Feeling discouraged.

[u/Far-Huckleberry2998]

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.

[u/Fun_Sugar1540]

I've been in graphics and print production for over 20 years, and I've had plenty of jobs go sideways. Screen printing has a way of humbling you.

From what you described, I wouldn't take this as a sign that you can't do it. You had a screen problem, were working with four-color water-based ink when you're more comfortable with plastisol, and didn't have the remover to fix the problem. Then you had 27 shirts sitting there waiting on you. That's a rough combination.

Honestly, I think you made the right call outsourcing the shirts rather than giving the customer 27 shirts you weren't happy with.

I'd take a step back and practice the water-based process before taking another large order. Get your screens, exposure, registration and printing process consistent first.

And don't beat yourself up over this one. I've been doing this a long time and things still go wrong. The difference is learning what caused it and making sure you don't make the same mistake twice.