7 Common Screen Printing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Screen printed t-shirts can be reliable marketing tools if you know what not to do. Here are common screen printing mistakes and how to avoid them.

Did you know that screen printing is one of the most widely used forms of printing? In fact, the global t-shirt printing market share of $9 billion is partly composed of screen printing.

The thing about screen printing is that it's not as simple as it looks. In fact, it may look polished, but there are many mistakes that novices fall into making.

We know this because we've printed many shirts ourselves and because we love investing in niche business ideas that involve screen printing whether as a product or form of marketing. From our learnings, we devised a list of common screen printing mistakes you might be making while printing shirts.

With this list, you should be able to correct your screen printing mistakes and churn out high-quality screen-printed shirts that look clean and professional.

Let's get into the screen printing mistakes you're likely making and how to fix them.

What Is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a special printing technique where ink or metal is transferred onto a substrate (t-shirt, pants, hats, etc.) through a mesh screen. The screens through which the dyes are transferred are often made of silk.

This is why the screen printing process is interchangeably referred to as silkscreen printing. Screen printing is different from its counterpart of digital printing.

One of the many benefits of screen printing in regard to digital printing is that virtually any material can be screen printed. This includes:

• Fabric
• Plastic
• Glass
• Wood
• Metal
• Paper

Screen printing also has more longevity as the ink transfer results in a thicker, more durable finish. Screen printing is a great, cost-effective way to print many items quickly. Screen printing provides the versatility of making multiple branded items or just printing one-off custom items. 

Seven Tips to Avoid Common Screen Printing Mistakes: A Beginner’s Guide

Screen printing has a learning curve. In the beginning, you might find it hard to prepare your photo emulsion. You might also face the challenge of using too much or too little pressure on your squeegee when printing onto your substrate. 

No matter what obstacles you face during screen printing, you must remember two things, it's ok to ask for help, and don't forget to wash your hands!

Screen printing chemicals are not meant to sit on the skin, so take great care in washing your hands for safety from exposure to screen printing chemicals. 

With any new skill, mistakes will be made. Below are some of the seven most common screen printing mistakes and a few tips on how to avoid them.

1. Not Updating Your Mesh Count

Novices used to be encouraged to use 110 mesh count screens for every project. While the idea of investing in just one screen and using it for every project might sound convenient and profitable, it's actually a myth to use only one screen size.

Every time you print you need to coat your screen in different inks. The larger your screen, the more ink you'll waste. 

To avoid waste and create accurate prints, change the mesh count of your screens to meet the needs of your different projects. It's important to recognize that each project might require a different size screen.

2. Being Lazy About Cleaning Your Equipment

You need a pristine screen to get the most out of any screen printing job. Many artists enjoy the printing but not so much the cleaning part of the process.

The residue left behind, flacks of old ink, lint, hand grease, and work smudges can all sabotage a new print. You don't want to waste an entire finished product because you failed to properly clean your mesh screen. 

Make sure to wash, clean, and degrease your screen between projects. You'll also need to clean any pallets and your printing press. You also don't want to skip handwashing!

3. Skipping the Spot Gun

A spot gun is a special screen printing tool used to remove any small spots from the final print. This can be a lifesaver when you don't want to restart an entire project from scratch. 

The gun releases a spray at very high pressure and eliminates any abnormal spots. They cost about $60 on average but could save you from discarding tons of products.

Since they really only work right after a print is finished and not when it is fully dried, make sure to have one handy at all times. A spot gun is a must-have piece of screen printing equipment. 

4. Not Double-Checking the Press Before Each Lot

Always inspect your press before beginning a new run. Many printers skip this step to save time.

After running several prints, the press bolts and screws loosen. This can cause the machine to become unstable and lead to crooked or smeared prints because the press shifts during printing. 

5. Skipping the Test Print

Screen printing mistakes are common, even for seasoned professionals. By now you should begin to see that the common thread of screen printing mistakes involves trying to skip steps. 

Always do a test screen print. These processes are in place for a reason, so don't try to skip them. 

6. Skipping Screen Tape

There are many reasons why the screen must be taped during a transfer. The sides need to get taped so the emulsion layer doesn't run through the opposite side of the screen. Tape is also useful in helping stabilize your stencil and making sure your design goes through nice and even.

7. Using a White Underbase as a Highlight

When you use white as a highlight, you overcompensate with the ink. This makes your print heavy and can mess up the following layers of ink. This can impact the final outcome of your garment and make a piece that is crunchy, heavy, and uncomfortable to wear. 

Avoid These Common Screen Printing Pitfalls for Stunning Designs

Screen printing is one of the most common decorative methods. It is sometimes frustrating trying to learn and although the technique is rising in popularity today many artists get frustrated and give up. 

If you find yourself needing screen printing services for your business, try a professional screen printing service. If you can dream up a design, Dynamic Designs can bring your screen printing dreams to life. 

Request a free quote for your screen printing needs today!