Pittsburgh Screen Printing Services
Are you looking for a unique way to promote your Pittsburgh area business? Shenk can help!
OUR PITTSBURGH CUSTOMERS
Custom Pittsburgh Screen Printing
We offer customized screen printing for organizations looking for promotional products to grow business or raise awareness for a cause. Our team will work with you to create a design that meets your needs and helps you achieve the desired outcome.
Contact us today to get started!
Why Shenk?
The Shenk Company stands as a premier provider of embroidery and screen printing services in Pittsburgh, boasting a century of trusted craftsmanship. With our deep commitment to quality and innovation, we transform your creative visions into professional, impactful branded merchandise that elevates your organization’s image.
Custom Pittsburgh Screen Printing
Custom screen printing in Pittsburgh offers a powerful, cost-effective solution for creating unique promotional products tailored precisely to your brand’s needs. By designing made-to-order items, you’ll ensure high-quality merchandise that stands out, minimizes waste and provides maximum marketing impact for your business or organization.
Wide Variety of Colors and Materials
Front or Rear Printing
Short Run and Long Run Options
What Is Screen Printing?
In screen printing, a specialized mesh screen with a precise stencil allows for detailed ink transfer onto various substrates, creating crisp, professional designs. Our Pittsburgh screen printing services utilize advanced techniques where a squeegee carefully pushes ink through strategic screen openings.
The Pittsburgh Screen Printing Process
Our Pittsburgh screen printing process leverages advanced light-reactive emulsion techniques to create intricate, professional designs with precision and clarity. We transfer vibrant, durable ink onto various surfaces through carefully crafted stencils, ensuring your custom graphics look sharp.
1.
Creating the Design
The printer takes the design they want to create on their finished product and prints it onto a transparent acetate film. This will be used for creating stencils!
2.
Preparing the Screen
Next, the printer will choose a mesh screen to suit the complexity of your design and texture. The material is coated with light-reactive emulsion that hardens when developed under bright lights.
3.
Making the Stencil
After the screen has been exposed for a set time, any unhardened emulsion is carefully rinsed away. This leaves an accurate imprint of your design on top so that ink can flow through easily.
4.
Screen Printing the Product
The screen is placed on top of the printing press. The printed item or garment will go underneath this onto a flat surface prepared beforehand with ink.
5.
Checking and Washing Your Product
Once the printed product has passed through a dryer, this process “cures” the ink. It will be checked and washed thoroughly to remove any residue.
Overview of Our Screen Printing Equipment
Screen printers must have everything they want to ensure that the print job turns out smoothly. Below you can read about the pieces of equipment involved in this process.
Screen Printing Press
Pittsburgh screen printing services utilize advanced printing presses that enable efficient, high-volume production across three primary press types: manual, semi-automatic, and fully automated. These versatile machines allow our team to quickly swap and print multiple items, ensuring fast turnaround and consistent, professional results for every client.
Silk Screen
Silkscreen printing is a process where an artist uses tightly-stretched mesh or screens to leave designs on canvas.
Frame
Different frames are used in screen printing, including wood and aluminum. The wooden option is more budget-conscious. However, the aluminum frame is more durable in the long run and is easier and lighter on the printer.
Washing Equipment
Reusing a screen for printing must first be washed and cleaned. The process can vary depending on the type of printer or printworks facility- some use large tubs filled with specialized fluids that remove emulsion quickly.
Inks
Pittsburgh screen printing experts meticulously select specialized inks to create unique, personalized designs that truly stand out. From texture-enhancing puff inks and sparkling glitter effects to depth-creating treatments, we match ink types precisely to your substrate, ensuring a perfect, eye-catching result every time.
Squeegee
In screen printing, the squeegee plays a crucial role in transferring ink through mesh screens, with its blade’s firmness tailored to each unique design’s requirements. Shenk’s screen printing services carefully select squeegee types, ensuring precise, high-quality ink application every time.
Digital Screen Printing
Digital printing offers unparalleled versatility for complex, vibrant designs, using advanced fabric printers to directly transfer intricate images onto textiles without traditional stenciling.
Screen Printing vs Other Printing Methods
Screen printing is a popular way to print designs on shirts, hats, and other fabrics. But did you know that there are other methods available? Each method has advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the right one for your needs is essential.
Sublimation vs Screen Printing
With dye sublimation, you can have a unique design on every shirt. It’s perfect for small projects or one-of-type creations because of its high cost and time consumption.
