T-Shirt Screen Printing is a beautiful, intricate and occasionally messy decoration technique which crosses the border between art and fashion.
But what is so incredible about it?
At first, I was scared of screen printing. It seems to be a very permanent application of something onto something that actual people are going to wear. Unlike internet graphics, which can be changed in a matter of seconds if there are any mistakes, screen printing uses real ink on a real t-shirt and as a result leaves the printer with a real responsibility.
Not just the printer, in fact everyone who is involved with the printing process. That starts with the customer, continues with the sales assistant, passes onto the art department who hands the baton to the printers who oversee the final product.
With all of those hands involved, it would seem mistakes are inevitable. Not really. So long as good communication is present, screen printing can actually become an enjoyable job - still, it is a great responsiblity to produce a well printed garment but also a great opportunity to improve on an ancient technique. And I am no longer scared of it.
Labels: Best Screen Printer in Newcastle, Quality, Screen printing
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 8:30 PM.
Zulu Graphics has been nominated for a local business award under the category "Specialised Business" in the Hunter Region!!!
Why not vote for us now and go in the draw to win a 10MP camera - and it is all online these days.
Go to www.thebusinessawards.com
Choose Awards Area - Metropolitan - Hunter
Fill in your details (so you can grab a camera) and then choose a category.
NB: Zulu is under Specialised Business
Choose the business by clicking the radio button next to it
NB: Zulu was last on the list when I checked
Click submit.
And don't forget to verify your vote by clicking on the link in the email.
Your support is much appreciated and our thanks goes to all those who have voted already.
Labels: Best Screen Printer in Newcastle, Local Business Awards, Press, Promotion, Screen printing
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 4:07 AM.
By Jess
13th May, 2008
Fourth Challenge - Information Highway
On the quest to becoming the best screen printer in Newcastle, we faced a dragon - the internet. At first we hit with our dagger - testing the skin of the beast. Then, after experimenting the best way to attack, we drew our broad sword and plunged it deep into the heart of the monster. The new www.zulugraphics.com.au burst forth out of the head of the dragon. We were victorious in our quest.
Technology frightens many people; particularly the older generations. As the illustration above demonstrates, after some research and time, the insurmountable problem becomes surmountable.
At Zulu Graphics we have learnt to embrace the website as an extra employee. It has proven to be a cost effective worker; it doesn't demand overtime (though it works 24/7) and always tells it as it is.
Screen printers have been slow to catch onto the WWW phase, but we are proud to say we encourage various sectors of the web within our site. We have a blog (as you are reading) and information pages, but most impressively, have a fortnightly newsletter informing our customers with relevant and interesting progressions in the industry.
Whilst the online branch of Zulu Graphics is ever growing, it is a key aspect we have over our competition. Our innovative and honest desire to serve our customers underlies this expansion. Now you are not limited by time or location; anywhere in the world, at any time, you can visit our virtual showroom and learn more about who we are and what we do best.
We remain the best screen printer in Newcastle because we face the dragons of our industry. Does your screen printer?
Labels: Best Screen Printer in Newcastle, Blog, Challenge, Screen printing
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 9:52 PM.
By Jess
8th May, 2008
Firstly, thank you to Long Chang Printing Machine Factory for using our blog as an advertising space - too bad most of our customers aren't looking to buy a screen printing machine!
Third Challenge - Screen Printing Knowledge - In the Know
It is important the person you trust to do your screen printing knows what they are talking about. There is no point sending your garments to somebody who uses the same type of screen for everything. What does the screen have to do with it? This is where your screen printer needs to be "in the know"!
While it is good to use the appropriate ink (as discussed in the first challenge), it is vital to use the right sort of screen. Screens come in various sizes and densities. If the wrong type of screen is used, the print becomes is patterned and produces a moiré effect.
Similarly important is the application of the layers of ink. If you would like a three colour job screen printed, the order of colour application can be critical to the quality of the final print; if the colours are black, white and green it might seem best to do white, green and than black, but in some cases this isn’t the case. The order of colour application is changed for a number of reasons; darkness of the colour, type of ink used, amount of one colour in design, garment material as well as the overall look trying to be achieved. If this order is taken lightly, and your screen printer simply always prints from lightest to darkest, they are limiting their ability to achieve high quality prints.
Finally, I would like to discuss a fundamental step that is often rushed or overlooked by screen printers – artwork preparation. I will cover this fully in the next blog, but this is something that people think is simple and quick, but is actually the reason each print works out. If your artwork and films aren’t prepared correctly, your print will look unprofessional and nightmarish.
