Squirts said:
Like Rodney that seems a bit strange to me too... As I've stated in another post I would much rather make my own... But to answer your question their asking you to make the Film Positive that they will use to burn your screen.. Vellium makes great film positives with a Laser jet printer specially with a light spray of Toner enhancer after printing... I personally use both Vellium and Poly Paper now instead of Clear transperancies.
What there asking you to make is simular to a photograph negative with one sheet for each color in your print.
With registration technique issues involved it seems doubly strange that they would ask you to do this yourself. Not to mention scratches that could occur in handling and transportation to them.
Vellium is cheap 20 to 25.00 for 100 sheets I dont see much savings involved by them saving two and a half cents on the paper and a couple minutes printing your artwork..... ??????? However if they are offering you a substantial savings, it would be MORE then worth YOUR effort to learn to make Good Film Positives. Its Cheap to do...
We only use clear film for multi color designs and we will not print them with a laser printer do to shrinkage from the fuser heat.
Here is the deal. We use special transparencies that cost us about $1.00 per sheet. We print them with a $700.00 printer that uses special black ink that has a ruby lithe tint to it to help block all UV light during the burn. We charge $10.00 per film to make the films for you. This pays for the film, the ink, the operator’s time, the computer and printer deprecation and the several $1,000.00 worth of software we use and updates for them. This just pays for us making the films. It does not give you ownership of the films.
We would be ore than happy to use a contract customers film instead of printing them for them as long as they meet our quality standards. This will save you (the contractor) money on screen setups. And the plus side is not the films belong to you. If I make them they are still mine even though I charged you $10.00 form making them. Most service that will make you high quality films will charge anywhere from $1.00 per inch to $40.00 per film to output the film for you and give it to you to keep.
So if you can make your own films that are good enough to burn quality screens, you can save some major money when having your shirts printed. I had one customer that provided all artwork, films, inks, screens, emulsion, chemicals, screen tape, pallet adhesive and shirts. He basically just hired us to do the labor part and provide all the printing equipment.
