People to Know
1. Inks
Select your ink supplier based on:
1. Consistent quality : the black should not be stiff and the yellow loose. All colors should be the same, shipment after shipment.
2. Shear: the ink should drop out of the mesh without having to push down hard on the squeegee.
3. Color strength: colors should be bright and intense.
Why not price? The cost per garment is less than one penny, and the cost difference from one supplier compared to another is so small that price cannot be the decision factor. We have more important issues to worry about in a screen printing business.
Recommended
supplier: Union Ink Co.
Need more help? email roger@rjennings.com for
technical support
2. Stencils
When quality in a stencil material is critical, such as printing high density inks, four color process, hard substrates, and more, capillary film will produce a better printed image. The best capillary film has:
1. Color to reduce light scatter and undercutting.
2. High solids so that the emulsion does not melt creating pin holes or weak spots in the stencil.
3. Water only required to adhere to mesh. This "direct" method produces better control over the thickness of the ink deposit compared to the "indirect-direct" method that uses liquid emulsion to adhere film to mesh.
Liquid emulsions and other chemicals related to stencils are made by the companies that make capillary film. The company with the best capillary film will also have the best liquid emulsions and supporting chemicals.
Recommended stencil
supplier: Ulano Corp.
Have questions? email
roger @ rjennings.com
3. Educational Resources
a. U.S. Screen Printing Institute
c. http://www.daprinting.com
605 S. Rockford Drive
Your online resource for Printing
Tempe, AZ 85281
602-929-0640
fax:
602-929-0766
web: www.usscreen.com
This
is a great source of CD's,
videos and books to help with
color
separations, CorelDraw
and
other technical problems.
b. Magazines:
1. Impressions
Atlanta, GA
800-527-0207
The same organization operates The Imprinted
Sportswear Shows.
2. Imprint Canada
3883 Hwy 7 - Suite # 214
Woodbridge, Ontario
L4L 6C1 Canada
email: triscomm@istar.ca
web: www.imprintcanada.com
3. Printwear Magazine
P.O. Box 1416
Broomfield, CO 80038
303-469-0424
fax: 303-469-5730
web: www.nbm.com/printwear
4. Printwear & Promotion
Pembroke House
Campsbourne Road
Hornsey
London N8 7PE England
0181-340-3291
fax: 0181-341-4840
5. identity Marketing
P.O. Box 5176, 80 Kiva Place
North Branch, NJ 08876
908-252-0900
fax: 908-252-0903
web: www.identitymarketing.com
For images from a computer printer or photocopy machine that replace expensive camera processing, translucent paper is an inexpensive opportunity for all screen printing shops, large and small.
We recommend Caseys' Page Mill Ltd. at www.caseyspm.com, and be sure to ask for a can of their new Ultra Black to produce dense black images.
Caseys' Page Mill Ltd.
6528 Soneida Court
Englewood, CO 80111
303-220-1463 or fax 303-220-1477
5. T-Shirts
Find cool t-shirt retailers, wholesalers, screen printers, and suppliers at www.teefinder.com.
6.
Automatic
Presses & Large Dryers
(textile & graphic printing)
M&R Sales and Service
1 N 372 Main St.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
630-858-6101 or 800-736-6431
Fax: 630-858-6134
email: sales@mrprint.com
web: www.mrprint.com
7. Mesh
Dynamesh
1555 W. Hawthorne Ln. 4-E
West Chicago, IL 60185
800-235-5056 Fax: 630-293-5647
Web: www.Dynamesh.com
Screen fabric is the heart of screen printing. You already know that you must select the right mesh and thread diameter for each job. But just as important as selecting the right mesh specifications is getting those specifications delivered. Studies have shown that mesh count can vary as much as 20 threads per inch from catalogue specifications. The only way to be sure that you get what you pay for is to insist on an inspection report with each bolt of mesh. NBC (the parent corporation to Dynamesh and manufacturer of mesh) is the only manufacturer with enough confidence in their fabric to include an inspection report with each bolt. And the only place to get NBC fabric in America is Dynamesh.
Dynamesh also has a staff of fully trained technical representatives ready to help you fine tune your process. When you call Dynamesh you will find their goal is not to sell you a few yards of mesh today, but to help your company succeed. If you grow, Dynamesh grows and everyone wins.