Thinking of Setting up a Custom Screen Print Shop
Welcome To Artwork Corner, where every month I am going to help you with your artwork issues.
This is an exciting time for the printing and decorating apparel industry. Innovation and expanded access has turn the industry on it’s head. Many small businesses now can produce items that only the big brands could produce just a few years ago. Customising items for your customer is now more doable. Graphic Design skills are more in demand than ever before.
What has spurred some of this change? Improved inkjet technology. Inkjet first printed on paper. Now inkjet can print on almost anything. Pick a substrate to print, pick the right ink for the substrate and then pick the printer to handle the ink and substrate. Design a graphic for your customer, save in proper format for the RIP, send to RIP, put item in printer, click print and now you have a custom item for your customer. In my studio, I have 4 different inkjets set up to handle 4 different tasks for me. I have a regular HP printer to print invoices, proofs and other documents. I have an Epson 1430 to output film for screen printing. I have an Epson 7800 to print sublimation transfers. And I have an Omniprint Freejet to print directly on t-shirts. Soon I will be adding a Roland printer to print on wood and other hard goods. The possibilities are endless.
Here’s a short list of what you may need to become a custom shop.
- A great imagination to explore the possibilities.
- Graphic design skills in multiple graphic software and platforms.
- RIP software knowledge.
- Ink and substrate knowledge.
- Intestinal Fortitude.
- Perseverance.
Take time for testing, research, ask questions and attend Trade Shows.
It’s important to be knowledgeable so you can do the job properly. When everything comes together perfectly and your customer is extremely happy, that is something to truly be thankful for. Can’t wait to see what’s new.
Laugh, Live and Hug someone you are thankful for.
Until next month.