Guide How to Make Screen Print Transfers
Do you really feel that creating screen print transfers is an intricate procedure to do? It could be for newbies, but it is simpler than you think. Screen printing, as it defines in the name, is all about the process of performing print work on a screen.
Obviously, creating screen-print transfer is a direct technique for performing quick designs on different fabrics as possible, as it will help you show an amazing print with more flexibility and a cost-effective system.
If you want to learn how to make screen print transfers, this article is for you!
What are screen print transfers?
Screen print transfers are the best way to transfer designs onto fabrics and other materials through the inks. The transfer process is done through the heat press, which maintains the accurate temperature required at the transfer time. This technique helps print textiles, paper, and other materials, and this complete process is easy, versatile, and inexpensive.
Tools needed for screen print transfers
To perform screen-print transfers on fabrics, you’ll need the following tools:
- Squeegees, screen printing press, or heat press
- Around 110–156 mesh screens and printed images or design
- A piece of fabric or t-shirt and reliable transfer paper
- Adhesive powder and plastisol ink
- Scoop coater with round and thin coating edges
Steps to make screen print transfer
Without wasting any time, let’s move on to the main topic of discussion — steps to make screen print transfers.
Here are some easy steps for screen print transfers:
Prepare the screen
The screen is the primary tool for screen printing, and it’s a mesh fabric stretched onto a metal frame or wood. It’s made of silk and contains the design for the ink to transfer to the fabric. But it consists of a two-step procedure.
- Make a design on screen printing film- For the design, you have two choices. First, you can download the picture from the web and print it on screen printing film with the help of an inkjet printer. Second, make your design directly on the screen-printing film.
- Burn the design to the screen- It is the most difficult step of screen printing. For this, you’ll need an emulsion. It’s a sensitive substance, so you must switch off the lights before you work with emulsion.
Printing your design to transfer paper
It is the main component of screen-print transfers; you’ll print your design onto paper and then transfer it onto the material. Put the sheet of paper on the board using an adhesive so that the sheet doesn’t move during the ink stroke. Then drop the screen and place it on the paper’s top. You’ll then slop the ink onto the black of the screen, flood the ink and stroke down once to the base of the screen using low pressure. At this point, your design should be printed on paper.
Usage of Heating press
You’ll need the best heat press for quality design transfers from paper to fabric. Turn the heat press to 180–250 degrees Fahrenheit, put the fabric over the press, and put the paper on the cloth. After completing the time, put a heat press and peel slowly from the edges of the transfer paper. If your design is entirely printed, peel the paper.
Conclusion
From the above-given guide, you know how to make screen print transfers with ease. It’s a cost-effective way that benefits you to perform fabric printing. So, now you are ready to print designs on fabrics.
It’s time to be creative. Try it now!