How It Works

The process begins with designing the artwork digitally. Our talented designers craft unique, inspiring designs – or use your own provided artwork – to create something totally custom. The design is separated into layers with each color in a separate layer then printed onto transparent films – one film for each color in the design.

A mesh screen stretched tightly over an aluminum frame is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion, which cures when exposed to light. The film with the design is placed on the screen, and UV light is used to expose the emulsion, transferring the stencil onto the screen. A unique screen must be created for each color in the design. This is why the more colors you have, the higher the cost. When printing on dark colored garments, an additional layer (called an under base) is sometimes needed to make the colors show up.

Once the screens are prepared, they are carefully aligned on the printing press according to the design. Each screen corresponds to a different color (and layer) in the artwork. Proper setup guarantees that the final print will match the intended design with precise color registration and sharp details.

Ink is placed on top of the screen, and a squeegee is used to evenly distribute the ink over the screen. The ink is forced through the open areas of the stencil onto the shirt, creating the desired design. The process is repeated for each screen layering each color of the ink to create your final design. The ink is then cured by running the shirt through a conveyer dryer (kind of like a pizza oven).

After the screen printing and curing process, the garments may undergo an additional step using a heat press. This can be particularly useful for applying specialty effects, such as metallic or glitter finishes, or for adding intricate details that may be challenging to achieve with screen printing alone. At Curbside Apparel, we heat press nearly most shirts because it further embeds ink in the shirt, making it softer and more durable.

Finally, the order is inventoried, boxed up, and prepared for pickup, delivery, or shipping.

We also offer a number of additional services including custom online stores, individual order fulfillment, retail tagging, and more.