Screen Printing

Screen printing is a printing process often used for apparel. Since so many steps are involved, it is typically best reserved for projects that will have multiple shirts printed.

The process basically breaks down to the steps below. :

Art/Film prep

• A design is created digitally with each color separated into a separate layer. 
• The design is printed onto a film (like a clear transparency) in all black ink. A separate film is printed for each color that will be printed onto the apparel. 

Screen prep

• A mesh screen is coated in emulsion (and dried in a dark cabinet). 
• Each film with the design on it is burned onto a screen using with UV light. 
• The screen is power-washed to remove the emulsion where the design was burned.
• The screen is then dried with a fan.

Pre-Printing Prep

• Once dry, the screens are placed onto our manual printing press.
• Each screen's registration is set aka we make sure it is aligned, and if a multi-colored design requiring multiple screens are needed, this has to be very very precise! We use lasers to help with registration & alignment. 
• Each screen is taped around the edges to ensure ink doesn't seep around the edges.
• Ink is applied onto each screen and a squeegee assigned for each screen.
• The platen (the board we put the apparel on for printing) is coated in adhesive and dried until it is tacky.

Printing

The apparel is placed on the platen and positioned for printing.

Ink is flooded across the screen using the squeegee to spread the ink across the design.

The squeegee is pushed across the screen (some pull instead) at an angle with consistent pressure across the screen to push the ink through the mesh onto the shirt/apparel. 

If multiple colors are printed, often we "Flash" the shirt with heat to partially cure it before printing the next color. 

Once the design is printed on to the shirt, we carefully remove the shirt, and place it on our conveyer dryer to cure the shirt properly (depending on the ink, this is typically between 300-330° F.

• We then get another garment and repeat the printing process. 
• We then count, fold and box up the garments.

No, we only print on items sourced by us. There are lots of variables in printing and I cannot guarantee that the garments will be compatible with my inks, and have to account for a margin of error due to possible misprints. 

I am connected with several apparel & accessory warehouses. Note: Not all of the items in these catalogs are conducive to screen printing, but I'll do what I can to find something compatible if needed.

• S&S Activewear
• SanMar
• Don't see what you're looking for on those? We have access to several other warehouses - just ask. 

Yes, however, there will be a screen fee of $15 per screen to resize the design. 

Yes, however, due to the nature of screen printing, single shirt printing is limited to 1 color and will have an increased price compared to an order of 20 shirts to cover labor. 

Pricing is based on a few factors: shirt brand/style, number of print locations (front/back, etc), number of ink colors per print location, and labor. 

Sure, our art fees are $50 per hour. 

Please provide a vector file of your design. Any fonts should be set to "Create outlines" in illustrator. If you provide a raster file, there may be an art charge to either convert or recreate your file. 

Our turnaround time is typically 2 weeks AFTER payment is received in full.

Debit/Credit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Zelle, Venmo, and Cash

Due to the custom nature of screen printing, all sales are final.

We require a full (100%) payment to be paid to Meister Made before we begin an order unless otherwise discussed in writing. There will be a 14 day turnaround once payment is received.