I am new to all of this. I am not looking into becoming a brand, just doing this for my own enjoyment and maybe sell some shirts to people who like what I've made. Not looking to buy any kind of special equipment, just get by with what I got.
So I bought some transparency film online at Walmart for $12 for 50. Thought that was a really good deal from what I was looking at elsewhere. Trouble is, they are for a laser printer, I have inkjet. I tried printing on them with my epson xp400. After a day ink isn't dry (I know this is because of a mismatch in materials) so what can I do to be my image onto the transparencies? Can I bring the film and a copy of what I a want to Staples and have them print it on the film for me? What other options do I have with using the transparency film?
I think I should have a handle on doing the hole photo emulsion step.
Then when it comes to printing on the tshirt, do you have to use the screen printing ink? Or can u use the ink for block printing? Or even craft paint (the craft paint I use is super permanent, I have gotten it on my clothes and it WILL NOT come off after many many washings) There just aren't very many color options with the screen printing ink that I have found? If you mix them to get a different color, how would you store excess paint? (I am a total freak about not wasting stuff!!!)
Experimenting is great, but I'd hold off of selling to customers with what all you're suggesting you want to use......
You need to use waterproof film for your printer. Also, you'll need your print on film to be very opaque......if you can see through it, it's going to fail when you expose.
Screenprinting ink, both plastisol and waterbased, comes is LOTS of colors.
Also, keep in mind that you'll need to cure your shirts. Plastisol inks typically require 320 degrees through the entire ink (not just the top of the ink layer(s). Waterbased, also needs to be cured and you need to be sure that all the water vapor is removed.
So, I guess to answer your question about using products that aren't for screenprinting to screenprint, sure, experiment, but don't sell em.
You'll get definite mixed results, likely a lot of disappointing ones.......that all goes with experimenting
Keep in mind too, that anything waterbased will dry quickly in your screen. You'll have to keep it flooded to slow that down. Also, use the proper emulsion.
