Can I lose a million dollars screen printing?

[Xist]

Bob released this video claiming that you can start a screen-printing business for under $300. I had mostly finished summarizing it when my page inexplicably refreshed.

Yay.

You spread an even layer of emulsifier on 160- or 320-count (DPI) wire screens, allow them to dry, and place a transparency with the design printed on it on it.

He said you can buy special transparencies for home inkjet printers, but if you want prints larger than 8.5x11 you need to go to an office supply store, and all we have is the UPS Store.

I don't know if they print transparencies.

He just used a giant printer that probably costs thousands of dollars.

You cure the emulsion with a transparency lined up under UV light. His light said it worked in 10-12 seconds, but took 5 minutes!

That is 25 times as long!

Then you waste a ridiculous amount of water hosing the uncured emulsion from the screen, which will undoubtedly leave imperfections, and need to be fixed.

He said you should use a pressure washer, but he didn't.

You screw hinge clamps to your work table, place the material between the hinge clamps, secure the screen to the hinge clamps, and then spread ink across the screen.

Repeat for each color, presumably allowing to dry after each pass, and you are finished.

He didn't say how you clean the screen after each use.

I have encountered various business ideas over the years and I don't have any interest into trying to get into this one.

I already have too many projects?

I won't want to waste water like this?

He didn't make claims of the earning potential?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FGAdSk3Nh8

[freebeard]

I knew someone who studied silk-screen printing in college. You wind up with clotheslines full of wet prints slowly drying.

[Xist]

I wondered if you needed everything to dry flat so it didn't drip, but if it drips you have too much ink!

[redpoint5]

I want a shirt printed to my body measurements; not the generic overweight person.

Wonder if I'll live to see the day where we look back in astonishment that people all just wore bag clothing designed to accommodate most people, but actually fit nobody.

[Xist]

My Ecomodder t-shirt makes me look fat.

I blame the shirt.

[freebeard]

Spray-on clothes?

https://www.fabricanltd.com
Fabrican Spray-on fabric sprayable non-woven aerosol technology
Parisian fashion brand Coperni uses Fabrican's sprayable, liquid fibre to spray a dress onto a model at its Spring Summer 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week. The Coperni show took place in Salle des Textiles at Paris's Musée des Arts et Métiers on 30 September and saw a white dress sprayed live onto the body of model Bella Hadid.

[Xist]

Just as long as they aren't permanent sparkly purple spray-on shoes!

[wdb]

Why am I thinking of Demi Moore.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I want a shirt printed to my body measurements; not the generic overweight person.

Wonder if I'll live to see the day where we look back in astonishment that people all just wore bag clothing designed to accommodate most people, but actually fit nobody.

Sounds like you need a tailor / seamstress.

I used one when I lived in Alabama and had to wear company logo clothes to shows. They were all generic straight bodied shirts that didn't fit well so I took them to a tailor and for less than $10 a shirt I had clothes that actually fit.

[redpoint5]

I've had suits tailored, but I can't justify the expense on things like tee shirts, polos, or button up shirts.

Sometimes a"slim/tall" size of clothing comes close enough to fitting properly.

Mostly I'm excited for the prospect of printing clothing at home, where even those with fewer means can make something that fits, when they need it. Maybe print a replacement sock when one blows out instead of having to trash both.