| dy"> | | | | The time for processing the design can take 10 |
| When you have to choose between two processes | | | | minutes to run; most manufactures machines have |
| in this case 'screen printing' or 'embroidery' it can be | | | | eight heads which enables multiple production runs. |
| very difficult so hopefully the following information will | | | | The machine has a start point so wherever the |
| help. | | | | designer has located this depends on how the image |
| Screen Printing & Embroidery are mainly used for | | | | was created, most images are produced in layers and |
| promotional clothing so choosing the best process to | | | | work backwards depending on the garment type. |
| promote your company is a very important decision. | | | | Each element is stitched with its specified colour |
| They both have their advantages and disadvantages | | | | which is taken from the industries standard (Madeira) |
| but either choose has a massive impact on potential | | | | threads with a maximum of 12 colours per head. |
| customers. | | | | Whilst we have discussed the processes we haven't |
| The process of screen printing | | | | spoken about the advantages and disadvantages of |
| There are many factors when it comes to screen | | | | screen printing and embroidery. |
| printing, the artwork, the screens and the machines | | | | The major advantage between them both is speed, |
| your t-shirts are printed on. Firstly we have to | | | | whilst screen printing has alot of stages to produce |
| produce the artwork which is created in Adobe | | | | the screen once complete the process is minimal with |
| Illustrator and is known as Vector, this is then printed | | | | some companies producing around 20,000 t-shirts a |
| onto film which gets exposed on the light table. | | | | day. Embroideries downfall is the digitising, most |
| Screens are made up of many types of meshes | | | | designs are small but when you have an intricate |
| from a 43 which allows a heavier deposit of ink to a | | | | design this can take hours to digitise and when |
| 120 which puts a minimum deposit of ink down for | | | | complete only a maximum of 8 designs can be |
| finer detailed designs, emulsion is placed onto these | | | | produced at one time. |
| meshes and then the film placed on top. These are | | | | Last ability is a major issue as screen printing is the |
| both placed under the exposure unit to expose. The | | | | choice when comparing with digital transfers but |
| film blocks the light allowing the surrounding emulsion | | | | when it comes to embroidery this wins hands down. |
| to cure whilst the covered area breaks down, the | | | | Screen Printing is produced by using inks so after |
| screen is then rinsed and ready for print. | | | | time and many washes the inks start to deteriorate, |
| Depending on your design this process can be done | | | | this is alot slower than transfers but faster than |
| 1-12 times to produce screens for an individual job so | | | | embroidery threads losing their colour. Embroidery is |
| setting up a job can be very time consuming. The | | | | the perfect choice for corporate wear as these can |
| screens are spun automatically around the machine in | | | | be washed at high temperatures and multiple times. |
| sequence whilst the squeegee pulls the ink across the | | | | Cost effectiveness is the most important issue for |
| screen depositing the ink onto the shirt. All colours | | | | most people as applying these techniques to clothing |
| are put down wet on wet unless we have dark | | | | isn't cheap. The majority of the cost comes down to |
| shirts where a flash cure unit is used to dry the base | | | | the design, if you have a small left breast 1 colour |
| before proceeding to the next colour. Once all the | | | | design this will be roughly the same cost, if you look |
| colours are completed the shirt is then taken off and | | | | at the other end of the scale and the design is large |
| placed through the dryer and there you have it a | | | | with multiple colours, screens become very expensive |
| printed t-shirt. | | | | and programmes can have thousands of stitches. |
| The process of embroidery | | | | These two basically level out but setups on Print can |
| Embroidery consists of two processes firstly you | | | | cost 240 pounds and embroidery programmes around |
| need your design digitised using embroidery software | | | | 120 pounds. |
| (Wilcom) this coverts the artwork into a format the | | | | My personal opinion on this topic is that screen |
| machines can recognise and replicate the design into | | | | printing achieves more effectiveness for promotional |
| stitches onto your garments, Once completed this | | | | clothing when trying to sell a product and embroidery |
| can be loaded into an embroidery machine (SWF) | | | | suits corporate clothing but overall the both have |
| ready for sewing. | | | | their advantages and disadvantages. |