Screen printing is a popular method of transferring designs onto various types of fabric. It is a versatile technique that can be used on just about any type of apparel including t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts. However, due to the thickness and texture of sweatshirts, it requires some special considerations to successfully make a smooth and even print.

In this article, we will take you through the steps of how to screen print sweatshirts like a pro. From the materials you'll need to the tips and tricks for achieving a crisp print, we got you covered.

Materials Needed for Screen Printing Sweatshirts

To get started, here are the materials you'll need:

1. Sweatshirt blanks

2. Screen printing ink

3. Emulsion

4. Screen mesh

5. Squeegee

6. Light table or lightbox

7. Water-resistant tape

8. Inkjet printer

9. Heat gun or flash dryer

Preparing the Sweatshirts

Before you go any further, wash your sweatshirt blanks with mild detergent or soap. This is because sweatshirts tend to have a lot of lint and fibers that can interfere with the printing process. Once they're nice and clean, iron them to remove any wrinkles or creases.

Creating the Design

Create and save your design in vector format, as this will allow you to scale the graphics without sacrificing quality. For those who don't have any graphic design experience or software, many online tools and websites are designed to help you create your design.

Coating the Screen Mesh

Next, coat your screen mesh with emulsion. This is done in a dark room with a yellow light because emulsion is photo-reactive and will dry up if exposed to light. Make sure to coat the emulsion evenly until you achieve a thin, transparent layer. Allow the screen to dry for a few hours.

Transferring the Design onto the Screen Mesh

Once the screen mesh is dry, place it onto the light table or lightbox, with the emulsion side facing down. Make sure the design you want to print appears in the correct direction.

Tape the design on top of the screen mesh or print it directly onto the transparency sheet. Then, expose the screen to the light for the recommended amount of time or until the emulsion hardens.

Wash the screen with water, and the unexposed areas will wash away leaving an open space that allows the ink to pass through.

Printing the Sweatshirts

Now it's time for the fun part! Place your sweatshirt on the flat screen printing press, put the ink on top of the screen, and use a squeegee to pass ink over the design area. Press down the squeegee hard enough to ensure that the ink passes through and sticks to the sweatshirt.

Once you're done with the first layer, use a flash dryer or heat gun to dry the ink. This will take 30-60 seconds or until the ink is no longer tacky to the touch. Repeat the process and print a second layer of ink.

If you want to have multiple colors on the design, print each layer one by one, and use a flash dryer in between each layer.

Cleaning Up

Lastly, clean your screen right after printing. Use cold water to remove any excess ink and emulsion. This will prevent the emulsion from hardening and clogging up the mesh the next time you use it.

Final Thoughts

Screen printing sweatshirts can be a fun and rewarding experience. Just remember to take note of the special considerations such as the thickness of the fabric and the texture when deciding on the ink, as well as the need to dry each layer of ink before printing the next. Now go ahead and try it for yourself!