Screen printing your own tee shirts at home is not only achievable, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding DIY project. Forget complicated setups or expensive equipment; creating custom tee shirts in your own space is easier than you might imagine. If you thought screen printing was the realm of professionals or specialized workshops, think again. This guide will demystify the process and show you how to master the art of Printing Tee Shirts At Home, transforming your wardrobe and unleashing your creativity.
Karen Bertelsen showcases a tea towel with a cleaver design, screen printed at home, while standing in her pantry.
Ready to dive into the world of DIY tee shirt printing? Rest assured, you don’t need a fancy studio or years of experience to get started.
While the idea of screen printing might conjure images of complex machinery, the truth is, with a few basic materials and a little patience, you can easily print professional-looking designs right in your home. Whether you’re looking to personalize your clothing, create unique gifts, or even start a small custom tee shirt business, screen printing at home is a fantastic skill to acquire.
Over the years, I’ve explored screen printing on various items, from basic tee shirt blanks to flour sack tea towels and even wood. Printing tee shirts has consistently remained one of the most satisfying and popular applications. And now, you can join in on the fun and create your own custom tee shirts too.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Printing Tee Shirts at Home
A tattooed individual models a white tee shirt featuring a striking pine tree silhouette, exemplifying home screen printing results.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to start printing tee shirts at home, including:
- Creating Your Own Screen Printing Frame: Learn how to build a simple and effective frame for your screen printing projects.
- Burning Your Design onto the Screen: Discover the process of transferring your chosen image onto the screen using photo emulsion.
- Printing on Tee Shirts: Master the technique of using your prepared screen to print your designs onto any tee shirt fabric.
Understanding the Basics of Tee Shirt Screen Printing
Screen printing for tee shirts involves a straightforward sequence of steps:
- Selecting Your Design: Choose the image or text you want to print on your tee shirt.
- Preparing the Screen with Photo Emulsion: Coat a framed screen with light-sensitive photo emulsion.
- Burning the Image: Expose the screen with your design to light, hardening the emulsion around your image and leaving your design area washable.
- The Printing Process: Apply fabric ink to the screen and use a squeegee to press the ink through the open areas of the screen onto the tee shirt below.
You have the flexibility to make this process as DIY as you want. While I’ll guide you through making many components yourself, you can also opt to purchase pre-made items to simplify the process, especially when you are just starting out printing tee shirts at home.
Essential Materials for Home Tee Shirt Printing
For those eager to jump right in, clicking the links below will take you to recommended products. For an even simpler start, check out the screen printing kits linked at the bottom of this guide. These kits are the most cost-effective way to try out tee shirt printing as a new hobby.
A close-up shot emphasizing the words "How to screen print at home" inscribed inside a screen printing frame, highlighting DIY tee shirt creation.
Choosing and Preparing Your Tee Shirt Design
Here are the initial steps for getting your design ready for printing tee shirts at home. A detailed step-by-step tutorial follows later in this guide.
A white paper showcases a bold pine tree silhouette print, demonstrating a simple design suitable for beginner tee shirt printing projects.
1. Settle on a Design for Your Tee Shirt. For this tutorial, we’re using a simple tree design. When you’re first starting to print tee shirts, it’s best to choose a design that’s a single color silhouette. Simple graphics or bold lettering, similar to our tree example, work perfectly for your first tee shirt printing projects.
A black pine tree design is meticulously cut out from white printer paper, ready for screen preparation in DIY tee shirt printing.
2. Print Your Design on Regular Paper. For simpler designs, regular printer paper is sufficient. While transparency paper is an option, especially for more intricate designs, it’s not necessary for beginners printing tee shirts with basic images. Carefully cut out your design using an Exacto knife, creating a stencil.
Expert Tip:
As you advance to more complex tee shirt designs, consider using transparency paper, available on Amazon or at office supply stores. The crucial factor is that your printed design must be completely opaque to effectively block light during the screen burning process.
