Advanced Diagramming Software I use diagrams almost daily in consulting with my clients. The reason is simply that my clients, like most people, are visual learners, and supplying them with visual graphics gets the point across quickly. I also use diagrams in my training programs and...
Low Tension Could Be Causing More Problems Than You Think If you are currently having problems with ink transfer, making multiple strokes, have rough ink finishes, uneven color consistency, poor registration, and slow setup times then the information in this article will provide data and information...
Reduce Production Costs With the Right Strategy Every screenprinting shop should be concerned with lowering costs. If you are currently using stretch-and-glue (SAG) frames in a commercial screenprinting venture you are only causing problems that are off-setting any savings you believe you may have. This article...
Heat Detector A heat detector can help resolve issues with curing in a conveyor oven. You simply set the minimum and maximum temperature range and when the dryer goes above or below the settings, the built-in audible alarm and timer beeps to let the operator know...
Why Use Cross Hair Registration Marks? Let's begin with a question. Why are register marks used to align the stencils on a multicolor job? by Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow and SPTRC Lead Researcher Most screenprinters use registration marks to align the separate screens when printing with more than...
Since 1884 when screenprinting was invented, it has been at the forefront of printed methods, yet it remains an anomaly to those outside of the industry. It is time to wake the world up to the screenprinting process. Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow, SPTRC Lead Researcher “Screenprinting is...
If you are having trouble aligning T-shirts on your press so that they are centered and horizontal on the shirts, the problem may be in how you are attempting the alignment process. This article will help you align the shirt properly every time. And, the...
Every new car that you buy comes with an owner's manual that gives specific information about the car. The exact amount of air to put in the tires in the summer or winter, when and how to change the oil, and what oil should be...
Screens must be properly exposed to ensure maximum durability on the press. Underexposure is often the culprit when screens break down prematurely, especially with water-based inks. A unique exposure time is required for each mesh count, thread size, mesh color, tension level, emulsion type, and...
Screenprinting is a manufacturing process. In the end, it really should be about what is most efficient, effective, and economically viable (commonly described as the "3-Es") to both the organization and the clients. Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow Maximum productive efficiency requires producing goods and services at the...
If you are a screenprinter there is no doubt that on those long days you experience pain in your hands and wrists. You are not alone! This is a common complaint from screenprinters. Let's discuss some ways of eliminating the pain resulting from repetitive motion. by...
What do Band-Aids and screenprinting have in common? While the textile segment of the screenprinting industries may not hold the record for the usage of the term "Put a Band-Aid on it!", they certainly have taken advantage of it. Bill Hood, ASPDT Fellow In 1886, three brothers...
It is extremely difficult in screenprinting to create a specific color of ink on the press, and expect that it will exactly match the print from a previous job. It is impossible for anyone who does not have the entire process under absolute control. Bill Hood,...
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. The question is, "Did you get what you paid for?" Or were you shorted? This...
The most basic lesson one can learn in life is how to respect others and gain their respect. We live within a world in which societal norms - each with their unique culture, upbringing, and socialization - are mingled in every part of our lives. By...
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,...
No printer sets out to print an image with the incorrect color match, to make two or more squeegee strokes to achieve opacity, or in the case of printing on a textile substrate having to use a print/flash/print technique. This article explains how to predetermine...
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 read technical papers on the screenprinting...
This morning I received an email from a vendor that read, "Dear Friend! Our prices are going up. Take advantage of our current prices now before the price increase!" The email explained that the vendor's costs of raw materials have been consistently increasing over the...
Have you noted small, hard particles of plastisol ink on the screen? Perhaps you have noted that the ink does not clear the mesh completely, and there seemed to be ink particles stuck in the mesh openings. Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow This is not normal and signifies...
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. Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow Today, as I begin my research...
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...
While everyone has their own thoughts about everything about screenmaking, there are Best Practices in place that will work for everyone if followed correctly. by Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow Just like other variables in the screenprinting process, coating, drying, exposure, and development of the stencil must be...
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!...
Are you still printing on the platens that came with your press and do not have rubber platen tops, then this article will explain how you can benefit from rubber tops and what material you need. by Bill Hood, ASDPT Fellow Most manual presses are sold with...
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 Fellow Any business with customers should know...
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...
Management Software for Printing and Related Industries Obviously every shop has unique needs when it comes to management software. There is a multitude of software programs available. You will find Customer Relation Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Management Information System (MIS), Quotation, and Estimating. And,...
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...
The selection of shore, which is measure of the hardness of the polyurethane squeegee blade expressed in terms of 1 to 100. This article shows the results of different squeegee Shores....
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...
While the screenprinting process, which is part of the printmaking process, is full of problems, the top topic is often the spelling of the process itself. There has been confusion even amongst authors and writers. So let's clear up the spelling once and for all. by...
A Best Practice is defined as a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means and is used as a benchmark. In addition, a "best" practice can evolve to become better as improvements are discovered....
How strange it is that so many people resist change, only to be left behind as innovation and technology race ahead. People tend to reject any theory that varies from the beliefs they currently hold. Whether an action is right or wrong depends on the...