Garment Printing Machines

Preparing an Image and Making a Frame for Screen Printing
Many different types of garments can have screen printing applied to them. Most individuals think of the front and back of shirts as being screen printed. Gloves, pants, shirt sleeves, caps and various other items are easily used in applying print. Many bags are also easily used. Screen printing does not have to be done only in shops or by companies. It can become an art form, with the correct equipment and supplies, done in the home as well.

AWT Accu-Glide Squeegee Unit		AWT Econo-Tex II Floor Model Printers		AWT Econo-Tex Tabletop Printers		AWT Screen-Eze Tabletop Screen Printers
Price: $3775		Price: $735		Price: $662 - $842		Price: $2047
Brand: AWT		Brand: AWT		Brand: AWT		Brand: AWT
This is a single-person squeegee unit that offers a high quality yet affordable solution to screenprinting short runs, prototypes, and test runs.		This floor model printer features a rugged all-metal design with study legs and a solid wood pallet.		This tabletop printer features a rugged all-metal design with a solid wood pallet.		This tabletop screen printer is versatile and quality engineered for hand printing short-run decals, CD labels, binders, and ad specialties.
Blick 1-Color Garment Screen Printing Machine		Blick 4-Color Garment Screen Printing Machine		Dynamic 4-Color Screen Printer		One/Two Station with Microlok
Price: $116		Price: $311		Price: $1000 - $1298		Price: $2005
Brand: Blick		Brand: Blick		Brand: Dynamic		Brand: Dynamic
These one-color units are great for beginners, schools, and clubs that want to print their own T-shirts, jackets, scarves, and other items quickly, easily, and economically.		A modest machine for the classroom or small shop.		Simple, fast set-up and a proven registration system give you the ability to print precise four-color (or three-, two-, or one-color) designs in perfect registration on clothing and other items.		The three adjuster barrels allow you to position screens in perfect registration after the screen is clamped.
Two-Station Rotary Load
Price: $2540
Brand: Dynamic
The key to rotary load is that one person does the printing, while others unload and load the garments.

First, a pattern or picture must be selected for use as a pattern. For hand drawn images, scan the image. Use a computer program to turn the image into black and white. Use a printer to place the image onto clear acetate or plastic. Allow ink to dry thoroughly. This can also be done using a photocopy machine if a scanner and printer are not an option. Be sure that an image is not too big for the desired surface that it will be printed upon.

A board should be placed under the item that will printed upon. This forms a sturdy backing. All wrinkles need to be removed. Cloth should lie as flat as possible. For sleeves, insert a board into the sleeve. This maintains the sleeve in a flat and wrinkle free state.

A frame for silk screening will need to be made. It should be no more than two inches larger in any direction than a piece of paper. Four flat boards will be needed to create the frame. Be sure board faces are flat and even against table. This is the front that will be facing the item to be printed.

Next, silkscreen will be attached. Most generally 110 meshes are used. This ensures that the gaps in the cloth weave are not too wide or to narrow. Cloth needs to be cut one centimeter larger that frame. Edges are folded over and doubled beneath frame. Cloth should be doubled over in the exact amount all around the frame. Cloth should be stapled to frame using construction staples.

There are various methods for creating images and frames. Individuals must experiment and find what works best for them. Screen printing can become an exciting hobby as well as a lucrative career.