To check opacity, hold your printed design up to a light source. If light passes through, it’s not opaque enough. To fix this, either print another copy and layer it on top, or darken the design on your paper using a black marker to ensure no light can penetrate when printing tee shirts with finer details.
Building Your Screen Printing Frame for Tee Shirts
Next, you’ll need a screen printing frame. This is typically a wood or metal frame stretched with a fine mesh, often referred to as “silk,” though it’s actually polyester. While pre-made frames are readily available and recommended for beginners, you can also construct your own frame for printing tee shirts at home. To do this, you’ll staple “110” polyester mesh to a square wooden frame.
You can find 110 polyester mesh on Amazon or at craft and art supply stores.
Image number 2 in a sequence, visually representing step-by-step instructions for building a DIY screen printing frame for tee shirts.
- To create your own screen printing frame for tee shirts, assemble a square frame using 2×2 inch wood pieces, securing them with screws. Precision isn’t crucial, but ensure the frame is sturdy and flat. Avoid using warped wood to ensure a level surface for printing tee shirts.
Image number 3 in a sequence, visually representing step-by-step instructions for building a DIY screen printing frame for tee shirts.
- Stretch and staple your polyester mesh tightly across the wooden frame. Use a standard staple gun to attach the mesh. Pull it taut, but be careful not to stretch it so much that it tears at the staples. Folding the mesh edge over can reinforce it and prevent tearing, ensuring a durable screen for printing tee shirts.
Ensure all staples are fully driven into the wood so the frame sits flat. Protruding staples can cause wobbling during the tee shirt printing process, affecting print quality.
A screen printing frame with mesh tightly secured, edges trimmed, and painter's tape applied, ready for tee shirt design application.
- Once the mesh is securely stapled, trim any excess mesh around the edges of the frame for a clean setup for tee shirt printing.
Image number 5 in a sequence, visually representing the taping process of a DIY screen printing frame for tee shirts.
- Seal both the inside and outside edges of the mesh with tape to prevent ink from seeping through gaps and to ensure clean prints when printing tee shirts. Painter’s tape is ideal for this purpose. While duct tape can work in a pinch, painter’s tape is less likely to leave residue and provides a cleaner edge for tee shirt printing.
Want to Save This Guide for Later?
We can email you this post for easy access whenever you’re ready to print more tee shirts!
Preparing and Burning Your Screen for Tee Shirt Designs
Preparing your screen and burning your design onto it is a four-step process that is crucial for creating clear and precise tee shirt prints:
- Apply Photo Emulsion: In a completely dark room, coat your screen with photo emulsion and allow it to dry for a few hours.
- Position Your Design: Once the emulsion is dry, place your cut-out design onto the prepared screen.
- Expose to Light: Use a light source to harden the photo emulsion. The emulsion exposed to light will cure permanently, while the emulsion under your design remains unexposed and washable, forming your tee shirt design stencil.
Step 1 of preparing the screen, showing the mixing of photo emulsion in preparation for coating the screen for tee shirt printing.
- Gather your screen, squeegee, and photo emulsion. Mix your photo emulsion according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, photo emulsion comes in two parts: an emulsion and an activator. Combine these thoroughly in preparation for coating your screen for tee shirt printing.
Step 2 of coating the screen, showing emulsion being applied to the screen in a darkroom setting, crucial for tee shirt screen preparation.
- In a darkroom setting, apply a bead of emulsion along the top of your screen. It’s crucial to work in darkness as photo emulsion is light-sensitive. The photos here are taken in a lit room for clarity, but ensure your actual process is in complete darkness when preparing screens for tee shirt printing.
Step 3 of coating the screen, demonstrating the use of a squeegee to spread emulsion evenly across the screen for tee shirt printing.
- Using your squeegee, spread the emulsion evenly over the entire screen on both sides. Aim for the thinnest possible coat while ensuring complete coverage. Work quickly to apply a uniform coat on one side, then the other. Immediately after coating, place the screen in a dark area to dry, protecting the light-sensitive emulsion.
