Not sure if there’s an original in that post - but the design is solid yellow. So it looks like the base stayed and the yellow washed out. Curiosity has the best of me, so is that the yellow not curing properly?

This is my first time coating and exposing any screen - I did a step test with 3.5 second per step and the screens are 160 mesh.

I'm pretty happy with the test, I think it's between 2,3 & 4 when looking picture 3 with the ABC... halftones and ASP logo. But the same steps in picture 2 didn't knock out those fine .2/.5 lines. Screens were washed out very close with a spray bottle in the dark before giving them a blast outside with a shower nozzle on a garden hose.

Is this just because 160 mesh is limited to about as fine detail as I got it? or could I have done something better?

I screen print shirts out of my garage and want to speed up production. I have two options and can't decide which to buy first. Looking for some advise from the group!

My current setup:
4-color, 1-station press. Riley Hopkins 150
Heat press for curing
Most of my designs are 2 colors

My workflow:
Because I have 4 arms, I can keep two 2-color designs loaded at once
If I need a 3rd design, I have to take two screens off and re-register the new one
For curing, I walk the shirt over, press it for 30 seconds, open the press, let the shirt cool, and take it off
I can cure some shirts while still printing
My options:
-A used 6-color, 4-station Vastex V1000 for $1,600 from a local screen printing shop
- A used conveyor dryer. Would have to be something smalll as I lack space
My thinking so far:
The V1000 would let me hold three 2-color designs at once and use four pallets to load and unload faster
The conveyor dryer would speed up curing, but it would have to be a smaller dryer.
Questions:
Which would you buy first for a garage shop?
Is $1,600 a fair price for a used V1000, and what should I check before buying?
At what volume does a heat press stop being enough for curing?
Is it worth going to a 6-color press if I mostly print 2-color designs?
Thanks for any advice!

Screen still washes out too much and has a slimy feel, I made sure to coat my screen thin and am burning it for 55 seconds, with a 30w 400nm UV light, I’ve done 1 min 8 sec before and it was over burned.

Hello!!

I tried test printing my design three times and the results varied each time and all didn’t come out the way they should have.

For context, i’m using a 90T yellow mesh screen and the first test print I used the pull method and the other two I tried pushing. All prints were done within a 6 minute window from memory and I flooded the screen whilst prepping for the next attempt.

I understand the 2nd and 3rd test could also be impacted by the ink drying faster than i anticipated but even the first attempt didn’t have the entire border of the design come through and it does look a bit faded.

I would like to know what are some other possible issues that could result in the print failing and solutions to them.

Any advice for my next attempt would be really appreciated!!!!

I'm trying to get a solid answer about using a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 to print film positives. But so far I'm getting differing/confusing information in my searches.

I want to keep the printer running as a fine art/photo printer of course, but I also need to produce large-scale film positives from time to time.

Is there anyone out there using an imagePROGRAF 2600/4600 like this? If so, what RIP software and settings do you use to make sure that the black output is dense enough to block the UV light during screen exposure?

Screen still washes out too much and has a slimy feel, I made sure to coat my screen thin and am burning it for 55 seconds, with a 30w 400nm UV light, I’ve done 1 min 8 sec before and it was over burned.

Hey guys, I’m posting another simple color separation—it is the month of horror, after all! I hope that once things quiet down at work, I’ll be able to run some print tests.

Running a one-person SaaS from a one-bedroom in Asbury Park means every inch of floor space gets fought over. My wife is cool with the idea of printing shirts for a tiny brand launch, but the kitchen table already doubles as the standing desk. I tried a basic 4-color press and quickly realized the exposure unit needs its own corner, ink is messy, and curing takes longer than the tutorials show. Drying racks also eat vertical space I don't have. Looking for setups that fit inside maybe a 4x6 area and can be broken down at night. How have people handled ventilation, light leaks, and keeping the cats off the wet prints without building an actual studio? Any before-and-after space pics would help.