Unveiling the Magic: How Screens are Made
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At Shirts Illustrated, we're passionate about bringing your creative visions to life through high-quality custom apparel. And at the heart of our process lies the fascinating art of screen printing.
So, how does it work?
Imagine your design as a blueprint. We translate that blueprint into a series of stencils, each representing a different color in your design. These stencils, or "screens," are made from a fine mesh fabric.
Here's the magic:
1. The Emulsion Magic: A light-sensitive emulsion is applied to the mesh screen. This emulsion acts like a magical coating, hardening when exposed to light.
2. Light Play: Your design is transformed into a film, and then placed on top of the coated screen. Light is shone through the film, hardening the emulsion where it's not covered by the design. The areas covered by the design remain soft.
3. Washing Away the Unwanted: The screen is then washed with water. The soft, unexposed emulsion washes away, leaving behind open areas in the mesh that perfectly mirror your design.
4. Ink and Squeegee: This is where the artistry truly begins. Ink is applied to the screen, and a squeegee (a rubber blade) is used to push the ink across the mesh. The ink passes through the open areas of the screen, leaving your design imprinted on the fabric below.
5. Layer by Layer: For multi-color designs, we repeat this process for each color, carefully aligning the screens to ensure perfect registration.
Our skilled team ensures meticulous attention to detail at every step, from design consultation to final printing.
Ready to bring your design to life? Contact us today to learn more about our screen printing process and how we can help you create custom apparel that truly stands out.