We’re very thankful to Sam Austrin-Miner, owner of Ministry of Shirts in Armidale, Australia, for contributing this super informative article where he shares their experience of upgrading from manual presses to the all-electric Anatol VOLT automatic screen printing press. Read on to see what the upgrade meant to his business, and the steps the Ministry team took to prepare for the automatic press’s arrival. How did you make the decision to move from a manual press to an automatic screen printing press? For us, it was a question of “we can’t get one quick enough.” The company grew too quickly ..read more

Check out some tips for screen printing eye-catching designs with glitter ink! Glitter ink can be used to create a variety of different effects to help your screen prints stand out, from adding a subtle extra dimension to shiny high gloss prints you can’t miss. It’s easy enough to get started printing with glitter, but there are some special considerations you’ll need to take into account that sets this technique apart from standard screen printing. What Sets Glitter Ink Apart from Regular Screen Printing Ink? Glitter ink is composed of flakes of shiny foil or plastic called crystalina, usuall ..read more

There’s still a couple more months of cold to deal with, but one thing that can help us get through it is fleece! You may have asked yourself, “What is fleece?” Fleece is a synthetic material made of polyester specially processed to create a material that is both thick and warm, yet light and soft. There are many different varieties of fleece, differing in density and appearance. For apparel, these are some of the most common types: 1. Microfleece – a thin and light material, which is an excellent option for lining garments. 2. Fleece of medium thickness – the most versatile and common type of ..read more

Every screen printer wants to create durable stencils that don’t degrade over the course of a print run. Stencils that soften or break down during long press runs or when used with water-based inks can slow production and lead to misprints and waste. To combat this, many screen printers turn to post-exposure. That is, exposing screens coated in photosensitive emulsion to more UV light after they have been exposed and washed out. But does post-exposure really increase stencil durability? How can you take advantage of post-exposure to create more durable screen printing stencils? The value of po ..read more

Learning how to create polished, professional product photos can help you take your screen printing business to the next level. Great product photos ensure that your business is seen in the best light possible. Mastering the basic steps of professional-looking product photos allows you to post top-notch images to your website and social media accounts, and gives you great content to use in your marketing materials. Fortunately, setting up a photography space is simple, and it doesn’t require a big investment in expensive equipment. Here are 7 steps to taking professional-grade product photos a ..read more

Many screen printers struggle to keep their production running on schedule to meet the delivery dates they set for their customers. Too often, shops find themselves scrambling to meet the final deadline, which can lead to staff overtime and plenty of stress. Even worse, if you don’t deliver when you say you will, you risk having an unhappy customer. But when you’re managing multiple jobs and multiple clients, it can be difficult to stick to your projected timeline. Sticking to your production schedule comes down to time and project management. There are several tactics you can use to keep your ..read more

It’s a feeling shared by a lot of small business owners: You work tirelessly and put a tremendous amount of time and energy into your business, but it just doesn’t seem to be growing at the pace you expect it to. It can be defeating and make you feel at a loss for how to move your business forward. No doubt, owning your own print shop, or any business, is a challenge. You invest in top of the line screen printing equipment, carefully organize your workflow, and hire and train a capable team – but you’re still not achieving your goals. If you’re not growing the way you want to, you may need to ..read more

Screen printing on short sleeves, down the arm of a long-sleeve shirt or down the leg of sweatpants or yoga pants can be a fun option for your screen printing customers to customize their apparel. This type of screen printing is perfectly attainable and relatively easy, though it does take a few tips and tricks to ensure that the prints are properly placed and have the right look. 1. Use the right pallet Screen printing on pant legs or shirt sleeves requires a special pallet. The same pallet is generally used for both, and they are marketed as shirt sleeve or sweat pant pallets. These pallets ..read more

Earth Day is meant to remind people of the ways they can have a positive impact on the environment. While Earth Day serves as a special reminder, many people have made being more environmentally conscious part of their lifestyles. Maybe you are looking for ways to go more eco-friendly with your screen printing business, or maybe you are looking to appeal to eco-minded customers. One way to green your screen printing is by offering custom decorated environmentally friendly products. Here are three ways you can add eco-friendly products to your screen printing business. 1. Seek out eco-friendly ..read more

Printing for sports — whether it’s local athletic teams or 5Ks and triathlons — is the bread and butter for many screen printing shops. If printing for athletic teams and events comprises a lot of your business, you need to be prepared to make the most of it. Many athletic teams or athletic event organizers will come to you for t-shirts and jerseys. By curating the right upsell and cross-sell items for your athletic customers, you can boost your sales and cultivate customer loyalty by providing products that meet their needs perfectly. Knowing which items to recommend to your customers begins ..read more