I have an apparel company and i am looking to expand our t shirt line. We build a nice 100% cotton shirt and so far have only screened on it. I feel the screens are holding us back. I dont like how heavy the ink always comes out and i feel we are restricted in size and color of the graphics. Should I look to new techniques or are there ways to make the screens better. Any advise would help! thanks
I have an apparel company and i am looking to expand our t shirt line. We build a nice 100% cotton shirt and so far have only screened on it. I feel the screens are holding us back. I dont like how heavy the ink always comes out and i feel we are restricted in size and color of the graphics. Should I look to new techniques or are there ways to make the screens better. Any advise would help! thanks
Depends what you're business model is like. Screen printing is what you mostly see in malls and retail stores, it's just that some of the prints you see in higher end retail stores, are more expensive to produce. Potential of screen printing is virtually endless.
We are a snow and skate based. so im am looking at our competition and seeing lot of things that I was told we could not do with screens. I really want a softer feel to the graphic and not be held back by colors. can this be done with screens buy just useing different inks or is it better to get into new techniques. thanks again
To achieve a softer feel there are several ways you can go. If you are using Plastisol inks add soft hand base. Or use water base inks. Then there is discharge which will have no feel at all. Search here for threads on each of these. All of these can be screen printed.
If you feel limited by them then you can look into the digital world. There is sublimation, chromoblast, and DTG. All of these can print full color but it is more expensive and each has its own limitations.
What is it you are trying to achieve? No feel on a dark cotton t? No feel on light color t?
well I know the basis and limitations for sublimation and dtg. what is preferred or easier when looking to get a really large graphic or all over print on the shirt?
Water-based inks require a different emulsion and they cure differently. Depending on your setup, the investment to make the switch shouldn't be too costly. I would keep both around so you can have the option if you need it.
Discharge inks work like water-based inks(they are water-based), but you have the added steps of having to mix an activator into the ink before using and having to wash the shirt before giving it back to the customer. It leaves a residue on the shirt after curing. Once it's washed out, it has a super soft feel.
Make sure you read up on the process of curing water-based/discharge inks to make sure your equipment is adequate.
so im am looking at our competition and seeing lot of things that I was told we could not do with screens.
If you're seeing it in the marketplace, chances are it was done with screenprinting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by comiked
can this be done with screens buy just useing different inks or is it better to get into new techniques.
It's mostly about using the right inks. Screen printing is like any field - a lot of practitioners learn one way of doing things, and then are too [comfortable|scared|profitable|busy] to learn anything new. So whilst a lot of shops have very limited options, that's not true of the medium as a whole.
expanding to new techniques 