Work swiftly, especially if there’s any ambient light, to prevent premature curing of the emulsion. As soon as the screen is coated, move it to a completely dark room for drying to properly prepare it for tee shirt printing.
Important Warning: A completely dark room is essential for drying your screen. A closet without windows works well. Block any light from seeping under the door by using a towel to ensure a light-tight environment for drying your screen for tee shirt printing.
- Position the coated frame horizontally, not vertically, in complete darkness to dry. Drying time depends on the thickness of the emulsion layer and typically takes 1-3 hours.
(Update: From advanced screen printing techniques, it’s beneficial to use a fan on a low setting directed at the screen to reduce drying time. With a fan, drying can be achieved in approximately half an hour), speeding up your tee shirt printing preparation process.
Exposing Your Screen for Tee Shirt Designs
Once your screen is fully dried, you can transfer your tee shirt design onto it. Many tutorials suggest using a lightbox for exposure, but a lightbox is not necessary, especially for beginners printing tee shirts at home.
The simplest method for exposing your screen is using a 150-watt lightbulb. This can be a standard 150-watt incandescent bulb or a 20-watt LED equivalent.
A photography light is positioned to shine directly onto a blackboard, demonstrating a DIY screen exposure setup for tee shirt printing.
Refer to your photo emulsion’s packaging for recommended exposure times based on screen size and the distance from your light source.
A photography light with a reflector is ideal as it focuses the light directly onto the frame, maximizing exposure efficiency for tee shirt printing.
If you don’t have a reflector, you can create a makeshift one from a tin pie plate or simply increase the exposure time by about 3 minutes to compensate for the dispersed light when preparing your screen for tee shirts.
You’ll also need a matte black surface beneath your screen during exposure to absorb stray light. An old chalkboard, black cardboard, or bristol board works well to create an optimal exposure setup for tee shirt printing.
1. Set up a light source using a 150-watt incandescent bulb or a 20-watt LED bulb, directed onto a matte black surface. Bristol board is a good choice for the black surface.
2. Carefully move your emulsion-coated screen to your light exposure area. Keep the screen covered with a towel until you are ready to expose it to prevent accidental light exposure before you are ready to burn your tee shirt design.
3. Place the prepared screen on your matte black background with the non-recessed side facing upwards.
4. Position your cut-out design (or printed transparency) onto the screen in reverse.
Helpful Tip:
Hold your design so it faces you as it should appear on your tee shirt, then flip it over and place this reversed image directly onto the screen for correct orientation when printing tee shirts.
5. Place a clean piece of glass over the design to ensure it is pressed firmly and flat against the screen, which is crucial for sharp image transfer during tee shirt printing.
6. Turn on your light source to begin the exposure process. Expose the screen for the time recommended on your photo emulsion instructions.
A diagram illustrating the setup for screen exposure with a 150-watt bulb positioned 18 inches above the screen, essential for tee shirt printing stencil creation.
Notice that the tree design now appears white; this is because it’s flipped, and the dark paper is now in direct contact with the screen during the exposure process for creating the tee shirt stencil.
For a screen size similar to the one shown, an exposure time of 35 minutes at a distance of 18 inches from a 150-watt bulb is generally effective. Your specific exposure time may vary, so always check your emulsion’s instructions. However, this setting is a good starting point for tee shirt printing screens of similar dimensions.
Set a timer and leave the setup undisturbed during exposure. Avoid moving or adjusting anything. Once the timer goes off, you can proceed to the next step in preparing your screen for printing tee shirts.
After the exposure time is complete, remove the glass and paper cutout (or transparency). You should see a faint outline of your design already visible on the screen.
The emulsion around your design has now hardened due to light exposure. The area covered by your design remained unexposed and will wash away, creating your stencil for printing tee shirts.
A newly exposed screen printing frame shows a faint pine tree silhouette, ready for washing to reveal the tee shirt design stencil.
