Stencils makes it easy to design T-shirts for those who are not gifted artists.
Silk screen printing offers an inexpensive method for printing T-shirts. The world's love affair with colorfully designed T-shirts to commemorate every occasion has only been elevated by the emergence of screen printing as a popular artistic medium. There are several techniques used for silkscreen art including the paper stencil method, photographic emulsion method, and screen filler method. The ink selected should also be carefully considered as it affects the T-shirt's desirability and artistic flair.
Basic Paper Stencil Technique
For beginners, the paper stencil method offers a method for getting started quickly without a big fuss or learning curve. It is not only fast, it is an inexpensive method for getting the screen ready for printing. Patterns can be cut from paper. It is important to remember that while paper stencils are easy to use, they limit your design choices as they work best with simple design patterns. If speed is important, then using a paper stencil is a great alternative for printing a T-shirt.
Photographic Emulsion Method
An exciting method allowing T-shirt designers design flexibility and the ability to highlight detailed graphics is the photographic emulsion method. To begin, you simply take a photograph of the artwork, then have a film positive made of it at a print shop. Next you squeegee a screen filler onto the silkscreen, letting it dry. By taping the film positive artwork onto the screen and placing it under ultraviolet light, the image is burned onto the screen. Additional screens must be made for each color.
Screen Filler Method Method
When preparing a screen with this method you first have to draw, trace or print the image of choice on a piece of paper. Next you place the image on a flat surface under the screen, careful to line up the screen so it is against the paper. This allows you to trace the image on the screen. Then you outline the pencil sketch with drawing fluid, applying it sparingly with a brush to get the screen wet, without soaking it. Next the screen filler is applied with the squeegee outside the drawing or image and spread across the rest of the screen. The filler must dry completely.
Ink and Special Effects
The ink used makes an enormous difference in the final result of any T-shirt. One popular ink used to create a 3D look is puff ink. And if your customer wants to be seen at night in his T-shirt, you can use glow-in-the-dark ink. Other choices include suede ink that looks like suede, gel ink for a 3D wet appearance, and metallic ink for a glitzy design. It is critical to remember certain inks require special care when washing and this information should be passed along to the customer.
