here’s a special event coming up and Hank would like to provide everyone with a shirt to commemorate the evening. He could order shirts from a custom printer but they might look like any other shirts. On the other hand, Hank might want to print them himself so he can show off his artistic talents and skills. He bought the shirts and the ultimate sceenprinting kit and is ready to proceed, but wait. Hank is new to this and could make some major mistakes. Here are some of the most common problems new printers face and tips for dealing with them.
Choosing the Wrong Font
You would think fonts are not too important, but you could be very wrong. In fact, you should do a test print to make sure the font looks right. What looks great on paper may not look so good on fabric.
Low Resolution Image
If you are thinking of printing a photo image, use as high a resolution as you can. Even if you are using an ultimate screenprinting kit, the kit is only as good as your image. When you print images, some of the clarity is lost and you need high resolution photos for best results.
Smudges
Once you print something with a smudge, it is pretty much ruined. Spots can be caused by several things:
- Ink on the fingers or hands – make sure your hands are completely clean before starting.
- Tiny holes in the screen – inspect for holes before you print and repair them.
- Screen shifting during the process of printing – the screen must be completely secured or you could have ghost images as well as smudges.
Design Out of Alignment
It’s important to take proper measurements before you print. Otherwise your image could be slightly to one side or tilted. Be careful using garment seams as guidelines because not all seams are perfectly straight.
Too Much Ink
There are times when you may have more ink than you need and this can create all kinds of problems. This can occur if the squeegee is worn or if you used too much thinner in the ink. Also, you may be pressing down on your squeegee too hard.
Make it Easy on Yourself
Many common mistakes can be avoided if you take the time to learn as much as you can about screen printing. However, you may need more practice and buying a product like an ultimate screenprinting kit is a good way to learn the craft as you go.
