ScreenprintingOnFabric

Screenprinting on Fabric

Summary

Preparation

1. Choose suitable fabric
2. Prepare a screen and stencil
3. Check that the fabric or item is suitable for printing (flat, absorbent)
4. Prepare a screen and stencil
5. Clamp the screen into the printing frame using the hinge clamps
6. If printing an item with multiple layers such as a bag or t-shirt, ensure that the ink does not print through to the back layer using a platen. For larger items such as large/adult t-shirts, the print bed can be flipped over and the built-in platen used. For smaller items such as shopping bags or small t-shirts, use the small portable platen or a piece of cardboard or board cut to size.
7. Ensure the screen has suitable snap / off-contact for the thickness of this paper/item. To test this press down gently on the centre of the screen. It should depress around 3mm and spring back. Use acrylic pieces (in the small drawer unit) under the edge of screen nearest you to increase the height. If printing on a thick item or using the small platen, also insert acrylic pieces between the underside of the screen inside the clamps.
8. Select ready-mixed fabric-printing ink or mix ink using pigment and fabric print medium

Printing session

9. Prepare some pieces of test paper (of similar size to your design)
10. Clear space in drying rack
11. Select D or V-profile squeegee which is the smallest which is wider than your design
12. Print on paper or items
13. Wash screen, equipment and hands
14. Log activity and pay for any Makespace materials by items x print size

Finishing session

15. After items are dry, heat-fix with iron or heatpress