Custom Screen Printing in Calgary, AB

What Is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a versatile and well-established printing technique known for its ability to produce bold, vibrant designs on a variety of fabrics and surfaces. It utilizes a fine mesh screen stretched taut on a frame. The areas that won’t receive ink are blocked off with a stencil, typically created through photo emulsion processes. Ink is then meticulously applied across the screen with a squeegee, forcing it through the open mesh and onto the fabric or substrate positioned below. This method allows for a thicker application of ink compared to other printing methods, resulting in rich, opaque colors and a distinct tactile quality. Screen printing excels at replicating detailed designs with sharp edges and is particularly adept at handling bold, solid colors – making it a perfect choice for creating impactful promotional t-shirts, uniforms, and eye-catching signage.

Why Choose Drive Sportswear for Screen Printing in Calgary?

Drive Sportswear has been a leading provider of screen printing services in Calgary for over two decades. We’ve established a strong reputation by partnering with established companies like Greta Bar and Crescent Point Energy, both with hundreds of employees. Our extensive experience translates to exceptional results across a vast product selection – over 3,000 options – ensuring you find the perfect apparel or merchandise to showcase your brand. With a proven track record and unwavering commitment to quality, Drive Sportswear delivers exceptional screen printing solutions to elevate your brand image in Calgary.

The Screen Printing Process

Here at Drive Sportswear, we’re proud to offer exceptional screen printing services in Calgary. We specialize in the spot color technique, creating bold and vibrant designs on a variety of garments. Let’s delve into the meticulous process that transforms your vision into a screen-printed masterpiece.

1. Preparing The Screen

Mesh Selection: Our experts meticulously choose the ideal mesh count for your design. Mesh count directly affects the level of detail achievable – a higher count allows for finer lines, while a lower count is suitable for bolder designs.

Emulsion Coating: A light-sensitive emulsion is carefully applied across the mesh screen, forming the foundation for the stencil creation process.

2. Creating the Stencil

Separate Screens for Each Color: For spot color printing, a separate screen is created for each color in your design. This ensures accurate color representation and eliminates the need for ink mixing.
Artwork Placement and Exposure: Your design, either provided by you or crafted by our talented Calgary team, is precisely positioned on the corresponding emulsion-coated screen. A strong light source then exposes the screen, hardening the emulsion where your design isn’t present

Water Rinse and Touch-Ups: A thorough water rinse washes away the unhardened emulsion areas, revealing a clear imprint of your design – the stencil. Our meticulous team may perform minor touch-ups for a flawless final product.

3. Printing Your Design

Garment Positioning: The garment is carefully secured on a printing press for precise alignment with the screen.

Ink Application and Squeegee Action: We strategically apply the desired ink color and use a squeegee to push it through the open areas of the stencil (your design) onto the fabric.

Multi-Color Printing: This process is repeated for each separate color in your design, building the final image layer by layer.

4. Quality Control

Each printed garment undergoes a rigorous inspection by our Calgary team to ensure color accuracy, ink coverage, and overall quality meet our high standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between digital printing and screen printing?

Both methods create custom garments, but they use different approaches. Digital printing works like a high-tech home printer, laying down thin ink layers directly onto the fabric. This makes it perfect for small orders, intricate designs, and full-color photos, as it can handle a wider range of fabric types. Screen printing, on the other hand, is a more hands-on process. A stencil is created for each color, and ink is pushed through it onto the fabric. This method excels at bulk orders and creates vibrant, durable prints, especially on darker fabrics. However, due to the stencils, complex designs are more challenging with screen printing.

What are the care instructions for screen-printed garments?

To maintain the quality and vibrancy of your screen-printed garments, we recommend following these general care instructions:

Turn the garment inside out before washing.
Wash with cold water on a gentle cycle.
Avoid using harsh detergents or bleach.
Tumble dry on low heat or hang dry for best results.

For specific care instructions based on the garment material, consult the care label or contact us for further guidance.

Can you create photorealistic images with screen printing?

While spot color printing produces excellent results, photorealistic images are better suited for CMYK printing. However, this method is less common for garments due to limitations in ink types and fabric compatibility

What are the limitations of screen printing for garments?

While we offer screen printing on a wide range of apparel, headwear is generally not included due to the curved surface. However, we can discuss exceptions for specific needs.