In the screen printing business, your artwork is the key to success. That’s why it’s essential to fine-tune your prepress process; there’s no point in creating visually stunning designs if they aren’t able to transfer well to print form. There’s a lot that goes into making sure that your t-shirts and other print assets look great, so keep reading for tips on preparing your art for screen printing.
What Is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is an ancient art form that allows you to turn your artwork into dynamic, multicolored images on more textured and oftentimes wearable surfaces. Originating in China during the Song Dynasty, this now modern printing technique uses mesh and stenciling to transfer and shape ink onto the base material.
Printing Techniques and Software
Screen printing techniques have been developed and perfected over the years. It’s important to stay on top of the latest methods, technologies, and supporting software to ensure that your finished product yields the best image possible. One of the first things that you need to consider is the kind of software you’ll be using to create your designs. Here is a list of both Macintosh and PC applications that work well:
Macintosh:
- Illustrator CS 6
- Photoshop CS 6
- QuarkXpress 8
- Acrobat 9.0
- Corel Draw 11
- InDesign CS6
PC:
- Illustrator CS6
- Photoshop CS6
- QuarkXpress 8
- Acrobat 9.0
- Corel Draw X3
- AutoCad 14
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
Image sizing is another important element in screen printing. When you are creating a file using software, it’s important to note whether or not the image will meet the standard size for screen printing. Anything lower than 300 PPI will compromise the crispness, integrity, and overall quality of your artwork.
Color separations are also important before sending your design to the screen printer when doing a color screen print. Separating your color scheme and then combining it in layered images will help make any necessary spot color adjustments easier and help the printer print the color you want clearly.
Best File Types for Screen Printing
After you create artwork, making sure you have the correct art files for the printer to use is the next step. File compatibility depends mostly on the machine you are using, but most graphic images should be in one of the following file types:
- eps
- ps
- tiff
- jpg
Halftone frequency, halftone angles, dot shape, enlargement/reduction percentage, and whether or not your image will be printed on dark materials all play a part in what type of file you use.
Best Equipment for High-Quality Image Printing
At EXILE Technologies, we work hard to produce the highest-quality screen printing equipment to elevate your t-shirt printing business. That’s why we developed the SPYDER Computer-To-Screen Systems. This printer allows you to simplify your pre-press workflow, saving you time and money. This device is equipped with fast and reliable RIP software, precise registration systems, and more to help you create exceptionally detailed prints while providing a boost in production and faster project turnaround.
EXILE Technologies
At EXILE Technologies, we understand the needs of screen printing business owners. That’s why we work hard to ensure you have access to everything you may need to make your business a success. For over 30 years, we have manufactured leading screen printing equipment, offering products and support services that meet the unique needs of screen printing experts everywhere. If you want to learn more about our products or more tips on preparing your art for screen printing, contact us today!
