Screen printing may seem like an easy process to do, but the truth is that there are plenty of mistakes that can be made when printing, even if you are experienced in this field. You can avoid making these mistakes by following the steps below when screen printing. These tips will help ensure that your screen prints come out as well as possible, making them look great in your store or on your website, and encourage customers to buy more of them!
Tips for buying high-quality equipment
You can use store-bought frames if you want, but unless you plan on framing your art professionally, there's no reason not to buy high-quality, heavy-duty frames. They're going to last longer and look better on your wall, so I always recommend investing in them. Whether you're looking for a cheap DIY project or a beautiful piece of wall art that tells your friends and family what matters most in life, it's worth it to invest in a screen-printing frame. This will ensure that everything from prepping your design files, printing out multiple copies, and selecting photo paper goes smoothly. Frame screen printing is a fun activity for kids and adults alike!
Tips for setting up your space
The first tip is probably obvious, but it bears repeating. Choose a safe, well-ventilated area. You don't want to be breathing in harmful chemicals or fumes while screen printing. Also, be sure you have enough space for your setup. If you plan on doing large prints with lots of colors, having plenty of room will make things much more manageable. For example, if you plan on using squeegees to push ink through your screens, having an extra hand will make things go much more smoothly and quickly.
Another thing to consider is how big your final prints are going to be—will they fit in a standard frame? If not, do you have access to a professional framer? It can be helpful (and cost-effective) if they do some work for you. Of course, none of these tips are hard and fast rules—use them as guidelines and adapt them as needed!
Tips for avoiding common mistakes
Be sure that your screen is entirely level and even. Use a damp sponge to wipe your screen, making sure there are no bubbles or wrinkles. Make sure that you're pressing down on the squeegee evenly and with enough force. When applying ink, never rush through it—you need to make sure you're distributing it evenly across your screen without missing any spots. Otherwise, you'll have a blotchy print when you pull up your t-shirt. Finally, never reuse old shirts for printing; they will invariably have some random dirt that can ruin a good print job. If you follow these steps, you should be able to produce perfectly printed frames every time!
Additional tips that have worked well for others
Experiment with different ink and screen combinations. Use what works best for you, but don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. This can take time and may result in a lot of wasted ink or screens (or both), but it's worth it. Experimenting is part of getting better at your craft. You might have to break some rules or standards from time to time, but that's OK. It's up to you as an artist (not someone else) to determine what works best for you when creating your art. Think outside of the box and make sure you're not stuck doing something because that's how it's always been done. Sometimes doing something differently means breaking tradition—and that's OK! Don't let fear stop you from trying something new; instead, use fear as motivation to get out there and try something different than what everyone else is doing. There are no real wrong answers when it comes to screen printing—only answers that work for YOU! Have fun with it!
