Hi,
First, this is gonna be long, but please bear with me and THANK YOU for your time.
So, I've never screen printed a shirt before, but I'm a graphic designer and have a sudden prototype deadline for a client THIS SUNDAY (3 days from now!). I bought the Speedball "Fabric screen printing kit", which I'm assuming isn't the best quality but I hope it'll do.
Here's the situation: I'm currently working in the middle of nowhere, where there are no art stores (except for michaels--but really now), that carry screen printing supplies. I have a 10x14" screen, an just a bit of the diazo emulsion (Box says 4oz, but the bottle (which is scratched and hard to read) seems to say .3oz???); I think I may only have one shot to try this, esp since I don't have a scoop coater. Also, the design to be printed is entirely typographical. Like, straight paragraphs, I'm telling you. And the last factor is the heat: there's a heat surge in this area right now (102 F) and will keep up around 100degrees until Sunday. From what I understand, heat also "exposes" the emulsion?, so I'm scared it may harden while I'm still just trying to dry the coated screen. I do have electric fans, however. For exposing the print, I have a 150watt clear incandescent bulb in one of those metal dome things, and I plan on laser printing the design onto like, 3 transparencies and layering them. I also have glass to lay on top for exposing it.
So my main concern is developing the screen, since it seems I only have one shot, and ITS HOT UP IN HERE. I understand registration will be difficult with the design, and things like layering the transparancies of so much type will smudge the crispness. Also, little bits and holes may fall out of the letters when I'm trying to rinse out the screen, but it doesn't have to be perfect, just LEGIBLE. I am good with my hands, and have experience making a bunch of packaging prototypes, so I hope it'll do for now.
So I guess I'm asking the pros here, what would you do under these circumstances (and breaking it down for a dummy; like, suggested exposure times and distance)? And WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDED MINIMUM THICKNESS OF THE LINES IN THE ARTWORK, GIVEN THE LIMITED RESOURCES I HAVE? I can tweak the font size, I'm using Avenir for now in 10pt, which is pretty bulky sans serif, but I'll change it (and even delete some to make text bigger, God forbid) if anyone has suggestions. It's only a prototype, so it doesn't have to be immaculate, but must be LEGIBLE for my client's client on Sunday.
Thank you so so much for just reading. If you can help, it is GREATLY, UTTERLY appreciated. I have faith I'll make the deadline with your help.
Re: Please help the Newb: Screen Printing Small Type
Probably a little late now, this being Sunday, but if you've gained any extra time to make the prototype, take lost1's advice, but if you can't find a DTG printer, take your screen and art to a screenprinter and see if they'll coat and process the stencil for you. Pushing ink through the mesh is the least of your problems, as you've probably already found out. There are so many variables in just coating, drying, exposing and washing out the stencil that you're more likely to run out of material from a small kit like that before hitting on the right combination. Also, the 10 point type might be a problem, depending on the mesh count of the screen that came with the kit.
Re: Please help the Newb: Screen Printing Small Type
thank you guys for helping. This was my first post, and I'm so glad people actually respond to each other on here ...Anyway, I actually pulled it off! (LOL i am sooo tired. hahaha). It hurt, but I cut out alot of the body type, but I think the message still feels clear. So I ended up with about 23pt Avenir, Black format, with generous leading. Came out more beautiful than I thought it would!! yay im so happy... But going through the whole thing of cleaning off the emulsion and doing it over and over for different stencils was intense. Can anyone tell me why the emulsion is hardest to rinse out right at the center of the screen? My lamp is DIRECTLY above the screen during exposure, so I guess directly under the bulb is where there's problems..is light getting behind the positive or something...
Also, does anyone know a good place to purchase (or ways to make) frames and 110 mesh by the yard, online? I kinda just want to make permanent screens of all the images I need, just in case I need to make more prototypes. PLEASE GOD, NO MORE MICHAELS KITS
Please help the Newb: Screen Printing Small Type 
...Anyway, I actually pulled it off! (LOL 
i am sooo tired. hahaha). It hurt, but I cut out alot of the body type, but I think the message still feels clear. So I ended up with about 23pt Avenir, Black format, with generous leading. Came out more beautiful than I thought it would!! yay im so happy... But going through the whole thing of cleaning off the emulsion and doing it over and over for different stencils was intense. Can anyone tell me why the emulsion is hardest to rinse out right at the center of the screen? My lamp is DIRECTLY above the screen during exposure, so I guess directly under the bulb is where there's problems..is light getting behind the positive or something...
