Do You Know What Silkscreen (Serigraph) Printing Is?

Silkscreen printing is a simple trick: you push ink through a screen with small holes onto something like fabric or paper. They used to use silk for the screens; that’s where “silk” and “serigraph” come from, but now it’s mostly polyester or nylon. The name just stuck, though!

I still remember my first time trying it in 2003. I was in a friend’s garage, printing t-shirts for his band. The ink smelled funny, and I got it all over my hands, but when that first shirt came out looking awesome? I was sold. This method’s been around forever, way back to China over a thousand years ago, and it’s still a hit with artists and business owners today.

How Does It Work?

Silkscreen printing takes a few steps, but it’s worth it. Here’s how it goes:

• Make Your Design: Draw or print your picture on clear film. Every color gets its own screen.

• Set Up the Screen: Put a special coating on the screen that hardens under UV light. Lay your film on top. The light makes the coating solid except where your design is.

• Create the Stencil: Wash off the soft parts, and you’ve got holes in the screen where ink can go through.
  
  

• Print It: Place the screen on your shirt or whatever, spread ink over it, and push it through with a squeegee.

• Dry It: Let the ink dry. Sometimes, you heat it to make it stick and repeat for more colors.

It’s a little work, but the bright designs you get are amazing. Big embroidery shops use machines to speed things up, especially for lots of orders.

What Are the Materials Needed for Silkscreen Printing?

Want to try it? Here’s what you need:

• Screen: Usually polyester, use 43T for fabric or 77T for paper or thin stuff.

• Frame: Wood’s cheap, aluminum’s strong, it holds the screen tight.

• Ink: I like plastisol for shirts; it lasts and looks good. Water-based ink is better for the earth.

• Squeegee: A rubber tool to push the ink through.

• Coating & Light: To make the stencil on the screen.

• Stuff to Print On: Shirts, bags, paper, whatever you want.

When I started, I’d grab old frames from thrift stores and use whatever I could find. Now, you can buy a basic kit online for $40-$50 and skip the hassle.

Which Is the Best Machine for Silk Screen Printing?

Your machine depends on what you’re doing:

• Manual Ones: Good for beginners or small jobs, like the VEVOR 4-Color (~$200). You control it yourself.

• Automatic Ones: For big orders, like the M&R Sportsman EX (~$20,000+). It prints tons fast.

• Rotary Ones: Best for long fabric rolls, great for embroidery shops too.

If you’re a small embroidery business trying silkscreen, I’d pick the Riley Hopkins 150 (~$500). It’s solid, not too pricey, and works as you grow.

Application of Silkscreen Printing

You can use silkscreen printing for all kinds of things:

• Clothes: Shirts, hoodies, bags, and anything with big logos next to embroidery.

• Art: Like those cool Marilyn Monroe prints by Andy Warhol.

• Packaging: Bright labels on bottles or boxes that stand out.

• Tech: Even tiny circuits on boards- crazy, huh?

I think it’s awesome to use a silkscreen for a colorful background and then add stitching on top. They work so well together!

Benefits of Silk Screen Printing

Why do people love it? Here’s why:

High Print Quality

The ink’s thick, so the colors really pop. It is way better than some digital stuff.

Wide Print Area

You can do small designs or cover a whole shirt. I’ve made shirts that look like ads you can wear.

Stand-Out Branding

Cool inks, like shiny or glowy ones, make your logo unforgettable. Super helpful for embroidery folks getting noticed.

Saves Money

It takes time to set up, but once you’re going, big batches cost less. Great for lots of prints.

What’s the Difference Between Silkscreen and Screen Printing?

People ask this a lot: Are they different? Nope, they’re the same! “Silkscreen” is the old name from when silk was used; “screen printing” is what we call it now. Here’s a quick look:

Hence, it is proved that silkscreen or screen printing is the best method. It’s all the same cool process.

Conclusion

So, what is silkscreen (serigraph) printing? It’s a strong, bright way to print that’s been around forever and still rocks in 2025. If you’re into embroidery digitizing or just love making custom stuff, it’s a winner. Awesome quality, a good price, and it pairs great with stitching. Give it a shot—start small, play around, and see what you can make. You’ll love it!