Information For Screen Printing A T-Shirt

The Importance of a Dark Room in Making Screen Printed Tees

For those who are new to making homemade shirts using screen printing, there may be some question as to how strictly instructions must be followed when going through the creative process. While creativity and out-of-the box approaches are a great way to produce something new and unique, some attention to the basics is required. From designing you custom graphic to applying light sensitive emulsion, some steps of the process should not be overlooked. After printing your custom design or logo onto transparency film, it is important that you continue the process in a dark room, or a room in which light is absent or restricted.

Allow for Optimum Exposure

In the process of applying emulsion, aligning the layers of your graphic, and getting your screen prepared for light exposure, it is essential that a dark room is used to prevent early or over exposed film. When a proper dark room setting is available, you are more likely to have a successful finished product.

Set-Up a Safe and Convenient Wash-Out Station

After the emulsion has been applied and your screen has taken in the correct level of light exposure, it is often most convenient to have your wash-out station ready and waiting for you in your dark room area. Because you should not expose your screen to light until all emulsion has been washed away, a readily prepared wash-out station in your dark room can make the process much more convenient and help you avoid mishaps.

To learn more about the process of creating a t-shirt using screen printing, see the infographic below.