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.
Are you 2 kool 4 skool?
Yes, I know how to spell - I am referring to our latest promotion for school leavers. Or rather for the tireless teachers who need to do the leg work for the school leavers.
More often then not, teachers have to chase up the end-of-year jerseys or jumpers because sometimes things get out of hand. Here at Zulu, we want to make things as easy as possible.
We have online catalogues and online prices. Why not save your time hunting someone down and then waiting for a response by using our online services for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Or just let your students look for themselves by giving them our link. It is virtual simplicity!
Labels: 2kool4skool, Promotion, Quality, Screen printing, Website Updates
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 4:36 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.
By Jess
21st April, 2008
It might seem attractive to order your screen printing from overseas; mostly (and I believe only) because it is cheaper.
My advice would be not to. Sure, you think, Jess would just say that because she would rather us buy her screen printing. Well, yes, I do think you should purchase your screen printing through us. But I have a few valid reasons.
Firstly, while it may be cheaper per garment to order from overseas, watch out for the monster freight! It doesn't matter if you are paying $2.00 per shirt (screen printed and all) if the freight is costing you $200! We have reasonable freight charges - that is, if you don't pick it up from our showroom.
Secondly, if quality is crucial, don't risk it. We have seen too many screen printed garments from overseas which haven't been cured properly. What does this mean? Basically, they don't put the ink through a hot enough dryer or they haven't mixed their fixer in properly. How would you find this out? Though the print looks good on first sight, it will start to wash out within the first or second wash. And you will regret that overseas purchase if it only lasts one wash...
Thirdly, time is always ticking. Most overseas screen printing companies have a turn around time of six weeks minimum. This is a whole four weeks longer than our normal two week turnaround. How come our timeframe is shorter? We don't need to account for weeks of travel on a ship, most obviously. It is not as though it takes longer because they are doing a better quality screen print.
Fourthly, long distance relationships rarely last. Say you do have a problem with the screen printing washing out - what are you going to do about it? Send it back overseas and demand they fix their mistake? Not likely. If the freight monster didn't bite you on the way over, it certainly will on the way back. We are more than happy to attempt to fix their disappointing screen printing attempt, but we would rather save you the money. Further, if you aren't happy with our quality, we will look into it immediately.
I am not completely against overseas screen printers; they are developing the latest screen printing technology and have been responsible for many of the recent improvements. Also, there are a few companies who provide reliable, long term screen printing. But you are still restricted by time, the ocean, perhaps the language and the freight.
My advice would be to come and talk to me about it first. Even if you would like to ask a few questions with regards to the screen printing methods and the process, so you can understand exactly why it takes them four weeks longer, I don't mind talking it through with you.
You never know, you might be surprised at how knowledgeable we are about screen printing. After all, it is what we do for a living.
Labels: Freight, Overseas Printing, Quality, Screen printing
0 Comments Published by Jess, Zulu Warrior on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 11:47 PM.