Small hobbyists to big businesses use the process of screen printing to transfer artistic works and catchy phrases to cloth or other mediums. Whether one plans to make gifts or sell the products for profit, screen printing is an effective way to make multiple copies of one creative image. Fabric screen printing is quite limitless. A screen printer can create custom items such as shirts, place mats, banners, and pillowcases.

Hobbyists looking to learn the trade need to gather supplies and learn techniques before getting started. The long list of supplies to begin the hobby can be intimidating, but each item has a purpose. If someone does not know where to start, a great option can be a starter kit, which will include Screen Printing Frames, screens, a press, an exposure light and mounting fixture, a squeegee, tape, an emulsion coater, a bulb safe for darkroom use, some basic inks, cleaning supplies, parchment paper, and film positives. Some kits even include instructions.

The types of materials used can impact the result. When choosing frame sizes, it is important to pay attention to the maximum print area, which will be smaller than the frame itself. Purchasing the scoop coater and squeegee size to match the frame will be optimal. For example, a screen with the dimensions 25 by 36 inches will allow for an approximate printing area of 19 by 30 inches, requiring a scoop coater size of 21 inches and a squeegee that is no larger than 20 inches. The best way to prepare for the screen printing process is to first take into consideration the size of the images that will be printed.

In addition to screen and frame size, the mesh count is also imperative to ponder. The printer will get the best results using different numbers with different mediums. The number to choose also depends on how fine the detail should be in the final product, and even the type of ink used. For example, 110 Screen Printing Frames are great for printing on a shirt printing large letters using basic inks. As the printer becomes more experienced and endeavors to create finer details or print smaller letters, a screen with a higher mesh count will be useful.