Screen Printing Process
Our Screen Printing Process
At By Shade, we take pride in delivering high-quality screen printing with a streamlined process designed for precision and efficiency. Here’s how it works:
- Quote Approval - Once we receive your design and garment details, we’ll provide a detailed quote. Once approved, we proceed to the next step.
- Artwork Approval & Payment - You’ll receive a digital proof of your artwork to approve. At this stage, full payment is required before we begin production.
- Filmwork Creation - Your design is separated into different layers for each color and printed onto transparency films, preparing them for screen exposure.
- Screen Preparation - Screens are coated with a light-sensitive emulsion and exposed using the filmwork to create stencils for printing.
- Printing Process - Using high-quality inks, we transfer your design onto garments with precision, ensuring vibrant, durable prints.
- Packing & Quality Control -Every garment undergoes thorough inspection before being packed and prepared for pickup or shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Changes to Your Order
If you need to make changes, please notify us before Stage Two (Artwork Approval & Payment). Once the artwork is signed off, changes may incur additional costs.
Matching or Beating Quotes
If you have received a quote from another print shop and want us to match it, send us a copy, and we’ll see what we can do.
Note: The quote must be from a registered business with an ABN, including GST.
Print Size & Restrictions
- Maximum print size: 42cm x 48cm
- Printing on multiple garment sizes (e.g., kids, men’s, and women’s) may require separate screen setups to ensure proper scaling.
- If you’re unsure about sizing, we can help determine the most cost-effective solution.
Artwork Requirements
- Files must be 300 DPI or a vector file in .PSD, .TIF, .EPS, .AI, .PDF, or .JPG format.
- Flatten all layers and outline all text before sending.
- Vector files (.AI, .EPS, .PDF) do not require DPI settings, but placing a raster image inside Illustrator does not make it a vector file.
If you're unsure about your artwork, send it through, and we’ll assess it before printing.
Need Help with Your Artwork?
If you're unable to provide the correct artwork file, we can assist! Our design service can create vector files or halftone prints to ensure your design is optimized for screen printing. Check out our Design Service page for more details.
Halftone Printing
For designs with gradients or intricate details (e.g., photographs), we use halftones, which create shading effects through small dots instead of solid colors.
Note: Some detail may be lost when printing halftones.
Minimum Orders
- 20+ units per design: Standard pricing applies.
- 6-19 units: Charged at double the per-print price.
- 1-5 units (Sampling): Charged at $50+GST per hour, plus setup costs.
Turnaround Time
- Standard turnaround: 3-4 weeks from invoice payment and job sheet approval.
- Rush orders: A 30% rush fee applies for jobs required sooner. If unsure, contact us to confirm scheduling availability.
Colour Matching & PMS Colours
If no Pantone (PMS) color is provided, we offer two options:
- Screen-Based Matching – We’ll match the color as closely as possible using Pantone color books.
- Pantone Selection - If you have an pantone colour in mind already please add it in the artwork requirement files or email us to make note of.
Note: Colors may vary slightly due to screen differences and ink mixing tolerances (~5% variance from Pantone swatch books). If you need an exact match, providing a sample garment is recommended.