Have you ever purchased a product that stated on the label: 1 U.S. Gallon, but when opened it wasn't quite full? Sure you have - it happens all the time. But, the real question is, "Did you get what you paid for?" Or were you...
Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the worldwide unemployment rate was the lowest since the late 1960s. With so many businesses unable to financially weather the pandemic, that low unemployment rate is now history. Much of the world is on lockdown, and employees have lost their...
Every screenprint business owner knows that the success of the organization depends on employees and customers to keep it functioning well. Don't let the pandemic lockdown control your future. by Bill Hood, ASDPT 19 Mar 2020 - Governments around the world have issued a Stay-At-Home policy. As...
What happens to your revenue when you make a small change in production? You might be surprised to find that a very small change can make a huge difference at the end of the year. Let's take a look at Time-Based Revenue Opportunity. by Bill Hood,...
As the Pandemic continues to affect the world, we must come face-to-face with the reality of survival. By Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow As we all know, many screenprinting businesses are affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. It will reach all segments of the screenprinting technologies, due to event...
You Can Increase the Amount of Detail with Some Knowledge I receive a great number of questions, some of which need a more thorough explanation. This is one of those questions. If you need a question answered, there is a link at the bottom of this...
Don't Put Off These Inexpensive Safety Measures Safety should always a priority in any business to protect personnel and equipment. And, safety sleeve spring covers may be one of the least expensive solutions, but often overlooked until a spring breakage sends a staff member to the...
The Durometer is Not What You Think! In almost every class I have taught, or seminar I have given about screenprinting, someone will ask a question regarding squeegee hardness and ask if they need to invest in a durometer. And, as an avid researcher, I often...
There are many misunderstandings about why plastisol ink fails. The injudicious passing along of widely held but false beliefs and ideas, misrepresentation of the truth, and exaggerated or idealized conceptions of ill-conceived thoughts of plastisol inks on social media are among the most rampant of...
Are you currently offering no art charges, no setup fees, and free shipping and thinking that the public actually believes you? If so, you could actually lower your prices, build trust, and increase your sales and revenue. Today, as I begin my research for this article,...
For decades screenprinters have used a 5 to 10 power folding loupe for inspecting and analyzing their prints, the quality of the stencil, the edge definition of the print, the surface of the ink deposit, registration and other details that need magnification. The loupe was...
Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies The next time you are at an industry trade show, look closely at the lapels of other attendees and you might notice a small lapel pin with the letters ASDPT. Those who wear this pin are a very prestigious group...
Stop Buying Pressure Washers When What You Need is a Better Pump Let’s face it, it seems that most pressure washers only last so long. The reason is that most screenprinters buy non-industrial type pressure washers at the local hardware store. These pressure washers are not...
I am often asked about the true purpose of degreasing and if it will really eliminate pinholes. It seems that there are a number of individuals who, perhaps, on a budget-minded philosophy have eliminated degreasing entirely from their screenmaking process. Their thinking is that the...
Apparently lots of people think that starting a business is easy. In the U.S. alone, some 800,000 individuals start a new business each year, and 80-percent fail within a year. The ratio of failures in the screenprinting technologies is even higher, perhaps due to the...
Emergencies, by their nature, are unpredictable. When they happen, they can derail your financial stability. A sudden illness or accident, unexpected job loss, or even a surprise home or car repair can devastate your family’s day-to-day cash flow if you aren’t prepared. Learn how much...
Quite often, we find items with a thickness that looks like high-density screenprinting, but with extremely fine detail that belies the process of high-density printing. We can find this process used on clothing, shoes, caps, phone cases, purses, and thousands of other mass-produced items. Look...
In this simple tutorial you will learn how to increase the resolution of a 72-dpi gif that is only 2.75-inches to a clean illustration that is 300-dpi and 8-inches. Watch this video!...
For those who can never seem to get the very best detail out of their stencils, have to constantly block out pinholes, have stencils that breakdown on the press, and are thinking that there must be a better way. There is! This article describes a...
I am a serial entrepreneur, having started more businesses than most. It helps that I am a serious workaholic, arising as early as 4:30 a.m. and often working until 1:00 a.m. the following morning. At present, I own and operate ten businesses and all are...
If you are among the many who have problems exposing stencils, this article will explain how to put an end to the stress that you are going through. Become a fly on the wall as we walk a printer through the correct exposure time before...
Every business owner is continuously asking themselves, "How can I keep growing my business?” Most learn early on that the answer is to take good care of your existing customers and the business will grow intrinsically. by Bill Hood, ASDPT 6 Jul 2017 - Any business with...
Choose your squeegee wisely. Your choice of the squeegee can have a big impact on your printing - make sure you're using the right one for the job! Efficient and effective screenprinting requires the proper tools, and the squeegee is very near the top of...
I am often asked about the ink transfer process. The question usually comes from a textile printer who is trying to print thick white plastisol ink. Of course, without knowledge of the ink transfer process, he is quite simply scooping out a large amount of...
The curing process of plastisol ink is simple. During the curing process, the plastic resin is heated and opens up to absorb the liquid plasticizer. As the resin cools it once again retains its plastic form, with the plasticizer inside. However, curing has to be...
Creating beautiful prints is an art that can be learned. It becomes more difficult if one does not invest in the right software, and lose the enthusiasm for attempting to save a few dollars upfront. And, we need the right tools and knowledge to produce...
Every screenprinter needs tools! Now that I have said that, my addiction to buying the necessary tools doesn’t seem so bad. I have spent quite a bit of money over the years buying tools, many of which were for no other reason than reviewing them...
This article is for those who must work in hot climates with high humidity and have to deal with the discomfort of chafing. Having lived in five of the hottest cities in the USA and working in the others on the Top Ten List, I am...