7. Wash your screen using a high-pressure water source, such as a showerhead or garden hose. Use lukewarm water to spray the screen, focusing on the design area. Avoid hot or cold water.
Continue spraying gently. Gradually, the unexposed emulsion will wash away, and your design will become clearer and more defined. Congratulations, you’ve just created your first silkscreen for tee shirts!
Washing the emulsion off a screen at a kitchen tap after exposure, revealing the tee shirt design stencil.
How to Screen Print Tee Shirts: The Fun Part!
NOW for the exciting part – printing your tee shirts! You’re ready to lay out your tee shirt, position your newly burned screen, apply ink, and squeegee your first print. It’s a thrilling moment when you see your design come to life on fabric.
Video Guide
Since this might be your first attempt, and perfecting your technique takes practice, it’s wise to do a few test prints first. Practice on an old tee shirt or fabric scrap until you feel comfortable with the process. Once you’re confident, you can move on to printing your actual tee shirts.
Step 1 of printing, showing a tee shirt laid out flat and smoothed in preparation for screen printing.
- Lay your tee shirt flat on a smooth surface and smooth out any wrinkles. Ensure the fabric is taut and even to provide a good printing surface for your tee shirt design.
Step 2 of printing, showing the screen being carefully placed over a tee shirt, aligning the design area for printing.
- Place your prepared silkscreen over your tee shirt, ensuring the recessed side of the screen faces upwards. Align your design on the tee shirt where you want it printed.
In the photo, you might notice tape on the inside of the screen. This is generally not needed with pre-made screens. It was done here to cover minor gaps in a DIY screen.
Important Tip – Taping Your Screen for Printing Tee Shirts
Before you start printing, inspect your screen against a light source. If you see any tiny pinholes where the emulsion is missing, cover these spots with small pieces of tape. These holes can allow ink to seep through and create unwanted spots on your tee shirt prints.
Step 3 of printing, showing ink being applied to the screen and a squeegee used to flood the image area in preparation for printing.
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Apply a bead of fabric ink across the top edge of your screen, above your design area. The ink used here is a mix of black and white to create a dark grey. Remember, fabric ink typically dries much darker than it appears when wet, so consider this when choosing or mixing your ink for printing tee shirts.
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Using your squeegee, spread the ink lightly over your design area without applying pressure. This technique, known as flooding the image, ensures the entire design is covered with ink and ready for printing on your tee shirt.
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Next, in the same direction as the flood stroke, use the squeegee again, this time applying firm pressure to push the ink through the screen and onto the tee shirt fabric beneath. This step transfers your design onto the tee shirt.
Step 5 of printing, showing the squeegee being used with pressure to push ink through the screen and onto the tee shirt.
6. Printing Complete! Carefully lift the screen straight up and away from the tee shirt. It might stick slightly due to the ink.
7. Allow your printed tee shirt to air dry completely. Hang it or lay it flat in a well-ventilated area until the ink is fully dry.
8. Once you’ve finished printing all your tee shirts, clean your screen immediately. Rinse it with cool water to remove all remaining ink. Prompt cleaning prevents ink from drying in the screen and preserves it for future use.
9. When the ink on your tee shirt is completely dry, heat-set the design. Place a piece of parchment paper over the printed area and press with a dry iron on a medium setting. Heat setting makes the ink permanent and washable, ensuring your tee shirt design lasts.
A slightly faded tee shirt print, illustrating a common issue in screen printing that can occur during DIY tee shirt printing at home.
A more solid and well-defined tee shirt print achieved by applying more pressure with the squeegee during the printing process.
If your print appears faded, as shown in the first image, it usually indicates insufficient pressure during squeegeeing. For your next print, apply more pressure to the squeegee to ensure a more solid and vibrant image transfer when printing tee shirts.
A newly screen-printed tee shirt is hung to dry, showcasing the successful outcome of a DIY tee shirt printing project.
