What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing (or Screenprinting) is a process in which a "screen" is made of a piece of porous, finely woven fabric called mesh stretched over a frame of aluminum or wood. Areas of the screen are blocked off with a non-permeable material to form a stencil, which is a negative of the image to be printed. The open spaces are where the ink will appear.

The screen is placed on top of the material and ink is placed on top of the screen to fill the mesh openings with ink. Using a fill bar, the mesh openings are filled with ink. Screen printing is most commonly used on t-shirts (many of us have seen this done in the mall), although a wide variety of items are now able to undergo the process.

Advantages of Screen Printing: When it comes to creating many copies of a certain design (as with team uniforms or jerseys), screen printing is an economical way to go. Screen printing is also quicker than many other methods of customization. The colors tend to dry very quickly. Screen prints are also tough and sturdy. In spite of exposing the screen printed fabrics to harsh conditions, the colors do not appear weary and dull.