How T-Shirts Are Screen Printed

If you're new to screen printing and wondering how to create vibrant, professional t-shirts, don’t worry—Lawson Screen and Digital Products has you covered with this beginner-friendly guide. Screen printing a t-shirt involves a straightforward process that combines creativity and technique, transforming a blank shirt into a wearable work of art. From preparing your design to applying ink through a mesh screen, each step builds toward a durable, high-quality print.

Our step-by-step instructions will break down the basics of t-shirt screen printing. Read on to learn how the very basics of how screen printing works.

For screen printing tutorials and how-to videos visit our Lawson TV page, or consider one of our One-Day Screen Printing Class.

  • How to Screen Print Step 1

    #1: Create the Art

    You or your customer create art with a computer and print it on special paper or film in a laser or Inkjet printer.

  • How to Screen Print Step 2

    #2: Start Screen Developing

    Attach the positive to a coated screen with removable scotch tape.

  • How to Screen Print Step 3

    #3: Expose the Screen

    Expose the stencil with Ultra-violet light.

  • How to Screen Print Step 5

    #4: Press Wash

    Washout the unexposed areas with warm water.

  • #5: Mount and Register Mesh Screen

    Mount the screen in a press where you want the image to print on the shirt.

  • #6: Add Plastisol Ink

    Add the plastisol ink color you need to the screen.

  • Load the Shirt - How to print a tee shirt

    #7: Load T-Shirt

    Align the t-shirt on the screen printing platen to get a straight print.

  • #8: Print Ink onto shirt

    Apply firm pressure with squeegee and apply ink to the shirt.

  • Remove Printed Shirt from Platen - How to print a tee shirt

    #9: Remove Shirt

    Remove the shirt from the platen to begin the curing phase.

  • Cure the Ink - How to screen print a tee shirt

    #10: Cure the Ink

    Heat the shirt and ink to 320°F to complete the drying process.

  • Finish and fold - How to screen print tee shirts

    #11: Finish Screen Printing

    After the shirts have completed the dryer cycle neatly fold and pack shirts in boxes. And you have finished!

  • Hands-on Screen Printing Class at Lawson

    #12: Get Hand's On Training

    We offer monthly screen printing classes in St. Louis, MO & Atlanta, GA providing professional guidance for t-shirt printing. Continue»