The Step by Step Process of Custom tshirt Screen Printing

Custom tshirt screen printing is a timeless method for creating vibrant, durable, and eye catching apparel, perfect for businesses, events, or personal projects. Whether you’re a DIY designer looking to bring your artwork to life or a curious client seeking transparency in the process, understanding how screen printing works builds trust and ensures quality results. 

Ocean Blue Graphics, South Florida’s premier source for screen printing and custom merchandise, has perfected this craft over 20 years, delivering exceptional tshirts for fishing tournaments, corporate teams, and more. This guide walks you through the step by step process of custom tshirt screen printing, covering design upload, color selection, screen setup, ink types, and garment matching.

Why Screen Printing for Custom tshirts?

Screen printing is the gold standard for custom tshirts due to its versatility, durability, and ability to produce bold designs in bulk. Unlike digital printing or sublimation, screen printing presses ink through a mesh screen, creating vibrant, long lasting prints that withstand repeated washing. Ocean Blue Graphics specializes in screen printing, offering high quality results for orders as small as 12 or as large as 500, with prices starting at $3 per shirt for bulk orders. The process is ideal for:

• Event Merchandise: Create branded tshirts for festivals or charity runs.
• Business Uniforms: Outfit teams with professional logos, as praised by clients like John Morejohn for Ocean Blue Graphics.
• Promotional Swag: Produce eye catching tees for marketing campaigns.

The Step by Step Screen Printing Process

Screen printing is a meticulous, multi step process that combines artistry and technical precision. Here’s how Ocean Blue Graphics transforms your vision into a wearable masterpiece:

Step 1: Design Upload and Approval

The journey begins with your design. Whether you have a finished logo or a rough sketch, Ocean Blue Graphics makes the process seamless:

• Submit Your Artwork: Upload your design in vector format (.ai, .eps, .pdf) for crisp prints. If you don’t have a vector file, their in house artists can create or refine your design, as noted in testimonials like John Morejohn’s for their “killer art.”
• Review Mockups: Ocean Blue Graphics provides digital mockups showing your design on the chosen garment, ensuring correct placement, size, and colors.
• Approve the Design: Confirm the mockup, specifying print location (e.g., chest, back, sleeve) and dimensions. This step ensures your vision aligns with the final product.

Tip: High resolution files (300 DPI or vector) prevent pixelation. Ocean Blue Graphics accepts various file types and offers design consultation.

Step 2: Color Selection

Choosing the right colors is critical for vibrant, impactful prints. Ocean Blue Graphics guides you through this process:

• Match Brand Colors: Use Pantone (PMS) colors for precise brand consistency, ideal for business logos or event themes.
• Consider Contrast: Select colors that pop against the garment. For example, white ink stands out on dark tees, while black ink suits light fabrics.
• Limit Colors for Cost: Each color requires a separate screen, so simpler designs (1 3 colors) are more cost effective. Ocean Blue Graphics offers specialty inks like metallic or glow in the dark for unique effects.

Tip: Request a color chart from Ocean Blue Graphics to visualize options and ensure vibrant results.

Step 3: Screens Setup

Screen setup is the heart of the process, where your design is prepared for printing:

• Create Film Positives: The design is separated into individual colors, with each color printed as a black and white film positive (transparency).
• Coat and Burn Screens: A fine mesh screen is coated with light sensitive emulsion. The film positive is placed on the screen, and UV light exposes the emulsion, hardening it except where the design blocks light. The unexposed emulsion is washed away, creating a stencil.
• Align Screens: Each screen is aligned on the press to ensure precise color registration. Ocean Blue Graphics uses advanced equipment for flawless alignment.

Note: Screens are reusable for future orders, reducing costs for reprints at Ocean Blue Graphics.

Step 4: Ink Types and Preparation

The right ink ensures durability and vibrancy. Ocean Blue Graphics offers a range of inks tailored to your project:

• Plastisol Ink: The most common choice, offering vibrant colors and durability for cotton and blends. It’s ideal for bold logos and event tees.
• Water Based Ink: Eco friendly and soft to the touch, perfect for lightweight fabrics or vintage looks.
• Specialty Inks: Metallic, puff, or reflective inks add unique flair, as used in Ocean Blue Graphics’s fishing tournament gear.
• Ink Mixing: Colors are mixed to match Pantone specifications, ensuring consistency across your order.

Tip: Discuss ink options with Ocean Blue Graphics to balance aesthetics, feel, and budget.

Step 5: Garment Matching

Choosing the right t shirt is as important as the design itself. Ocean Blue Graphics offers a variety of garments to suit your needs:

• Fabric Types: Cotton for comfort, polyester blends for performance, or tri blends for a soft, vintage feel. Their TRUMP MARLIN WHITE PERFORMANCE HAT showcases their expertise in performance fabrics.
• Fit and Style: Choose from crew neck, V neck, or slim fit options. Ocean Blue Graphics provides samples to ensure the perfect fit.
• Color Options: Match garment colors to your design for maximum impact, such as navy tees for fishing events or white for corporate uniforms.

Tip: Test a sample shirt to ensure comfort and print quality. Ocean Blue Graphics offers free consultations to guide garment selection.

Step 6: Printing Process

With screens and garments ready, printing begins:

• Setup the Press: The multi station press at Ocean Blue Graphics holds multiple screens, one for each color. Shirts are loaded onto platens.
• Apply Ink: Ink is pushed through each screen’s stencil using a squeegee, transferring the design onto the shirt. Each color is applied separately, with precise alignment.
• Flash Curing: For multi color designs, a flash cure unit dries each layer of ink before the next is applied, preventing smudging.

Note: Ocean Blue Graphics uses automated presses for consistency, ensuring every shirt looks identical.

Step 7: Curing and Finishing

Curing ensures the ink bonds permanently to the fabric:

• Heat Curing: Shirts pass through a conveyor dryer at 320°F for 30 60 seconds, setting the ink. Ocean Blue Graphics uses precise temperatures to prevent scorching.
• Quality Check: Each shirt is inspected for alignment, color accuracy, and defects. Any issues are corrected before shipping.
• Folding and Packing: Shirts are folded, tagged, and packed for delivery, with Ocean Blue Graphics offering 4 to 5 business day shipping.

Step 8: Delivery and Follow Up

• Shipping: Ocean Blue Graphics offers worldwide shipping, including the Caribbean, with UPS handling customs and duties. Orders ship in 4 to 5 days, with rush options available.
• Customer Support: Post delivery support ensures satisfaction, with a 30 day return policy for unused items.

Why Choose Ocean Blue Graphics?

Ocean Blue Graphics is South Florida’s trusted choice for screen printing, with over 20 years of experience and glowing testimonials:

• Expert Craftsmanship: Clients like Tommy Marone praise their unrivaled embroidery and print quality.
• Fast Turnaround: Deliveries in as little as one day for urgent orders.
• Design Expertise: In house artists create stunning designs, as noted by John Morejohn.
• Versatile Services: From tshirts to hats like the Gulf of America Hat, they cover all your apparel needs.

Conclusion

Custom tshirt screen printing is a precise, creative process that transforms your ideas into wearable art. From design upload to final delivery, Ocean Blue Graphics delivers exceptional quality, fast turnarounds, and personalized service, as evidenced by their loyal South Florida clientele. Whether you’re a DIY designer or a curious client, their transparent process builds trust and ensures stunning results. Start your custom tshirt project today by contacting Ocean Blue Graphics and experience their 20 years of expertise in action. Contact us today to get started

FAQs About Custom Tshirt Screen Printing