Your Position: Home - Packaging & Printing - A Checklist of Equipment & Supplies Needed to Start Screen Print Shop
Ready to start screen printing? It's a big jump, but it's so worth it. To build your shop, you will need to obtain some equipment and supplies. Our team of experts put together a handy check list of everything you should know about and consider for your future shop.
The screen printing market has an abundance of screen printing presses. All these presses have different features, abilities, and prices. You want to make sure you're getting the right press for your goals and/or your customers' needs. How do you even begin to choose?
First, you pick a trusted brand. If you're looking at a Riley Hopkins press, you're in the right place. With more than 30 years of experience in the printing press industry and a professional reputation to match, Riley Hopkins makes some of the highest quality and most economical screen print presses a person can buy. The beloved press line is known worldwide for having top-tier features, fast adjustment, and cutting edge looks.
If you're brand new to screen printing, consider starting off with the Riley Hopkins 150 Press. The 150 is a simple, high-quality press that'll help you master the craft. If you're planning on establishing your screen printing business, consider the Riley Hopkins 250 Press or the Riley Hopkins 300 Press.
Stark Screen Printing's flash dryer.
If you're planning on printing multicolor designs, you will need equipment to gel or flash the ink. A heat gun can work, but it's very difficult to maintain consistent heat across the whole print.
The best option for gelling ink is to use a flash dryer. A flash dryer provides even, consistent heat across the whole print. The most popular flash dryer new printers grab is the RyoFlash Dryer.
Rogue Lab uses a conveyor dryer to cure garments.
You'll definitely need equipment to cure garments (don't want the prints to wash out). Many new printers use their flash dryer to cure garments. It works well for people learning the craft while saving some cash. If you use a flash to cure garments, take note on different variables like the temperature of room (pay attention in winter and height of summer, weather can shift conditions outside parameter, how long it takes to warm up platens); the type of t-shirt material; the kind of flash, the type of platen; and the temperature of ink, shirt, and platen. These variables will affect how long you will need to flash the garment to reach proper cure.
Printers could also use a heat press for curing. A heat press is more reliable than a flash dryer because it provides a stable heat source. It will share a readout of any temperature fluctuation while you're using it. A heat press is essentially a conveyor dryer without the conveyor belt. If you're already decorating with vinyl, a heat press will be an excellent, multi-use tool for you.
Best case scenario is to invest in a conveyor dryer. Conveyor dryers run multiple shirts through at a time which helps speed up production. You will need to adjust the speed of the belt and heat accordingly to the garment and the ink you are using. It may not be plausible to purchase one now, but it could be a good goal to have for the future.
LED exposure is the new standard for exposure units.
The exposure unit, is a very, very important piece of the darkroom. Needed to burn the images onto screens, the quality of the exposure unit matters. Some may start out with a bulb, while others get the X1620 LED Exposure Unit. If you're able to chip in a bit more money, invest in a LED exposure unit like the X2536 LED Exposure Unit. LED units are a game changer because a) they last WAY longer compared to UV bulbs, b) use WAY less energy, saving you money and c) produce an optimal wavelength so the stencils are even sharper. It's worth the investment.
Pro Tip: Wherever you burn screens, make sure it's light-safe!
If investing in an exposure unit is not doable for you right now, some businesses offer to burn screens for you, like NorCal Screen Printing and Supplies.
Symmetree cleans screens in a washout booth.
To rinse out freshly burned screens or reclaim old screens, you're going to need a space to accomplish those tasks. The most optimal way to clean screens is in a washout booth.
For some, getting a washout booth right out the gate is not in the cards. You could use a tub or laundry room sink as a washout booth, but you'll need to be careful about what goes down the drain. Inks and emulsion cannot go down the drain because it can lead to clogging the pipes. Place some sort of trap on the train to catch the waste. You need to consider the chemicals going down the drain as well because some are hazardous. Use Sgreen® chemicals, you won't have to worry about it because they are eco-friendly. If you're using your backyard as a washout booth, grab a black garbage bag and a spray bottle. After you expose a screen, spray both sides of the screen, place it in the plastic bag, and bring it outside to your hose or power washer (if you have a power washer, do not have it set higher than 1600 psi). As soon as you take it out of the bag, immediately spray the screen.
