Anyone can learn to to screen print at home by just following some simple instructions
. Most people believe that screen printing is only accomplished professionally in a studio. It is actually very easy to screen print team logos on many shirts and do them all at home.
NEEDED SUPPLIES:
It's very important to start out with all of the supplies that are necessary. Many of these supplies can be found at a craft store.
Gauzy curtain: Sheer fabric swatch or transparent curtain. The ones with small holes will work the best.
Embroidery hoop: There are different sizes. Choose one size for the desired design.
Black fabric paint or screen printing ink
Latex paint: This should be found in the discount paint aisle marked as mis-tinted paint.
Watercolor paints and paintbrush
Black paper
Small sponge brush
Stencil or the design of choice
T-shirt: Or whatever is getting the screen print
PREPARING THE SCREEN:
Once the design is chosen, it is time to prepare the screen. The gauzy curtain must be stretched over an embroidery hoop and secured by attaching it to the other hoop. Pull tightly so that it is very taut. Trim off any excess material.
TRACING THE DESIGN:
Now the tracing can begin. Tape the paper to the work table. With the embroidery hoop centered over the image, the tracing will begin. Trace lightly without using too much pencil lead on the screen. Take as long as needed to keep lines straight and the design accurate. Another way to do this step is to print the design on self-adhesive paper and cut it out. The cut-out can be centered on the screen and stuck down enough to keep the edges down.
APPLYING THE PAINT:
The latex paint is used to cover the spaces that won't be printed. This is called negative space. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly even though it may take a few hours. It should be then tested by brushing the whole screen with thin watercolor paint while the screen is on a blank piece of paper. The paper's image is what will show on the material.
APPLYING THE INK TO PRINT:
For the final step, the ink is ready to be applied. Lay out the material on a flat surface. If it is a shirt, put cardboard between the front and back of the shirt to prevent any ink going through. The screen is then put where the print must be. Blot the ink all over the image by using the sponge brush. Once the image is totally covered, pull the screen up very slowly.
The ink must dry overnight. Once it is fully dry, it will be safe to put into the washer. This screen can now be used for the same design again in the future.