tell you that it is often easy. Each process requires specific skills. If you don’t prepare a screen right…you wont get a great print. If you don’t know inks; squeegee techniques etc you won’t get a good print. The easy stuff is the easy stuff, and it sells a lot of equipment to dreamy people will not soon(or ever)do much beyond that with. What is YOUR goal? I just figure that it should not cost people an arm and a leg to do WHATEVER they want to do in SP. Like putting a few cents worth of Ink on a ’$2.00’ tee shirt!!! My own creativity and motivation has worked very well for me/my printing and so that is why I am glad to tell/show others. Have a good one!

Lee / RavenPrints

We ordered an actual screen printing kit that comes with everything you need to get started from the press to the ink. I am excited about getting started but first we have to clean out a place in the basement to set it up.

I learnt in my textiles lessons and I used it in my GCSE coursework… it looks so cool

I can only do the basic tho
design stencil, transfer it onto viynll using CAD CAM + print onto fabric

I finally got around to formatting some of my designs so they will be printable. Now I just have to fork over some cash and actually buy the supplies (minor detail).

This past weekend I went to the Bay Area’s Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA. I sat in on a screen printing demo that was really well done. I even got to pull my first print and keep it. If you follow the link below, there is a great online demo that is like the one I saw at the Maker Faire.

Check it:
http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/craft_podcast

I always wanted to learn how to screen print, and I was doing some research on it when I came across an article explaining how to do it using inexpensive materials. I tried it and It works pretty well there are limitations to this technique but for now it suits me just fine. Eventually I would like to buy some equipment and make shirts to sell, but for now I am just having fun. here is the site where I learned the technique I am using, http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/3674467.html