The challenge still stands – Is Zulu Graphics the best screen printer in Newcastle? As of today, they still practise the basic screen printing knowledge, they still answer and they are ‘in the know’ – what more could you ask for from your screen printer?
If you would like to know more about the overall screen printing process, please visit this month’s Set In Print.
Labels: Best Screen Printer in Newcastle, Challenge, Quality, Screen printing, Set In Print
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 12:52 PM.
By Jess
28th April, 2008
Why do I think Zulu Graphics is the best screen printer in Newcastle? Last blog I discussed a few reasons we can maintain our high screen printing standards. This time I would like to explore the way we communicate with you, our customers.
Second Challenge - Telecommunications - We Answer!
Firstly, we answer the phone. This might sound like a simple thing, but many screen printers do not take the time to answer the phone. We do. If you have an enquiry or you are after a quote, we are only a phone call away. In fact, we make sure that throughout the week we answer the phone consistently; polite and informative. We listen to what you, our customers, are saying and provide you with accurate, reliable answers.
Secondly, we answer our emails. Many screen printing companies have email addresses on their website or business cards but don't utilize them. Either they don't check them at all or don't check them regularly. We have someone on the other end of our main email address almost all day. This means we are able to respond to your emails within moments of receiving them! Whilst we can't always offer instantaneous responses, we do reply to all emails within one working day at the latest.
Thirdly, we answer our online enquiries. I am a bit of a nerd. I frequently send enquiries to all sorts of companies via online forms. Far less frequently do I get a response. This is disappointing because it would seem to me that if the customer has decided to take the time to submit an enquiry, it would be only fair to return the time in a response. As such, I make sure this occurs with our own online enquires. All of these enquires are forwarded to our main email address which allows us to respond quickly.
Fourthly, we answer our fax. It wasn't that long ago that faxes were fashionable. Most of our artwork was received via fax (yes, on that thin white paper in black, lined ink!) Most of our invoices were sent via fax. With the implementation and increase in popularity of the email, the fax has almost become extinct. We have chosen to keep the beast alive! We know that many of our customers still use faxes as their main form of electronic communication and we respect their decision to do so. Whilst we enjoy being e-savvy and i-savvy, we also don't want to discriminate any of our customers. As such, we respond to faxes for quotes, artwork specifications and general enquiries as quickly as we do emails or online enquiries.
We continually improve upon these methods of communication. Like all technology, telecommunications is continually evolving and we, in our understanding of this evolution, are alert for new ideas and innovations.
We answer - does your screen printer?
The challenge still stands with no contenders - Zulu Graphics is the best screen printer in Newcastle.
Labels: Best Screen Printer in Newcastle, Challenge, Emails, Faxes, Online Enquiry, Phone, Quality, Telecommunications
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Monday, April 28, 2008 at 2:50 AM.
23rd April, 2008
I have been asked on numerous times - why do you think Zulu Graphics is the best screen printer in Newcastle? I have decided to set you, our consumers, a challenge. Find me a better screen printer in Newcastle and I will relinquish our title.
First Challenge - Basic Printing Skills
At Zulu Graphics we take pride in our screen printing; it isn't about the money, it is about achieving our high standards on every job.
Firstly, we watch our coating.
What does this mean? Basically, when you screen print something you generally give it one or two coats. If we simply wanted to make money and did not care about the screen print quality, we could always do one coat of ink. But one coat isn't enough - particularly on dark garments. If you are screen printing a light colour onto a dark garment (say white ink on black t-shirts) one coat most commonly results in the print appearing "faded". This is good if you are trying to achieve that vintage look but if you aren't, you will be as disappointed with the one coat as we are. We prefer to keep our customers happy.
Secondly, we know our inks.
As in any job, there are certain things you learn while you work. Having been in the screen printing industry for 22 years now, we have learnt alot. Perhaps the most important thing is using the correct ink for the material. There are two basic types of ink: water-based and plastisol. Certain fabrics allow for a better screen print according to the type of ink you use. Whilst plastisol is more expensive, in some cases water-based just isn't sufficent. Unlike other screen printers, we do not charge extra according to the type of ink used, we charge only according to quality. To adhere to our high standards of screen printing, we make careful and informed decisions about the type of ink we use on your job and as such achieve the best results.
Unsure about whether your current screen printer knows their inks? Or think your print has too few coats?
Don't be afriad to ask. If you are unsatisfied with the answer, come and talk to me.
I will prove, over the next week, that Zulu Graphics is the best screen printer in Newcastle.
Bring on any contenders!
Labels: Best Screen Printer in Newcastle, Challenge, Promotion, Screen printing
1 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 3:24 AM.