Philadelphia Screen Printers: How We Do T-Shirt Printing In NJ

Would you like to have Screen Printing Hoodies or a t-shirt of your favorite character? With Live Screen Printing, that is possible! Get your T-Shirt Printing in NJ by Philadelphia Screen Printers today!

Live Screen Printing is believed to have thousands of years of history. Although there is no exact data on its origin, according to a legend, women’s hair was intertwined in ancient China, and drawings were made on paper that was then lacquered. Its name comes from the change of paper for silk: sericum means “silk” in Latin and graphe means “write” in Greek.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need any unique screen printing machine for Live Screen Printing. This manual screen printing in Philadelphia is atechnique that will allow you to personalize your clothes in simple steps and with accessible materials.

What materials are used for t-shirt printing in NJ?

Hoodie Screen Printing or custom t-shirt printing involves transferring ink through a screen printing mesh stretched on a frame that rests on the surface to be printed.

Live Screen Printing is versatile and can be adapted to different surfaces if you choose the correct ink. It is possible to print with screen printing on all the surfaces you can imagine: Screen Printing Hoodies, T-Shirt Printing, textiles, cups, caps, posters, ceramics, paper, cardboard, decals, etc. Even some soccer ball designs are printed with this technique.

The mesh only allows the paint to pass through the areas where the color transfer is necessary and blocks the spaces where it should not be stamped. The most relevant advantage offered by this printing technique is its low cost: the design you put on the screen printing mesh can be printed several times without losing its quality.

If we have already convinced you to make your first impression, we will tell you what materials cannot be missing from your work table so that your screen printing designs come to life.

To make your custom t-shirts in Philadelphia, we need the following:

• Cuter
• Contact Paper
• Paper Sheet
• Frame 
• Fine Mesh
• Damp Cloth
• Water-Based Screen Printing Inks
• Industrial Stapler
• Handle Or Spatula
• Headband
• Hairdryer
• Scissor

What type of fabric or mesh is used for Screen Printing? And how to assemble the frame?

First, choose the screen printing mesh you will use to assemble your frame. They are purchased in specialized stores.

The meshes are marketed according to their number of threads: a mesh of 190 threads means that 190 threads cross each other per inch. The more threads you have, the smaller the holes and the more definition your print will have because the ink deposits will be thinner. While an open mesh allows more ink to pass through, the definition of the design will be less.

If your design has a lot of details, you will need a mesh with more threads, more closed—for example, 90 or 120 threads. On the contrary, a 61-thread mesh will be fine if your design is simple.

To build your frame, you will only need a wooden frame (which you can make with four slats) or metal and the chosen mesh that must be stretched and adhered perfectly to the frame, but don’t get impatient. We’ll see about that. 

What are the types of screen printing inks?

You must know the composition and operation of each screen printing ink to know which one best suits your project according to the type of surface you want to print.

The most used screen printing inks are three:

1. Water-based: they are naturally absorbed by fabrics and dry at a relatively low temperature, making them the best choice for cotton, cardboard, and paper clothing. However, in humid or cold places, the help of a heat press may be necessary. You can dry your Custom T-Shirts directly in the sun’s rays. 

• Plastisol: Offers a smooth and embossed finish that looks like plastic. They adhere to the surface layer but do not penetrate the garment. It needs a temperature greater than 150C to finish adhering to the fabric. For this, a screen printing oven or a heat press is used. It has high resistance to friction, and its use is exclusive to Live Screen Printing.  The difference between these two types of inks is that the plastisol comes ready to use, while water-based inks are prepared. You must mix the pigment with the base for light or dark-colored garments, respectively. In any case, both screen printing inks are ideal for printing cotton fabric.

• Solvent-based: they are the most resistant to inclement weather as they penetrate the outermost layer, which makes them perfect for printing on firm and hard surfaces: such as paper, cardboard, metal, ceramics, and wood, and also for glass if it has a suitable thickness. It is the only type that cannot be used in textile screen printing or on delicate surfaces. The colors you choose determine the impact of your design. 

Get in touch with Marlton NJ Screen Printing for more.