The slideshow above features samples of the wide variety of looks you can achieve through the process of Screen Printing. Each of these samples were produced in our shop, right here in Eagle River, Alaska.

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     Screen Printing is one of several options we offer for applying your designs to apparel. It is ideal for designs that require a high level of vibrancy. The ink in screen printing is applied thicker than DTG Printing or Cut Vinyl Heat Transfers, which results in brighter colors even on darker shirts. Each color of your design is burned into it's own stencil, and those individual layers are then applied to your garment, one at a time, combining to make the finished product.

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     Screen Printing is a printing technique whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact. This causes the ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed.

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     There are various terms used for what is essentially the same technique. Traditionally the process was called screen printing or silkscreen printing because silk was used in the process prior to the invention of polyester mesh. Currently, synthetic threads are commonly used in the screen printing process. The most popular mesh in general use is made of polyester. There are special-use mesh materials of nylon and stainless steel available to the screen printer. There are also different types of mesh size which will determine the outcome and look of the finished design on the material.