T-Shirt Printing Services

All About Shirt Screen Printing in Atlanta

Screen printing is a popular method of printing designs on t-shirts, hoodies, or any other type of apparel. It involves using a fine mesh screen, with the design stenciled onto it, and applying ink through the screen onto the fabric.

It gives a vibrant, long-lasting print that can withstand regular wear and multiple washes. Whether you are looking to advertise a business, commemorate a special event, or simply express your individuality, shirt screen printing offers endless possibilities.

From shirt screen printing in Atlanta to bulk shirt printing, Custom Tees’ expertise and attention to detail ensure that every shirt meets the highest standards of quality and durability.

Custom screen printed t-shirts are an excellent way to create personalized garments for various purposes.

Benefits of Shirt Screen Printing in Atlanta

Custom Tees is one of the best screen printing companies in Atlanta. We have earned the customer's trust over hundreds of others. Our custom screen printing offers numerous benefits, making it a popular and preferred method.

Here are the detailed benefits of shirt screen printing:

 • Versatility: It can be used on a wide range of fabrics — cotton, polyester, blends, and even specialty materials like canvas and denim. This versatility makes it suitable for printing on various types of apparel, such as T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tote bags, and more.

 • Vibrant Colors: Screen t-shirt printing inks are opaque and offer vibrant, rich colors that stand out on dark and light-colored fabrics. This allows for excellent color saturation and a wide spectrum of color options, including Pantone matching for precise color reproduction.

 • Durability: Screen printing inks penetrate the fabric fibers, creating a long-lasting bond that withstands repeated washes and extended wear. The prints do not fade or crack easily, ensuring that the design remains sharp and vibrant for a long time.

 • Cost-Effective for Bulk Orders: It is more cost-effective as the number of items increases. The setup cost for creating screens is spread across the entire print run, making it an ideal choice for large-scale production and bulk orders. Explore even more discounts at one of the best screen printing companies in Atlanta.

 • Customization: Each screen is made for a specific design, so you can customize each design. Businesses, organizations, and individuals can create unique, personalized apparel with their own logos, artwork, or messages.

 • High-Quality Prints: The precise nature of screen printing ensures accurate and detailed prints, making it suitable for intricate designs and fine details. It offers consistent results, and once the setup is perfected, each print will look nearly identical.

 • Eco-Friendly Options: Water-based and eco-friendly inks are available for screen printing, reducing the environmental impact compared to some other printing methods that use harsh chemicals.

 • Ideal for Special Effects: It allows for various special effects and finishes, such as foil printing, glitter ink, high-density ink, and more. These effects can add texture, shine, and dimension to the prints, creating eye-catching and unique designs.

 • Quick Production:Once the screens are prepared and the setup is complete, the actual printing process is relatively fast. A large number of garments can be produced in a short period, making it suitable for tight deadlines and last-minute orders.

 • Long-Lasting and Professional Appearance: Custom screen-printed t-shirt designs have a professional, clean, and consistent appearance. This makes them suitable for promotional items, corporate apparel, sports team uniforms, and merchandise, where a polished and uniform look is desired.

Submitting a Design at our Local Screen Printing Store 

Skip visiting random local screen printers in Atlanta instead, place the order online at Custom Tees.

Follow these simple guidelines to submit your design;

File Format

• Vector Files: EPS, SVG, AI, PDF

• Raster Files: PSD, TIF, PNG, JPG, PDF

Resolution

• Minimum 300 DPI at the desired print size

• Colors

• 8 or lesser colors

We will show you an example of the final shirt screen printing. If you like and approve the final artwork we will start with printing other t-shirts.

Reach out to us for more information or queries regarding the design submission and our team will assist you!

Custom T-Shirt Screen Printing Process

The process of custom screen t-shirt printing in Atlanta involves creating a stencil (screen) and using it to apply ink onto the shirt's surface. Here's a step-by-step overview of the shirt screen printing process:

 • Design Creation

Firstly, the design that has to be printed on the t-shirt is created using graphic design software or by hand if the design is more intricate. It is ensured that the design is in vector format to maintain its quality and scalability.

 • Stencil Preparation:

The screen used for screen shirt printing in Atlanta is made of fine polyester mesh. The mesh's fineness is determined by the number of threads per inch (e.g., 110 mesh, 230 mesh). Finer mesh is used for more detailed designs, while coarser mesh is used for larger, bolder designs.

The screen is stretched over a wooden or aluminum frame and secured tightly to create a flat printing surface. It's essential to have the right tension to ensure accurate and consistent prints.

 • Screen Coating:

The emulsion used for coating the screen consists of two components: a sensitizer and an emulsion. These are mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions to create a light-sensitive solution.

The emulsion is poured onto the screen and evenly spread on both sides using a scoop coater or squeegee. The excess emulsion is removed, leaving a thin and even layer.

The coated screen is then left to dry in a dark, controlled environment to avoid premature exposure.

 • Exposure:

Once the emulsion has dried, the screen is ready for exposure. The film positive with the design is placed on top of the screen, and both are secured in place using registration marks to ensure alignment.

The screen is exposed to a strong UV light source. The light hardens the emulsion in the areas not covered by the design on the film positive, effectively creating a stencil on the screen.

Exposure time varies depending on the emulsion and light source used. Proper exposure is crucial to achieving sharp and accurate prints.

 • Screen Setup:

The prepared and exposed screen is mounted onto a screen printing press, which holds the screen securely in place.

The press often has adjustments to fine-tune the screen's position to ensure proper alignment with the shirt.

• Ink Preparation:

Screen printing inks are specifically designed for the process and come in various formulations, including water-based, plastisol, and discharge inks.

The ink's consistency can be adjusted using additives to achieve the desired texture and opacity.

Pantone color matching is often used to ensure accurate color representation in the print.

• Printing Process:

The shirt is laid flat on the printing board, and the screen is positioned directly above it.

A specific amount of ink is placed on the screen, above the design's location.

The squeegee, typically made of rubber, is used to pull the ink across the screen. The pressure forces the ink through the open areas of the stencil and onto the shirt below.

The printer must apply consistent pressure and ensure smooth strokes to avoid smudging or misprints.

 • Curing:

Curing the ink is essential to make the print permanent and washable. The ink needs to reach a certain temperature to bond with the fabric fibers.

Conveyor belt dryers or heat presses are commonly used for curing. In conveyor dryers, the printed shirts pass through a heated tunnel, while heat presses apply direct heat and pressure to cure the ink.

 • Quality Control:

After curing, the shirts are inspected for print quality, color accuracy, and any defects.

Misprints or errors can be touched up or removed, and the shirts may undergo re-curing if necessary.

Important Note: Screen printing tee shirts involves additional steps and variations depending on the complexity of the design, the number of colors used, and the specific equipment and materials available.

The process can be labor-intensive, but it allows for high-quality, durable prints suitable for a wide range of fabric materials.