I am new to screen printing but not new to to the printing industry. I was a flexographic printer for years (labels). Any way I was one of the best in that industry and was awarded for it.
Now I am starting my own screen printing business cause I thought the cost was low to get started. I bought a 4 color one station table top from screen prtinting supplies. I think that may have been my first mistake. lol Anyway I can not get my tranperences to be dark enough no matter what I do on my Cannon Mp 160 ( piece of crap) printer. also leaving a image or droplets that I really do not desire. Although they do line up with the previous prints...wierd. I think it is were the print head is moving back and forth and dropping ink.
I am going to buy a epson 1400 in the next few days and would also like to know what everyone thinks about them and if I should wait and get a wider printer. I was looking at screenpriting suppiles kits on these and they are crazy. I can get the printer new off ebay for like 200 or less. So do your own math.
Also I am looking at there enviro ink cause I live in NC and will be running the pluming down into the spetic tank...So I would like to not kill all my weeds...lol Has anyone used there emulsion remover from the enviro clean? Does it work? Any other info on this stuff I would really appreciate. Especially if you are using plasticol ink with it witch i will not water based inks.
Another think I was thinking of building a dip tank of sorts...Any Ideas that are cheap not the 500 dollar kind! lol
Sorry about the book but have alot of questions and alot of orders and am not even set up yet!!!!! Please help!!!!!
well, first off, your making a good move with the epson1400, this is a great printer. use waterproof film with it. use this setting: best photo/ultra premium glossy photo paper
as for the press, well, you cheaped out but many on this forum have made due with that press. It will just take more care while registering jobs.
I would stick with plastisol to start and learn that before getting into waterbased ink, as they are more difficult to print with.(they are more difficult to cure, ink will dry in the screen, adn eat your emulsion on your screen after a period of time)
Yeah , it's kind of tricky. There's a steep learning curve. Being that you've done flexo printing, you have a big leg up. For future reference, don't go cheap on equipment. Do the best you can with what you have to spend, but get the best you can, even if it's used equipment.
Take your time and be patient also. Get the 1400 for film.
Make a good exposure unit with a good light source or buy a unit- preferably metal-halide light source. If you can burn good screens, the battle to print good shirts fast is more than half over.
If you can't burn a good screen the first time, every time, you will never get any profitable jobs out the door.
Good luck, you're in the right place.
I am thinking of still buying to eviro chemicals for clean up and such! Is this a good or a bad idea? Also where in the nc va tn area can I get a good price on t shirts?
Another thing is that the graphic arts side of things is kicking my arse I purchase some t shirt vector art and do not know how to get rid of some of the colors and also take out the half tones cause i know my computer printer will not do the right print for me! lol
If you check out my recent thread, I just did an experiment using a ruby red print on an ink jet film positive instead of the usual super opaque black (which is difficult to obtain whith an inexpensive printer).
Try it out, it might just work for you as well!
... For future reference, don't go cheap on equipment. Do the best you can with what you have to spend, but get the best you can, even if it's used equipment...
Make a good exposure unit with a good light source or buy a unit- preferably metal-halide light source. If you can burn good screens, the battle to print good shirts fast is more than half over.
If you can't burn a good screen the first time, every time, you will never get any profitable jobs out the door.
Good luck, you're in the right place.
Amen! The best investment a starter can make is to buy the best equipment you can. Especially an exposure unit and a good printer for your films. If you can't burn screens than you can't "screen" print. If you start cheap you will regret it and want to replace the equipment after you find out the hard way that better equipment will make you more profitable, sooner. I think the best investments are in this order; exposure unit, film output printer, dryer, printer and a good flash unit (one that rotates in stead of one that sits still).
__________________
Mike
If you dig ditches be the best ditch digger you can be.
Ok just bought the epson 1400 for $185 including shipping off of ebay! Is there any way to get around the 500 bucks for the accurip software? Is it possible for someone to burn me a copy and use that? I know that they have a 14 day trial. Can I keep doing the trial?
Piracy....bad. Out da box is right with ghostscript. It will get the job done and I guess it's free. There are only a few exceptions to the rule "you get what you pay for" in the screen printing industry.
unless your diving right into halftones you dont need RIP software with the 1400 printer. It prints excellent films right out of the box with the stock ink.
Ok now I have downloaded ghostscript 8.63, GSview, and am not able to use it or do not know how to use it! I have windows vista on my computer with an AMD 64 processor! What now?
Are you still in flexo printing? What did you use to output your film for plates, or were you DTP? I am also in the flexo industry and use some things in our flexo setup as "cross platform" use...Like our AGFA 30E for films and parts from our Kelliegh for screen exposure.
If you are handy you can cheap out and make stuff (washout booth, exposure unit, etc). But some things you can't...
I am thinking of still buying to eviro chemicals for clean up and such! Is this a good or a bad idea? Also where in the nc va tn area can I get a good price on t shirts?
Another thing is that the graphic arts side of things is kicking my arse I purchase some t shirt vector art and do not know how to get rid of some of the colors and also take out the half tones cause i know my computer printer will not do the right print for me! lol
Check out FranMar's line of supplies. It's all soybean-based and environmentally healthy. Also doesn't give you that 'chemical headache' like you get from the conventional stuff.
damn it takes alot more than I thought! 
Re: damn it takes alot more than I thought! 
Is it possible for someone to burn me a copy and use that? I know that they have a 14 day trial. Can I keep doing the trial?
