Custom Screen Printing

Precision Imprint utilizes genuine screen printing. Screen printing, also known as silk screening, is the process of pushing specialized ink through a mesh screen to print custom artwork or logos onto apparel & accessories.

We think it is beneficial for our customers to have a basic understanding of the screen printing process and the time and attention that is given to each custom order. Below, we will take you through the steps utilized when creating your custom screen-printed apparel and accessories at Precision Imprint.

Step 1: Artwork

IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU ! Your artwork (See our submission guidelines for art) or design concept is sent to our in-house art department, where one of our talented artists will prepare it for screen printing and create a virtual proof. This proof is not an actual sample, but a computer generated image that portrays the finished product as accurately as possible. Once created, the virtual proof is sent to you, via email, for approval. During the proofing process you can make changes to your artwork. Want to change the color of the print or the font used, no problem! Just let the artist know. Your art will remain in the art department until you are completely satisfied with the final design. Nothing is ever printed without customer approval.

Once your artwork has been finalized and approved for printing, the artist creates printouts on vellum that are used to make the screens. If your design has more than one color, the artist will separate the design and print a vellum sheet for each color, so a separate screen can be created for each.

Step 2: Screen Preparation And Exposure

Your artwork is then sent to our set-up area where it is registered and checked for quality. Once it passes inspection, it's ready to go on a screen.

We use a variety of screens at Precision Imprint. The type of screen we use is dependant on the type of job being printed. There are different sizes of mesh used in screen printing. The appropriate mesh is determined by the detail in the artwork to be printed. When more fine detail is present in custom art a higher mesh count is required.
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After the proper screen is chosen, it must be coated with a photosensitive emulsion and placed in a drying cabinet. Once the emulsion has dried, the color separated vellum printouts are taped to screens. Each screen is then placed on to the exposure table where ultraviolet light will expose the emulsion that is not being blocked by the art on the vellum. The screens are then transferred to the wash out tub, where they are sprayed with pressurized water. The emulsion that was not exposed will wash out, creating your art on the screen. Each screen is then checked against the original art files for accuracy.

Step 3: Screen Printing

After the screen(s) is dry, it must be blocked, taped and set up before printing can begin. The border of the screen is taped off and any pinholes are filled so that ink does not escape through them. This process must be repeated on all screens.
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The screen is then placed in to the press, aligned and fastened in place. To ensure multi-color designs will print correctly, each screen is placed on the press and aligned with the others. Multi color alignment is achieved with registration marks and an eagle eye.

After alignment is completed, the chosen ink color is spread along the base of the screen. The screen printer then loads the garment on to the platen. A platen is like a little shelf designed to hold the garment in place during the printing process. The screen is positioned over the platen (or on larger automatic presses, the platen moves into position under the screen). Before ink can be applied to the garment the screen is flooded, or coated with a thin layer of ink.
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The screen is then lowered (on automatic presses the platen raises to meet the screen) and a squeegee is pulled across, pushing the ink through to the garment below. Presses are designed so that the screen remains in alignment with the platen, so if the design is multi-color the garment remains on the platen and the next screen is used to apply another color. This process is repeated for every color in the design. After all colors in the design have been applied, the garment is removed from the platen and placed on a belt that runs under a dryer. Once the garment passes through the dryer and the ink is cured it is inspected to ensure accuracy. If the garment needs another location printed, the process is repeated.