TheNomad

First of all, I am so thankful for sites like this one. The information exchanged here is priceless.

I am new here and could use some of your wisdom.

I am actually a graphic designer hoping to get into the t-shirt screen printing business. My goal is not to provide services, however, but to be able to print shirts for mostly online retail. I have ideas for some great t-shirts and a brand to promote them under. My budget is severely limited, which is why I am focusing for heavy online presence (in addition to selling at fests, flea markets etc. on a limited basis).

I am planning to do this from my bedroom and have opted out to get a table screen printing press. Although I would have liked to right away start exposing my screens at home, I am considering getting my screens burned elsewhere. I figured, I have five designs and it may not be a bad idea to just pay up a little and get those screens (which I will be using over and over again). Of course, this may not be wise in the long run...the costs of paying to get those screens ready will probably surpass that of an exposure unit. But, the things to keep in mind here are: I don't yet have experience in screen printing (although I plan to take courses) and my budget is limited for now so what I would really like to invest on initially are: an excellent screen printing press, the necessary accessories and a flash dryer (an absolute necessity).

Given the information above, what do you recommend? I am considering this for a printer: 6 Color Two Station Screen Printing "Silver Press"

I may also need to get a heat press machine since some of my designs will require foil. So any affordable alternatives are greatly appreciated.

Finally, are there any affordable companies that can prep and burn screens according to your needs? Aluminum screen vs. wood screen; which one do you recommend?

Any and every info is much appreciated.

Also, what exactly is micro-registration? It seems to be awfully important!

 

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duplinprint

First, find out if your designs can sell. Have a DTG printing business, print one shirt for you. Show it on the internet and if you get a sell then get the DTG printer to sell to you at a wholesale price. Start your internet business first, because you will be spending all of your time trying to learn how to print, you will not making money on your designs.

Silver Press is for wannabe printers like yourself, A good manual press comes from Vastex, Brown and M&R.

Aluminum is good if you know how to re-stretch a screen on it when it breaks but wood make for a good camp fire.

To ask about the importance of micro- registration tells me that you should find a job in the screen printing industry before trying to start your own. I got my BA in Illustration at SCAD, started as an ink mixer because I got an "A" in color theory. From there I worked as a Printer, Graphic Designer, Plant Manager, and now I own my own business and Owner is the hardest hat that I've worn, so pay your dues first.

 

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TheNomad

Duplinprint, I appreciate your response. I have tried to get a gig at local screen printing shops (as a volunteer or intern) but they all had one excuse after another (probably because I was forthcoming about my intention to eventually start printing myself and they didn't believe it wasn't going to be service based? Not sure really). I plan to enroll in courses and even hire an expert to walk me through the process when necessary.

Now, about DTG. Please don't get me started on those...my t-shirt line dream is not something that just hit me a week ago. I had a t-shirt line I started in 1999 (I was outsourcing the printing job to a great screenprinter 3 hrs from where I live). Plus, I have worked for two clothing lines (literally oversaw their growth from conception to their success) and finally saved up enough to get the Fast T-Jet 2. It was a disaster. I could get into the details of what happened but I need to maintain my sanity. My partner and I shut down the business and it took me two years to recover from that. So, yeah, I have been there and I have a concrete understanding of my market but when it comes to actually doing screen printing jobs, I definitely have to grind harder and make sure I am on my A game.

What would you say is one of the most challenging aspects of screen printing for beginners?

 

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duplinprint

Enrolling in a class sounds great and it would look really good on a resume when applying for a screen printing job. Working freelance as a graphic designer for a screen printing company can get a foot in the door. I have found that most (not all) graphic designers fresh out of college are arrogant (not you, of course) in what they know and when you hire them, they still do not understand how to color separate for screen printing or be able to do halftones on a printer. If you can do that, then that is your door into this industry. I've had new Customers come into my shop to ask me if I could screen print an image after my competitor told them that it could not be done. Now I'm not the greatest, I'm far from it and when I started my business the only thing that I did not know how to do was sell shirts, hats, and signs.
As for DTG and the T-Jet, I have heard about nightmares that come with ownership on this forum and I too am having problems getting the cyan to work on my Anajet, but I've got good tech support from Anajet.

 

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wormil

Moses, I have to agree with Phil, trying to start a business doing something you don't know how to do is a recipe for disaster. People see youtube videos of some monkey dragging a squeegee and think that's all there is to it. I would outsource the printing or if possible go with plastisol transfers. The reading and education will help you communicate better with your printer and maybe help sort out good printers from bad (lots of bad printers out there, guess why they are bad? they didn't pay their dues).

__________________

 

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Celtic

I say take a class first, then go from there.
Ryonet puts on great classes. I've taken one of their classes.
But a class will really help you to see all the processes and all that is needed.
Yes, you can definitely have a company burn your screens for you. I know Ryonet provides that service too. If you're looking at doing single color prints with maybe some foil, yes, I think that press would work fine for you right now. That way you could have all your screens set up on your press and be ready to print em all at will.

 

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