The screenprinting process actually requires several steps to apply your image onto a t-shirt or other garment.  To begin, we need to start out with a good piece of art.  You may have heard of it as "black and white camera ready artwork".  In todays terms that means a vector image.  This could be one of the following formats: Eps, Ai, Cdr.  (If you do not have a vector file format we can redraw your logo for a minimal charge when you place an order with us.  Of course this will be for the use of your order only). 

So, from the good vector file, we then go to making the seperations.  In screen printing, you will need one screen for every color in your logo.   If you are printing a 2-color logo on the front of a tee shirt, then you will need 2 screens.  To make the seperations, we will need to seperate the two colors - one for each screen.  If your logo is red and yellow, we will print out the red on one paper and the yellow on another paper.  

After the seperations are printed, we will expose the screens.  One screen will be red and the other, yellow.  The screens are coated with a "light sensitive" glue that hardens to the screen.  When exposing the screen, it is put under light for a specific amount of time (depending on the design).  We then remove the screen from the light unit and spray with water.  The water then sprays away the light sensitive glue from the part where the logo was. This makes a stencil that will be used to print your design or logo onto a shirt, sweatshirt or other garment. 

After the screens are dry, they are then set up on the press.  There are a few tedious steps here that I will not go into detail about.  But after that, the two screens must be aligned on the press so that they print the image correctly in registration.  And now, the printing process begins.  The first color is printed and then the second color, etc.  From the press, the shirt is ran through a dryer that cures the ink onto the shirt so that it will not wash off.  From there, the shirts are either packaged for delivery, or ready to print the other side. 

So, there you have it, screen printing in a nutshell.