The Ins And Outs Of T-Shirt Printing.

Screen printing is essentially the act of transferring ink to a desired surface (for example, in t-shirt printing), using a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. This is done by hand, using a special-purpose block-mount, or by specially designed machines.

Simply put, screen print t-shirts are made by placing a stencil, attached to a fine mesh made from silk, polyester or nylon, across the t-shirt fabric, then rolling ink across the stencil using a roller or squeegee. The ink is forced or pumped through the mesh onto the t-shirt, with the stencil blocking out areas that are meant to be ink-free. Ideally, designs chosen for printed t-shirts are sharp-edged and high-contrast.

In place of a solid stencil, an impermeable substance is sometimes used to mask areas from ink, this is the preferred method of t-shirt printing in the UK for most small-medium scale printers.

Here are instructions on how to screen print t-shirts: first, get your materials - a t-shirt, some cheap paintbrushes, a pencil, newspaper, an embroidery hoop, screen printing ink, a fine mesh fabric such as sheer curtain material, old nylons or tulle, and glue that isn't water soluble. You will also need a computer and printer for your design, or a good hand for drawing.

Stretch the mesh fabric out across the embroidery hoop and secure very tightly. Print out your high-contrast, clean-edged design on paper and trace it (or draw it freehand) in pencil onto your mesh.

Paint glue over all the negative space (blank areas) of your drawing, being careful not to accidentally glue the mesh to your work surface. Make sure you cover all the areas you would not like ink to touch. Allow this to dry, or set it according to your glue's instructions. You have now created your stencil.

Place your t-shirt under the stencil (place newspaper inside the t-shirt to protect the back from 'bleed through'). Stipple the ink onto the areas of your design not covered by glue. Make sure that the ink is forced through the mesh onto the t-shirt, but be careful not to overload it as this may create splotches. Carefully remove the stencil and allow the ink to dry, or set it according to your ink's instructions.

The stencil can be reused to create many more printed t-shirts.