Symmetree checking out the printed film.
To make stencils, you're going to need a film printer. Many types of film output printers exist. The most common is an inkjet printer. Inkjet film has one side that's coated, and one side that isn't coated. The coating is important because it holds onto the ink from the printer. The coating also helps maintain the density and shape of the image.
When you print on film, the printer is using one of two inks. The ink could be UV-blocking (Epson printers use this ink) or it's a dye ink that's meant to completely stop all light. ScreenPrinting.com sells the Epson T3270 printer with UV-blocking ink and it works wonderfully with high-detailed prints or halftones.
Asking a local print shop to print film positives for you is definitely an option if you do not have the funds for a film printer at the moment. Ask around to see if shops would provide that service and how much it would cost.
You will need a few programs to create the art and print it off properly. For creating art, screen printing experts suggest to use Adobe® Illustrator or Photoshop. If you have a graphic design background and know how to draw, consider drawing the design first in Procreate and then bring it over to Illustrator to make it print-ready.
Printing with halftones? A separation software like ImagePrint R.E.D. will help you separate artwork and set it up for the perfect print. Check out this course to learn how to use the software.
For printing films, you'll need software as well. There are many versatile programs to choose from. Make sure you use one that works well in your shop.
Alright, screen printing screens and frames are pretty important in screen printing. Screens have various mesh counts, which are used for different applications. What is mesh count? Well, mesh count is a measure of how many threads of polyester cross each other per square inch in the screen. For example, a 110 mesh screen would have 110 threads crossing per square inch. The higher the mesh count, the finer the holes are in the screen.
Here's a generic summary of the uses for most mesh sizes:
110 — great for polyester inks, white on black prints, block text, white base, and large spot color designs
156 — the jack-of-all-trades for screens, many jobs can be done with this mesh count
200 — best for semi-detailed prints or water-based inks
230 — great for high detail and finer lines
280 — larger halftones and ultra-fine detail
305 — CMYK, simulated process, halftones, ultra-fine detail
Don't forget about thin thread vs. standard thread, white vs. yellow screens, wood vs. aluminum, etc. It's a lot to learn, so take it one step at a time, but keep it on your radar.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MESH COUNTS
Salt & Pine Co. prints with FN-INK™ in her shop. Photo by Life Unframed Photography.
The two most common screen printing inks are plastisol and water-based. Plastisol inks are the most uncomplicated way to start screen printing because they are easier to print, do not dry in the screen, cure painlessly, and are vibrant and opaque. Water-based inks are good if you'd like a softer feel, but the ink will dry in the screen and it's much more difficult to reach proper cure.
Baselayr Complete Emulsion is perfect for capturing fine detail.
Suggested reading:Emulsion, the liquid that you coat screens with, comes in two variants — diazo and presensitized.
Presensitized emulsion is highly sensitive, exposes quicker, has a longer self-life and, captures fine detail beautifully. The downside of this kind is that it is VERY sensitive. In fact, it is so sensitive that daylight on a cloudy day would start to expose your image. If you wash the screens out outside, the emulsion would overexpose even the stencil. It's not for beginners.
Diazo (mixed) emulsion such as BaseLayr Long Lasting Emulsion or Chromaline CP Tex Water-Resistant Photopolymer Emulsion, requires the addition of a Diazo powder before printing. This must be mixed into the the entire base prior to opening and printing for the first time, and is often referred to as “sensitizing” the emulsion. The diazo-mixed emulsion takes longer to expose but is more forgiving. The 10% window of error also applies to diazo-mixed emulsions. Since it takes longer to expose diazo emulsions, your window of error is larger. Say you expose a screen for 10 minutes, you could go over or under by a minute.
Other factors like ink, type of exposure unit, and lighting in washout area will also affect which emulsion you use.
Stark Screen Printing has the whole line of Sgreen® chemicals.
