Genelia

Organization on the brain? Considering the leap to a business management software to save a few hours of sleep? Give this post a read. If you are new to business management software just know there are a lot of options out there. With that said it can be very overwhelming when trying to pick one or to decide if you even need one. Screen Printing is a unique business to run and due to that several software’s have been created that are catered toward print shops. Picking a screen printing software is like buying a car, there are a lot of manufacturers out there with different options at various price ranges. You must do your research to find out which one works for you and your business’s needs. Some business owners may just need help sending quick quotes and accessing their distributors catalogs while others want full e-Commerce capabilities as well. These software’s offer a slew of features to help you run your shop effectively. Here are a few of the popular capabilities these prog...

 If you're in the screen printing game and looking to expand your methods or boost production efficiency, you've probably come across the term plastisol heat transfer . It's not just another industry buzzword—this technique offers a powerful way to deliver high-quality, long-lasting prints with flexibility and precision. So, what exactly is plastisol heat transfer, and why are so many screen printers shifting toward this method? What Is Plastisol Heat Transfer? Plastisol heat transfer is a printing process where your design is first screen printed onto a special transfer paper using plastisol ink. Once the print is ready and cured on the paper, it can be stored and later applied to garments using a heat press. This method separates the printing and garment-pressing stages, giving you far more control and efficiency, especially for bulk orders or on-demand printing. For a step-by-step breakdown, check out this comprehensive guide on how to screen print with plastisol tr...

  To screen print a design onto a t-shirt you need to create a stencil for your artwork. A stencil can be made in several ways but in this blog, we are going to discuss how to make a silk screen stencil using two different methods. There is a DIY method using a vinyl cutter, often referred to as Cricut screen printing, and there is a traditional screen-printing method that uses screen printing emulsion and light. These two methods vary greatly, however, they result in the same finished good, a printed design on your desired substrate. Below we will break down the materials you need for both Cricut screen printing and traditional screen printing and the directions to complete each method. We hope that by the end of this blog you will feel confident in one of the methods and be able to create your very first stencil.  Price is something to keep in mind when looking at these two methods. How much money do you want to spend on your initial screen printing setup? If ...

Using glow-in-the-dark ink for screen printing can be a fun and creative way to add unique effects to your designs. Using glow in the dark ink is simple and very similar to how you print plastisol and water-based inks. Below we note a few things that make Rapid Cure Glow in the Dark Ink different than other inks and how to print with it. Print with a under base ink.  While you can print glow in the dark ink straight to the garment we highly recommend printing on under base white ink or a fluorescent-colored ink. Under-base White ink will make the glow in the dark in really pop. Try ours out here. Fluorescent colored ink will create different effects with your ink, making some really cool funky colors. Screen Print Direct has 6 fun colors, click here to view. Expose your ink to light to get a more vibrant glow.  By exposing the cured print to more light, you will charge up your print to really glow when its dark. Rapid Cure Glow in the Dark Ink is low temperature cure.  Ma...

 When it comes to getting clean, professional screen prints, it all starts with your design—and that means you need a reliable printer for screen printing . While the actual printing press and inks often get the spotlight, the printer you use to create film positives is just as critical to your results. So, what exactly should you look for in a printer for screen printing? 1. Inkjet vs. Laser Inkjet printers are typically preferred for screen printing because they produce darker, higher-quality film positives using pigment-based inks. Laser printers can work too, but they often lack the density required for crisp, detailed screens. 2. Ink Type Matters Pigment-based black ink is ideal for film positives because it offers rich, opaque prints that block UV light effectively during exposure. Many standard desktop printers don’t include true pigment black, so make sure to check your ink compatibility. 3. Transparency Film Compatibility Not all printers handle transparency film we...

  Screen printing inkjet film alignment can be challenging. Incorrectly positioning your inkjet transparency film can cause headache when beginning the printing process. Master film alignment and make the printing process easier. Here are our favorite tips from our team of screen-printing pros.   #1 Set up your platen for success Understanding how platens function in relation to the screen is critical. To begin, position the screen on the platen. Make a grid system on the platen so you always know where to place the screen. Draw a vertical line down the center of the platen, followed by another about 4" to the left from the middle line. You'll be able to line up the center of the print as well as the left chest print this way. Check out this blog for more information on  How to Draw Your Screen Printing Laten Center Line . Vertical lines are essential for aligning the shirt with the print. Horizontal lines do the same thing, but they also help you line up the collar of th...

When it comes to screen printing, the search for the best white ink is practically a rite of passage. Whether you're printing bold graphics on dark garments or laying down a crisp underbase, white plastisol ink is a make-or-break element in your print shop. But not all white inks are created equal—some are too thick, others don't flash properly, and a few just don’t pop the way they should. So, what’s the real best white ink for screen printing? 👉 We’ve got you covered right here. Why White Ink Matters So Much White ink plays a critical role in how your designs turn out—especially when printing on dark or colored garments. It needs to be smooth enough to print easily, thick enough to provide strong opacity, and versatile enough to work on different fabrics. Here are a few key factors that separate the great from the “meh”: Opacity – A good white ink should cover dark fabrics with one or two passes. Flash time – You want an ink that cures quickly without scorchi...