DTG vs Screen Printing
DTG (direct to garment) printing revolutionizes custom apparel by using specialized digital printers to transfer high-resolution images directly onto textiles. Unlike traditional screen printing, this method offers exceptional detail, cost-effectiveness for small runs, and the ability to reproduce complex photographic designs with remarkable precision.
Heat Press vs Screen Printing
Heat transfer printing offers a versatile solution for customizing challenging items like shoes, bags, and hats with intricate designs. By printing graphics onto heat-reactive transfer paper and applying precise heat, our screen printing services in Pittsburgh create personalized products, always ensuring high-quality materials for optimal, professional results.
Vinyl vs Screen Printing
Screen printing excels in producing long-lasting, detailed designs with rich color ranges, making it ideal for larger orders, while vinyl offers quick customization for smaller batches.
- Durability: Screen-printed items resist fading and cracking better than vinyl.
- Design Detail: Screen printing allows for more intricate and precise graphics.
- Quantity: Vinyl works best for small runs (1-12 items), while screen printing is optimal for bulk orders.
- Color Vibrancy: Screen printing offers superior color depth and gradient capabilities.
Screen Printing Services Vs DIY Projects
While DIY screen printing can be an enjoyable creative project, professional Pittsburgh screen printing services offer superior quality, cost-effectiveness, and convenience for most design needs. Our expert team delivers precise results that exceed home printing capabilities, saving you time and ensuring a professional finished product.
A Brief History of Screen Printing
The first screen printing was introduced in China during the Song Dynasty (969-1279AD), and other countries like Japan have since adopted it. Screen-printing processes are more advanced than traditional methods of printmaking because they can create intricate designs that would otherwise not be possible with just ink on paper or cotton fabric!
The use of screen printing in the West was introduced from Asia sometime around the 18th century. Still, it did not gain significant acceptance until silk mesh became more available and profitable.
Popular Screen Printed Products in Pittsburgh
Screen printing has evolved from a traditional textile technique to a versatile customization method for countless products, from apparel to accessories. Screen printing services in Pittsburgh transform ordinary items into branded merchandise that promotes businesses and creates personalized gifts for any occasion.
T-Shirts
Long-Sleeved T-Shirts
Tank Tops
Sweatshirts
Sweatpants
Hats
Uniforms
Bags and Backpacks
Umbrellas
Blankets
Towels
Other Products
Businesses That Benefit From Screen Printing in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh businesses across many industries can leverage screen printing to elevate their brand visibility and create professional, customized marketing materials. From local restaurants and retail shops to corporate events, athletic teams, and nonprofit organizations, screen printing offers a versatile and cost-effective solution for generating high-quality, eye-catching branded merchandise that leaves a lasting impression.
Landscaping
Education
Nonprofits and Fundraising
Restaurants
Bars
Bands
Sports
Price Factors for Our Printing Services
Screen printing costs in Erie vary based on multiple key factors, and understanding these can help you budget effectively for your custom printing needs. We recommend contacting our team directly to discuss your project requirements for the most accurate pricing.
Type of Product
Screen printing complexity depends on your chosen item and design, with darker garments requiring more ink and labor. A black shirt will cost more to print than a white one due to the additional ink and effort needed for complete coverage.
Quantity
Bulk ordering offers significant cost advantages, with per-unit prices decreasing as quantity increases. This approach not only provides substantial savings but also minimizes waste, making it an economical choice for businesses and organizations.
Location
Printing location impacts pricing, with options including front, back, and sleeve designs. Each additional print location contributes to the overall cost of your screen printing project.
Number of Colors
Multi-color and multi-design prints require more intricate preparation and labor. Each color and design element increases production complexity, directly affecting the final pricing of your screen printed items.
Due Date
Rush orders incur additional costs due to prioritization in our production queue. Expedited printing may require our team to work extended hours to meet your tight deadline, which is reflected in the pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Screen Printing
If you take good care of your screen-printed shirt, it will last the garment’s life! Fading is typical and can happen if wear isn’t adequately cared for.
Screen printing provides high-quality prints on various materials with excellent results. It’s worth the extra cost because it produces such great-looking pieces, and you can’t go wrong using a local screen printing company to promote your organization.
Ready to Bring Your Vision to Life?
We specialize in creating high-quality screen printing and embroidery tailored to your unique needs. Whether it’s custom apparel, promotional items, or team uniforms, we’re here to help make it happen.
Fill out the form to get your free quote, and one of our friendly experts will be in touch promptly to discuss your project. Let us show you why businesses and organizations across Pennsylvania trust Shenk Company for exceptional service and fast turnaround times.
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