Screen Printing

Inspiration & Exploration

Screen printing is one of the most powerful ways to put your art on the world — T-shirts, posters, tote bags, and more. Start by exploring the history: search "screen printing history" on YouTube and look up Andy Warhol's silkscreen work, which is free to browse on the MoMA website (moma.org). Notice how screen printing is everywhere in Salt Lake: band merch, local business shirts, protest signs, and skate graphics. Visit a local print shop — companies like Minuteman Press often let you watch a job run if you ask politely. Search the free design platform Canva (canva.com) and look at "screen print design" examples for inspiration. Sketch five T-shirt graphic ideas in your notebook — bold, simple shapes work best for printing. You're ready for the next step when you can explain the difference between screen printing and other printing methods and sketch a design you'd want to print.

Tools & Techniques

Before you print, you need to understand the process from screen to fabric. Watch "screen printing basics for beginners" on YouTube — the channel Ryonet has an excellent free tutorial series. Learn the vocabulary: emulsion, squeegee, mesh count, registration, spot color, and flash cure. The DIY route uses a pre-stretched screen, photo emulsion, a bright light source, transparency film for your design, squeegee, and fabric ink. Ryonet.com has free technical guides downloadable without a purchase. Practice your squeegee technique on paper before any fabric — consistent pressure and angle are everything. Salt Lake has several maker spaces including Hive SLC (hiveslc.com) that offer screen printing equipment access for members. You're ready for the next step when you can explain each step of the screen printing process from artwork to finished print.

First Creations

It's time to print your first design. Start simple: a bold single-color design with no fine details — thick lines and block shapes. Create your artwork in black on white using free software like Inkscape (inkscape.org) or Canva, then print it on transparency film at a local print shop (usually under $2 per sheet). Coat your screen with emulsion in a dark room, let it dry, then expose it to light with your transparency on top. Wash out the unexposed emulsion, let the screen dry, and you're ready to print. Practice on scrap fabric first before your final shirt. Follow Ryonet's free step-by-step guide for your first burn. The first print is always a learning experience — document what happens. You're ready for the next step when you have a successfully printed, single-color design on fabric.

Style Development

Now push your design skills and printing technique further. Try a two-color print using registration marks to line up both screens precisely. Design something that represents your personal style: geometric, illustrative, text-based, or a mix. Use free design software like Inkscape or Vectr (vectr.com) to build a clean vector design. Experiment with different fabric types — 100% cotton absorbs ink differently than a polyester blend. Try printing on a tote bag, a bandana, or paper as a poster. Study how local Utah brands approach graphic design on their products — bold, outdoors-inspired, and simple shapes. You're ready for the next step when you have a two-color print with accurate registration on a fabric item.

Refine Your Craft

You're building professional-level skills now. Study advanced topics: halftone printing (creating gradients with dots), discharge ink (removes fabric dye instead of sitting on top), and water-based versus plastisol inks. Search "advanced screen printing techniques" on Ryonet's free YouTube series. Reclaim your screen using emulsion remover so you can reuse it for a new design — this is the real economics of the craft. Design and print a small run of five to ten matching items: a set of shirts, a poster series, or branded tote bags. Pay attention to ink coverage, squeegee pressure consistency, and cure temperature. Visit the Utah Printmakers Society (utahprintmakers.org) to connect with local printmakers and find workshops. You're ready for the next step when you can reclaim a screen, burn a new design, and print a consistent run of five or more identical prints.

Portfolio Piece

Design and execute a complete screen-printed project that shows your full range. This could be a limited-edition poster series of five prints, a custom shirt with a two- to three-color design, or a set of printed items for an event or organization you care about. Start with a strong concept: what do you want to say, and who is it for? Build your design files carefully, burn clean screens, and print your run with consistent quality. Photograph each piece on a plain background in natural light. Write a short process document — one page — covering your design concept, color choices, and what you learned. Share your work with the SLCTrips community and look into tabling at the Craft Lake City DIY Festival (craftlakecity.com) to sell or display your prints. You're ready for the next step when you have a completed print run of five or more pieces you'd be proud to sell, gift, or display publicly.