Why Screen Printing Has Been A Truly Timeless Solution
Few art forms have proven as resilient as screen printing. The use of fabric screens in printing processes appeared in China in the Middle Ages. As competing technologies ranging from the press to computer-aided printing have appeared, screen printing services providers have not only survived but thrived. Let's look at why printing companies and their customers have come back to screen techniques for centuries.
Simple Methods Producing Complex Results
When a printer uses a screen, they're using what is fundamentally an adjustable stencil. Rather than cutting a hole in a form, though, the printer uses a non-permeable material like wax to create the shapes. The ink then travels through the exposed area to produce the application.
Two simple ideas allow screen printing services firms to create more complex results. First, they can use layers. Suppose you want to print a T-shirt with a red sun behind black hills with your company's name beneath in black, too. The printer can apply the red layer and then return to apply the black one.
Secondly, a printer can adjust the non-permeable layer to let more or less ink through. They can do this with a process similar to stippling by poking holes in one layer. If you want to make a yellow-to-green gradient, for example, the printer can start with the solid yellow layer and then use small dots of blue to create the green gradient.
Easy Scalability for Projects Big and Small
Another argument for the centuries-long success of screen printing is the ability to scale its usage for all sizes of projects. If you need to produce 25 jerseys every year for a youth baseball team, a printer can create screens for the team's logo, the sponsors' images, and the players' numbers. They can also easily add letters for players' names.
The same process that works well for small projects is downright impressive for big ones. Suppose a band needs to produce 10,000 shirts with a single-color design before a concert. A screen printing business can take their design, produce a screen, and roll out all the necessary shirts.
Screen Printing in the Time of Computer Design
While many art forms have become marginalized in the age of the computer, screen printing has boomed. Part of its success has been its high compatibility with computer design. Computers have made the screen creation process easier and faster. Suppose a company is planning a convention in a city on the other side of the country. They can send their digital files to a printer in that city knowing the printer can produce all the items they need.
For more information on screen printing, contact a company near you.
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