S05 Screen Printing 101: Screens and Darkroom
Screen printing starts with the screen so in this session you will learn how to make consistently good screens. Jump hands-on into the darkroom and learn best practices for screen selection, cleaning, coating, and exposing.
Why Someone Should Come
A perfect print is impossible without a perfect screen. The darkroom is often where the most critical, yet overlooked, steps of screen printing occur. This session covers the science and technique behind creating durable, high-quality stencils that will hold up during production and wash out easily when the job is done.
Who Should Come
New screen printers, darkroom technicians, and anyone experiencing issues with stencil breakdown, pinholes, or difficult screen reclaiming.
What They Will Learn
- Positive Imaging: Learn the best practices for printing opaque positive images onto film.
- Screen Preparation & Coating: Understand the different types of screens and mesh counts, and learn the proper techniques for coating screens with emulsion to create a solid stencil.
- Exposure Techniques: Discover how to properly expose and dry screens, including the benefits of using advanced equipment like LED exposure units for faster times and higher detail.
- Reclaiming & Maintenance: Master the cleanup process in the washout room, including the use of ink degraders, emulsion removers, pressure washers, and dip tanks to efficiently reclaim and dehaze screens for reuse.
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Related Sessions
S01 Screen Printing 101: Artwork and Basic Separations
The foundation of a great print begins with proper artwork preparation
…The foundation of a great print begins with proper artwork preparation. This session demystifies the art and separations used in screen printing, showing you how to take a concept and turn it into print-ready art.
Why Someone Should Come
The founda
…The foundation of a great print begins with proper artwork preparation. This session demystifies the art and separations used in screen printing, showing you how to take a concept and turn it into print-ready art.
Why Someone Should Come
The foundation of a great print begins with proper artwork preparation. This session demystifies the digital side of screen printing, showing you how to take a concept and turn it into print-ready art. Whether
…The foundation of a great print begins with proper artwork preparation. This session demystifies the art and separations used in screen printing, showing you how to take a concept and turn it into print-ready art.
Why Someone Should Come
The foundation of a great print begins with proper artwork preparation. This session demystifies the digital side of screen printing, showing you how to take a concept and turn it into print-ready art. Whether you are dealing with customer-supplied files or creating your own designs, understanding how to manipulate art for the screen is the first critical step to success.
Who Should Come
Beginners, graphic designers transitioning to apparel, and shop owners who want to understand the requirements for screen-ready artwork. If you struggle with color separations or knowing when to use vector versus raster images, this class is for you.
What They Will Learn
- Vector vs. Raster: Understand the critical differences between vector art (Adobe Illustrator/Corel Draw) and raster art (Adobe Photoshop), and when to use each for apparel design.
- Spot Color Separations: Learn how to color separate vector designs using solid coated Pantone colors, ensuring accurate film output.
- Artboard Setup: Master the process of setting up your canvas to match your film size (e.g., 13x19) and sizing designs appropriately for different garments.
- Registration Marks: Discover how to add and align center crop marks to your artwork, a crucial step for maintaining registration on the press.
E02 Embroidery Essentials 101
New to machine embroidery? Learn the fundamentals of thread, needles,
…New to machine embroidery? Learn the fundamentals of thread, needles, stabilizers, and design readiness to start producing consistent, professional results.
Why Someone Should Come
The foundation of successful embroidery starts with understanding h
…New to machine embroidery? Learn the fundamentals of thread, needles, stabilizers, and design readiness to start producing consistent, professional results.
Why Someone Should Come
The foundation of successful embroidery starts with understanding how the major variables work together. Thread, needles, garments, stabilizers, design choices, and machine setup all affect the final result, and beginners often struggle because they are trying to sol
…New to machine embroidery? Learn the fundamentals of thread, needles, stabilizers, and design readiness to start producing consistent, professional results.
Why Someone Should Come
The foundation of successful embroidery starts with understanding how the major variables work together. Thread, needles, garments, stabilizers, design choices, and machine setup all affect the final result, and beginners often struggle because they are trying to solve problems without knowing which variable is responsible. This session gives attendees a clear, practical starting point so they can move beyond guesswork and begin making better production decisions from the beginning.
Who Should Come
This session is ideal for new embroiderers, apparel decorators adding embroidery to their shop, business owners evaluating embroidery equipment, and production staff who need a stronger understanding of embroidery fundamentals. It is also a strong refresher for anyone who has learned by trial and error and wants a more structured explanation of the basics.
What They Will Learn
- Embroidery Fundamentals: Understand the basic terminology, machine concepts, and production variables that every embroiderer needs to know.
- Thread, Needle, and Garment Relationships: Learn how thread type, needle selection, garment construction, and fabric behavior work together during stitching.
- Design Readiness: Discover what makes artwork and embroidery designs more or less production-friendly before the job reaches the machine.
- Quality-Focused Setup: Learn how strong setup habits reduce waste, improve consistency, and create a better foundation for profitable embroidery production.
S09 Screen Printing 101: Set Up for Success 101
Before we print, get hands-on with proper press setup. Taking the time
…Before we print, get hands-on with proper press setup. Taking the time to calibrate your equipment and register your job correctly saves hours of frustration and wasted garments during production.
Why Someone Should Come
Proper press setup is the b
…Before we print, get hands-on with proper press setup. Taking the time to calibrate your equipment and register your job correctly saves hours of frustration and wasted garments during production.
Why Someone Should Come
Proper press setup is the bridge between a good screen and a great print. Taking the time to calibrate your equipment and register your job correctly saves hours of frustration and wasted garments during production. This sessio
…Before we print, get hands-on with proper press setup. Taking the time to calibrate your equipment and register your job correctly saves hours of frustration and wasted garments during production.
Why Someone Should Come
Proper press setup is the bridge between a good screen and a great print. Taking the time to calibrate your equipment and register your job correctly saves hours of frustration and wasted garments during production. This session teaches the systematic approach to setting up a job so that printing becomes the easiest part of the process.
Who Should Come
Press operators, production managers, and shop owners who want to reduce setup times, eliminate registration errors, and improve overall print consistency.
What They Will Learn
- Press Calibration: Learn how to properly set off-contact and tilt to ensure the screen clears the garment perfectly after each stroke.
- Job Registration: Master the three primary ways to register a job: to film, to print, and using pre-registration systems for maximum efficiency.
- Garment Handling: Understand the differences between printing on 100% cotton versus polyester blends, and learn the most efficient techniques for loading shirts onto the platen.
- Platen Adhesives: Explore the pros and cons of different platen adhesives, including traditional spray mist versus eco-friendly water-based options.
