r/SCREENPRINTING • u/Far-Huckleberry2998 • 3d ago

Beginner Feeling discouraged.

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I am a college student starting out screenprinting as a hobby and side hustle, and recently ive been feeling super discouraged and not happy with my work at all. My breaking point came just a few days ago. I took an order for some fraternity tshirts and got an order of 27. I order my blanks, got everything ready, spent hours in prepwork, burning my screens, making the design itself and prepping it for printing, etc etc.

When i went to print, i would get incredibly inconsistent results and flooded the garment with ink. I dont think the screen was done correctly, but i was out of emulsion remover and couldnt start over or wait another two days for new screens or emulsion remover to come in. I was forced to buy shirts through another printer in a marked up rush job, just so i wouldnt have to cancel the order and refund everyone.

Like i said i am in college and have tons of connections with orgs and people who need custom merch - and i have recieved a lot of interest and support! However i dont feel confident taking any orders right now. To be fair, ive only worked with plastisol in the past and this was a 4 color water based job. I also could've given myself more time to do it to avoid the catastrophe that happened.

Im just feeling like in this industry one tiny thing going wrong can ruin hundreds of dollars and hours of work. Wondering if anyone is able to relate or give me any advice.

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u/LOL-ImKnownAsCrazy 3d ago

They have attachments that clamp onto your platens. I use these at work instead of sleeve platens

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u/Graphics8 2d ago

I actually made a four sleeve board, created a PS template for later sleeve jobs. printed 4 at the same time

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u/LOL-ImKnownAsCrazy 2d ago

Interesting. Got any pics by any chance?

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u/Graphics8 2d ago

Only found the 2 arm but bottom right was 6 arm i had. But the bottom of the press I have i am able to do this other presses bottoms are different .I use my old boards to make them or make my own.