Screen printing is the oldest way to personalize anything you want to add a special design to.
Even to this day, it plays a major role in our everyday life and style expressions.
Today we will discuss what silkscreen printing is, when it was invented, and how it plays an integral part in our lives.
The beginning
Silkscreen printing started in ancient China during the Song dynasty around 960 to 1279 AD.
It was created to put personalized designs on a variety of fabrics.
This method of printing soon traveled to Japan, where they started using paper stencils to impart designs onto fabrics.
The method then reached Europe via France in the 17th century.
The French started the process of using a frame to hold the stencil in place better.
By the 20th century, squeegees were beginning to be used to push and pull the ink through the mesh.
How it's done
It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the screen printing method we all know was patented in the western world.
By the 1950s, we began printing designs on tshirts using screen printing as the main method.
Screen printing is the process of using a mesh made of paper, silk, or other material to impart the design.
Each color uses a separate screen or stencil to get the full look.
The screen is placed in a frame on the shirt, then the ink is added.
A squeegee or hard-wired brush is used to push and pull the ink through the stencil and screen.
With screen printing, the ink gets absorbed into the fabric to give vibrant color and a long-lasting, durable effect.
Moving into the modern age
Modern times have changed the way screen printing works with the advancement of technology.
We now have machines that can do the screen printing for you, though many people prefer to do it by hand anyway.
Similar to the process of using a squeegee, a cylinder shaped press can also be used to draw the ink into the shirt.
This is similar to a normal press and the hand printing process of using a squeegee, except the mesh and the shirt are in motion as the cylinder moves and applies pressure.
Hand printed shirts give the design a much smoother and authentic look.
You can use this method on many different fabrics due to its ease of use and the type of ink used.
When it comes to printing, this method is hands down one of the most durable, whether you use a machine or do it by hand.
Screen printing began in ancient China as a way to impart images, words, and designs into fabric and other items.
It began as the process of using silk screens to affix the pattern, hence the name silkscreen printing.
Nowadays, it is used on all types of clothing — including tshirts, jackets, and pants.
This is one of the most durable ways to print a design.
For a custom tshirt or other printed item, you should use screen printing for a design that will last far longer than most other methods.
This Article Penned by Lora Davis.