Printed Matter, Inc. uses only the
finest in screen printing equipment
and substrates for your professional
needs. In here you will find
pictures and text describing the
process and requirements of our
industry.
Art
(top
of page)
Art begins with your imagination.
Either a drawing on paper or
computer generated art. In any case
the end result of the art will be
computerized and separated by colors
onto a clear film positive. For each
color in your design we will need a
film positive. For each film
positive, we will need a screen. In
short, the less colors in your
design, the less your printing cost
will be.
Basically two different types of
computer generated art.
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Vector Graphics
The representation of
separate shapes such as
lines, polygons and text,
and groups of such objects,
as opposed to bitmaps. The
advantage of vector graphics
("drawing") programs over
bitmap ("paint") editors is
that multiple overlapping
elements can be manipulated
independently without using
different layers for each
one. It is also easier to
render an object at
different sizes and to
transform it in other ways
without worrying about image
resolution and pixels.
(CDR, AI, EPS, FH, WMF) |
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Raster Graphics
Computer graphics in which
an image is composed of an
array of pixels arranged in
rows and columns. (BMP, PSD,
JPEG, GIF, CPT)
Opposite: vector graphics.
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The
Making
of
Screens
(top
of page)
Photograph
of three
screens
with a
design
"burned"
into
them.
Screens
are
basically
a wooden
or metal
frame
with a
polyester
fabric
stretched
onto
them.
The
polyester
fabric
is a lot
like the
screen
on your
screen
door, It
has
anywhere
from 25
threads
per
inch, to
355
threads
per inch
(mesh
count).
The mesh
count we
will use
is
determined
by the
type of
design
we will
be
printing.
The
finer
the
detail
in the
design,
The
higher
the
screen
mesh
count
will be.
Next, We
take a
light
sensitive
emulsion
and
apply a
even
coat to
the
screen
mesh. We
will let
that dry
for
about 6
hours.
After
the
light
sensitive
emulsion
has
dried,
We will
take the
film
positive
(as
described
in the
ART
section)
and tape
it to
the back
of the
screen
mesh.
Then, we
will
place
the
screen
on a
device
that
emits
light,
Called
an
exposure
unit
and
expose
the
screen
with
light
for a
short
period
of time.
The dark
areas
(the
image)
on the
film
positive
will
prevent
light
from
passing
through
and
exposing
the
screen,
The
light
will
pass
through
clear
areas of
the film
positive
(where
there is
no
design)
and
harden
the
emulsion.
 Next, we
take the
screen
off the
exposure
unit and
wash it
with
water.
The
water
will not
wash out
the
hardened
emulsion.
The
water
will
wash out
the soft
areas
that the
light
did not
expose.
We are
left
with a
screen
that has
an image
in it
(as
shown at
top of
page).
The ink
will
pass
through
the open
areas of
the
mesh.
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Setting
Up the
Screens
for
Printing
(top of
page)
After
making
and
exposing
our
screens,
We need
to prep
the
printing
press
for
printing.
We do
this by
setting
each
screen
(color)
into the
press
heads (a
six
color
press
 has
six
printing
heads).
We will
set them
in order
by
color,
light
colors
first in
sequence
to the
darkest
color,
usually
black
last.
We need
to align
each
print
color to
the
other to
ensure
correct
registration
throughout
the
printing
process.
We then
add ink
colors
to the
screens
and then
squeegees
to the
screen
print
heads.
The
squeegees
will
move
across
the
screen
to push
the ink
through
and onto
the
T-shirt.
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Printing
(top of
page)
After
the
screens
are
placed
and
aligned
into the
press we
are
ready to
begin
printing.
The
automatic
printing
press
shown
above
can
print
about
800
shirts
an hour.
It is a
pneumatic
press
running
on
155lbs
of
compressed
air. A
compressor
with a15
Hp 3
phase
motor
and a
200
gallon
tank is
needed
to power
this
press.
The
press
shown
on the
left is
an 8
color
screen
printing
press,
it has 8
printing
heads
and 10
pallets.
The
pallets
are what
the
shirts
are
placed
upon.
The
screens
will
stay
stationary
during
the
printing
process,
while
the
pallets
will
rotate
one at a
time in
a
counter
clockwise
motion.
Rising
up to
the
screens
after
each
index
for
printing.
Then
dropping
down to
move to
the next
station.
Two
people
are
needed
for this
operation,
one for
loading
the
shirt
onto the
pallet,
and the
other
for
taking
the
shirt
off the
pallet,
Inspecting
the
shirt
for
imperfections
and then
setting
it on
the
drying
belt.
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Drying
of the
Shirt
(top of
page)
After
the
shirt is
printed
we place
it on
the
dryers
moving
belt.
The
temperature
inside
the
dryer is
about
380
degrees.
The
shirt
will
only
stay
inside
of its
dying
chamber
for
about 37
seconds.
Enough
to heat
the
shirt
and ink
to about
335
degrees.
Usually
one more
person
is
inspecting
the
shirts
for
quality
as it
makes it
way to
the end
of the
oven,
then
folds
the
garments
in
dozens.
Screen
Printing
ink
consist
of four
major
components.
Pigment,
(for the
color).
Oil (for
the
base).
PVC's
and
Plasticizers.
When
heated
to 330
degrees,
The oil
evaporates
and the
plasticizers
turn the
PVC into
plastic.
Yes,
That
print on
your
shirt is
a thin
coat of
plastic
bonded
to the
fabric
of your
shirt.
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Packaging the Shirts
(top of page)
Amscomatic's are sophisticated high-speed automatic folding systems designed to precisely fold a wide variety of garments and other textile items. They’re engineered for dependable performance and low maintenance in demanding, high-production environments. Folding, Bagging & Tagging of speeds of 1,800 shirts per hour.
After the shirts are printed and dried, The folder at the end of the drying belt will inspect the shirt for quality and accuracy of the order.
The shirts will be folded in dozens and boxed.
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Shipping
(top of page)
There are various ways to ship the product. The most common and cost effective way is through UPS. The rates depend on your location. Time of Delivery also depends on your location.
The different Shipping methods are; Ground, 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air AM, 2nd Day Air, Next Day Air Saver , Next Day Air & Next Day Air Early AM
Typically there are 72 shirts per box, And each box weighs about 40lbs.
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