From screen print supplies to ink suppliers: the art of silk screen printing

Whether you’re an artist, an enthusiast or an entrepreneur, the craft of silk screen printing can be a rewarding and lucrative pursuit – creating images and printing them onto a variety of surfaces either for pleasure or profit. In such a competitive market however, your success depends on the quality of your work – and the better your screen printing supplies and your choice of ink supplier, the better and more in demand your work will be.

Choosing the right screen printing supplies

The beauty of screen printing is that it can be done from your home, with no expensive work space rental needed. But whether you choose to set up your own business, or simply to print T-shirts for family and friends, investing in quality screen printing supplies is crucial. Luckily the internet makes it easy to order all the items you need. Simply use a search term such as ‘silk screen supplies south africa’ and you’ll be able to find the tools you need. The most commonly used screen print supplies are:

Mesh, to be stretched across a wooden or aluminium frame
A pre-made silk screen
A squeegee
Screen printing emulsion
Halogen lights and fixtures
Accessories like adhesive tape, specialty emulsion and cutting tools

Once you become more familiar with the art of screen printing, you’ll be able gain a better understanding of the screen printing supplies that work best for you, and be able to order them and personalize your printing process accordingly.

Finding a helpful ink supplier

Once you have your screen printing supplies set up, your next step is to choose the correct type of ink for the surface you’ll be printing on. As you’ll need to regularly replace your inks, establishing a relationship with a reputable ink supplier is of prime importance. Not only will you be assured of top quality products, your ink supplier will be able to advise you on the best type of ink to use for each surface you’ll be printing on.

To illustrate what we mean, take a look at some of the most common screen printing surfaces, and the corresponding ink needed for each:

T-shirts – Printing on clothing requires specialized fabric ink, also known as textile ink. Heated to high temperatures of 144˚C – 166˚C, the fabric ink takes on a plasticized texture, resulting in clear, graphic detail and beautifully printed clothing.
Signage – Any outdoor signage will need to be printed with a solvent ink (one that is not water-based). Using this type of ink will result in signs that are fade-proof, water-proof and scratch-resistant.
Golf balls (or any unusual surfaces) – These will require pad print ink and a pad printer, used to transfer 2D images onto 3D surfaces, such as flat, circular, embossed, convex or any other shape.

For more information on the different varieties of inks available, contact the team at New Africa Inks. We’ll be able to provide you with a top quality product, and advise you on the best type of ink for every job.