T-Shirt printing question

depends on what printing method your going for. if u are using a lot of colours then screen printing will cost a fair bit with 4+ colours. as for dpi, ya 300 is good.
id research a few local printers if i were you, get some quotes for costs.etc

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www.mutanthands.com

if you're looking to make shirts, going to a printers office won't do you much good. you should be looking into local silkscreen shops or maybe look into buying your own press.

mojomonkee
Customize.org Staff
News, Submissions

generic: are you thinking of doing something like at this site? www.spreadshirt.net or just something local?

me and my buddy bought a used press. thats how we started www.desolateclothing.com

there are a lot of equipment cost that way but you can do what ever you want and you don't have to print so many shirts at a time and you aren'y paying to make shirts that you aren't sure are going to sell.

http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~lindstro/

Nice site sirwonkus

Matthew 23:24 "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

how much did you pay for the press?

.ikonoklast

our first press was like 400 bucks, but we had it shipped to my friends dads factory because you need to be on a ups delivering schedule for big things, most people would probably run into a problem there. it was a four screen press. not in very good condition i might add. we sold that a few years later and bought a more exspensive new one...im not sure what the price was by then.

that site, and the company is now all maintained by James Brink my friend. he deserve the credit for it Bozzle.

http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~lindstro/

thnx for replying guys


sirwonkus i actually tought about that ,the buying our own press ,but then again i always tought that these things would cost a fortune AND that these presses are hughe , am i wrong ?

anny idea what you pay for a good press and do you need like lots of space to place the press ,i have no idea what those things look like

maybe some link to some companys that make presses would be great that way we could give it a look

thnx in advance





ARTofficial Intelligence

i think we got off ebay. a four headed press could range in size from like a 3 foot radius to a 6 foot radius. keep in mind you would have to make screens too...that kinda like developing film so you would need a dark room.

we did it in my friends unfinished part of his basement.

http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~lindstro/

You can also make your own screens and hand squeeqie 'em.

Instead of the dark room method I think there is a way to hand cut emulsion, but it's a pain?

colossus72 [c72]
Customize.org Staff
member relations, submissions.

mmm...sounds pretty complicated all this printing
ARTofficial Intelligence

I started out with a simple one color press that a buddy of mine and I made from some scrap wood and almn... i now have 2 8 color presses that i got from ebay for pretty cheap (1500 usd with a dryer) and more work that i care to have for a hobby :(

but if you want a cheap and easy way to get started try this

http://www.livejournal.com/community/craftgrrl/3674467.html
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http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
And for this, I go to hell.

forgot a link to some inexpencive equipment

http://www.silkscreenbiz.com/package3.htm

and its not that hard, i think the most difficult parts are leveling, and indexing the screens, that and working with a hang-over next to the dryer thats pumping out 350deg or higher air...


oh and col, the darkroom thing, just has to be void of UV, you need to emultion to do the screens up.. it sucks and it gets you high

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http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
And for this, I go to hell.

like c72 said: handmade screens and a squeegee will work. i've done it before making single-color band shirts. i'm sure it's even possible to do it with two or three colors if you're careful.

since you're just starting out, start simple. go to an art supply store and buy a few screens in frames and some emulsification goop. then take your image and get it printed on a transparency at kinkos. then go through the burn-in process and make the screen. grab a squeegee and go to town! silkscreen your cat!

mojomonkee
Customize.org Staff
News, Submissions

Just my 2 cents worth, but I deal with a lot of new t-shirt start-ups in the UK and if you are looking to make money from your business and attract good distributors then I cannot stress the benefits of going to a professional screen printer who has had years of experiance, especially if your designs contain more than one colour. Otherwise, it is hard to get buyers interested in your designs if the print quality is not up to scratch.

Alex

If you need help Printing we have a Auto press!

Go here for a Quote http://wwww.bande.biz[/url]

For help and answers about doing art Please visit the xlntscreen art forums here http://www.xlntscreenart.com[/url]

artelf

Hiya, my names joollzz and I'm currently looking to start my own t-shirt printing business here in the UK. The first problem that I have encountered is with transfer paper. I made a design, prited it, cut it out and went for it with the iron !! FANTASTIC it looked fab.. Washed it..OH MY GAWD..My print is coming away from the t-shirt..Back to the drawing board..GGrrrrrr Can someone please, please, please advise me on what I'm doing wrong.......

wow dont bring back old threads, you guys suck

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CAPITALIZEX[/B]