Here’s a video demonstrating the tee shirt printing process:
And there you have it—how to screen print tee shirts at home in a few straightforward steps! It’s really not as complicated as it seems, and the satisfaction you get from creating your own custom tee shirts is well worth the effort.
Just like perfecting any DIY skill, like learning to throw a curveball or maybe… successfully juggling lima beans, printing tee shirts at home becomes easier and more enjoyable with practice.
Continue to Materials and Instructions
Materials Checklist for Tee Shirt Printing
- Squeegee – $9
- Photo Emulsion – $10 (sufficient for numerous screens)
- Fabric Ink – $8.00 (enough for many tee shirts)
- Frame with Screen – $20
- 150-watt Lightbulb – $3
- Tee Shirt Blank – $5
Step-by-Step Instructions for Printing Tee Shirts at Home
SELECT YOUR TEE SHIRT DESIGN
- Choose a design you want to print on your tee shirt. For beginners, simple, single-color silhouette designs or bold lettering work best.
- Print your design on regular paper. Cut out the design carefully with an Exacto knife to create a stencil.
- Prepare your screen printing frame. You can use a pre-made frame or construct your own using wood and polyester mesh.
DIY FRAME ASSEMBLY
- Construct a frame using 2×2 inch wood pieces, ensuring it is flat and sturdy.
- Staple the polyester mesh tightly across the frame using a staple gun.
- Trim excess mesh from the edges of the frame.
- Seal the edges of the mesh to the frame with painter’s tape, both inside and out.
APPLYING PHOTO EMULSION
- Mix the two parts of the photo emulsion as per the instructions.
- In a dark room, apply a bead of emulsion along the top of your screen.
- Use a squeegee to spread a thin, even coat of emulsion across both sides of the screen.
- Dry the coated screen horizontally in complete darkness for 1-3 hours.
SCREEN EXPOSURE
- Set up a 150-watt lightbulb shining onto a matte black surface.
- Place your dried, emulsion-coated screen in the exposure area, keeping it shielded from light until ready.
- Position the screen on the black surface, non-recessed side up.
- Place your reversed design stencil onto the screen.
- Cover the design with a piece of glass to ensure firm contact.
- Expose the screen to light for the recommended time (refer to emulsion instructions).
- Wash the screen with lukewarm water using a high-pressure spray to remove unexposed emulsion and reveal your design.
TEE SHIRT PRINTING PROCESS
- Lay your tee shirt flat and smooth.
- Position the screen over your tee shirt, recessed side up.
- Apply a bead of fabric ink across the top of the screen.
- Flood the design area by spreading ink lightly with the squeegee.
- Print the design by squeegeeing again with firm pressure.
- Carefully remove the screen from the tee shirt.
- Allow the printed tee shirt to air dry.
- Clean the screen immediately after printing with cool water.
- Heat-set the dry print with a dry iron to make it permanent.
Additional Notes for Successful Tee Shirt Printing
- For more detailed designs, use transparency paper for your stencil to ensure opacity and sharper prints when printing tee shirts.
- Aluminum screen printing frames are more durable and better for detailed work than wooden frames. Consider investing in an aluminum frame as you gain more experience in tee shirt printing.
- If your prints appear faded, apply more pressure with the squeegee during printing to ensure better ink transfer onto the tee shirt fabric.
This guide provides a basic introduction to screen printing tee shirts at home. As you become more experienced, you can explore advanced techniques like grayscale printing and consider using a screen printing press for increased efficiency and precision. If DIY screen printing seems too involved initially, you can start with a complete screen printing starter kit, which includes all necessary materials like screens, photo emulsion, fabric inks, and a squeegee.
Starting with a Screen Printing Kit is the Easiest and Most Economical Approach
Consider a starter screen printing kit available on Amazon US.
For those in Canada, a starter screen printing kit is also available on Amazon Canada.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! And be sure to follow me on Instagram for more DIY fun and maybe a bit of lighthearted foolishness.
"How to Screen Print at Home" pin image, promoting the guide on Pinterest and other platforms.
