What is Screen Printing and How Does it Work?

Screen printing is a classic and widely recognized method for creating custom prints, particularly on t-shirts. It involves separating each color in a design and preparing individual fine-mesh screens for each one. Ink is then pressed through these screens onto the surface of the shirt, bringing the design to life. This technique is often chosen by teams, organizations, and businesses due to its cost-effectiveness for large-scale orders of custom apparel.

To get started, the colors in your logo or design are separated using specialized graphic software. Next, a mesh stencil—or "screen"—is created for each color. It's important to note that the more colors in a design, the higher the cost, as each color requires its own screen. To make the stencils, the screens are coated with an emulsion and allowed to dry before the design is "burned" into them using bright light. Once the screens are ready, they act as precise stencils for transferring ink onto the product, creating the final printed design.