Screen printing is a cost effective solution and is great for large and small artwork sizes. Screen printing is a versatile and highly durable choice, and can be added to a wide range of garments including t-shirts, bags, hats and other promotional products.
Screen printing machines, also known as silk screen printing machines, are used in many industries to apply ink onto various surfaces, including fabrics, paper, plastic, glass, and more. The process involves using a mesh screen with a stencil to transfer ink onto the desired material.
The first step in screen printing your design onto one of our various garments is having our in house design team prepare the design in consultation with you. The design is then printed or transferred onto a transparent film or a light sensitive emulsion coated screen. A mesh screen is then coated with a light sensitive emulsion and left to dry in a dark environment. The film with the design is placed on top of the screen and exposed to UV light. The light hardens the emulsion, except in the areas where the design blocks the light.
The prepared screen is mounted onto the screen printing machine, and adjustments are made to ensure proper alignment. The screen printing machine has a squeegee or a rubber blade attached to a moving arm. The arm is positioned above the screen, and ink is poured onto the screen at one end. The squeegee is then moved across the screen, applying pressure and forcing the ink through the open areas of the stencil onto the material below. The mesh of the screen allows the ink to pass through only in the desired areas, creating the design. This process is repeated for each colour or layer of the design. If multiple colors are involved, different screens with corresponding stencils are used, and the material is aligned accurately to ensure proper registration of the colors. The printed material then needs to be dried and cured. The curing process ensures that the ink adheres permanently to the material and becomes durable and resistant to washing or fading.
At One Sport, screen printing may be used for printing team names or individual names and numbers onto sports apparel, or company names onto promotional items, or tradies workwear. Screen printing is chosen due to its versatility, durability, and ability to create vibrant and opaque prints.