Yup, there's more. You're going to need a scoop coater, screen tape, ink spatula or scoop, platen adhesive, digital non-contact laser thermometer, squeegees, platen tape, and scrub brushes.
Don't forget about the cleaning chemicals! First off, go with Sgreen® chemicals. The line is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and non-hazardous. They're safer for you, the screens, the plumbing, and the environment. Which chemicals do you need? Supreme Wash should be in every shop. It cleans up anything and everything. Cleaning off water-based inks will require Aqua Wash. For cleaning up plastisol inks, use the Ink Degrader. To reclaim screens, you're going to need the Emulsion Stripper to remove the emulsion and Stuff to degrease and dehaze the screens.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Me too. Luckily, shop packages exist that will contain everything you need to get started. No need to pick and choose, just select which package would be right for you and your business. Check out the different manual kits offered on ScreenPrinting.com.
That's everything you need to get started! Check out our blogs, videos, and free courses to get answers to all your questions, from cleaning ink to separating designs in Adobe® Illustrator. Happy printing!
Create promotional products that are tailored exactly to your brand and pay attention to the smallest detail. Our custom printing options let you create special print projects or personalized gifts by expanding your choices and giving you extra flexibility. From folded business cards to custom pens, the creative opportunities are endless.We don’t limit the size and specs of your product. You are free to mix, match, and combine materials and finishes with other special features.
Specify your product’s width and height from the wide range of measurement on our online calculator. Both width and height start at 2” and are listed in increments of 0.25”.
is at 26”
Maximum height is at 18"
We assure high-quality with every small or large order. Our free PDF proof option lets you approve or make changes to the file before printing. This ensures that all details are correct as soon as it becomes press-ready.
A polished product is sure to make an impactful first impression on any customer.
Prime Paper Stock
is our lightest paper that comes with a writable surface.
has the same weight and feel as standard copy paper, providing both flexibility and durability.
is the thickest paper stock available. Its substantial weight and feel does not hinder it from being easy to distribute and carry around.
From Lightweight to Durable Cardstock
is the lightest cardstock material available; ideal for double-sided printing and indoor or outdoor displays.
is a good choice for thick, durable products such as business cards and postcards.
is our thickest option, best suited for marketing materials targeting high-end clients or for materials promoting luxury brands.
Showcase the uniqueness of your design and highlight its distinct details with coatings applied on one or both sides.
Gloss
Matte
High gloss UV
The Uncoated Option
Add a feature that will distinguish even the smallest parts of the entire design.
separates and organizes different content sections into 2, 3, or 4 panels for easy reading. Choices range from double gate folding, half folding, to French fold and tri-folding. Folding options are explained in detail
here
.
adds indented ridges that serve as a guide for folding 2-, 3-, or 4-panel products.
Paper stocks are not scored. Cardstocks come scored if they are ordered with folding.
For flat products, the customer can add scoring, but they will be shipped as unfolded and require manual folding.
give your entire design a sleek, memorable edge that measures ¼” in radius. Usually added to business cards or hang tags.
adds a hole punched in your product to attach a string or lanyard. Customize the hole according to size and a preferred location.
adds a tear-off portion to your design. It gives your flyer , brochure, or card a functional section for customers, such as a discount coupon or order form.
provides additional protection through a wafer seal that encloses the edges of a flat, unfolded paper. It is recommended for large projects sent through direct mail such as brochures and booklets.
organizes your order into individual quantities or sets. It allows for easy counting for large quantity orders and provides additional protection to your order.
Each order is processed within your preferred number of business days. Many products can be ready for shipping on the same business day. For more information, give us a call and our print experts will be happy to help you create something fantastic from our custom printing services.
for business cards
for postcards
The printing turnaround times indicate how long it takes to produce your order. Selecting a same-day printing turnaround ensures that the order is ready within that date. If you add hole drilling, rounded corners, and shrink wrapping, 1 business day is the shortest turnaround time available. Detailed information on our printing turnaround times can be found here. If you decide to add rounded corners, then the product can’t have folding or scoring. If you require folding or scoring, then you will have to select these and forego rounded corners.Customers tend to select the following measurements for the following products:
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