Cheap screen printing tutorial
Alright, I’ve finally had the time to “screen print” another shirt, so here’s the tutorial…
Materials needed: a t-shirt, yucky/cheap paint brushes, an embroidery hoop, screen printing ink (I use Speedball brand), a glue that isn’t water-soluble (I use Mod Podge), curtain sheer material/tulle/old nylons, and a computer with a printer (or a good hand for drawing things).
1.Find an image you like and that has good contrast. My cow needed to be “cut out,” and I’ve only got Microsoft Paint on this computer and it worked fine.
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2. Save the image as a Monochrome Bitmap file and it will turn it black and white. If this loses all the detail, fudge around on Paint or try a different picture, haha.
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What digital heat transfer and direct printing lack are the handmade quality and “authenticity” of a screen printed t-shirt. Though screen printing can seem daunting at first it can also become-through trial an error-a relatively straightforward process. So, get to know what screen printing is all about…
Below a few videos and tutorials on making a silkscreen t-shirt. They will mostly serve as a good introduction to making your own silk screen t-shirts as the process will inevitably require a significant amount of trial and error, and experimentation.
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How to Screen Print 101
I’ll let them introduce themselves but here is an interesting video outlining some of basics of the screen printing process…
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Make a Screenprint T-shirt in an Afternoon
Here’s a more D.I.Y approach. As you will see, you get the best results by screenprinting the “right way”, but again, this is an easy and relatively quick way to get your hands dirty! Note: The intro is a bit strange but the video is legit. Also, there is extra footage on interesting things going on in the world of t-shirts, but the first part will be most relevant to making your own screen print.
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MORE links to Screenprint T-Shirt DIY:
Intructables.com, a crucial resource. In this case, check out this informative “instructable” on t-shirt screenprinting DIY: Click Here. (Note: It might ask you to login but to do so takes only a few moments-up to you if it’s worth it.)
NOTES:
May we also note that many institutions, including continuing education programs, give classes or short seminars on silk screen printing. If you want to keep the mess out of the house, these may be a good way of getting your hands dirty and seeing what screen printing is all about. The obvious thing to say here is to check your local listings/colleges/classifieds for any opportunities. But to give you an idea of the availability of these classes, I recently attended my first screen printing course in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Papelera Palermo.
