Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 23

By James Ortolani,
Contributing Writer

Screen printers can benefit
from today's digital technologies
for their shops.

W

e've a l l heard the
term "going digital,"
but what does that
really mean? It doesn't necessarily mean
transitioning your entire screen-print
shop to only producing direct-to-garment
(DTG), sublimation, digital transfers and
print/cut applications. Adding extra services can be a plus, but there still are
plenty of digital advancements made in
screen printing that will keep savvy screen
printers competitive. And there also are
digital heat-transfer applications to add
to a screen-printer's arsenal. Those will be
covered later in this article.
Digital technologies first made their way
into screen-print shops via the computer for
designing artwork. This advancement soon
replaced process cameras, which was how
fi lm positives were made back in the day.

A SUPPLEMENT TO IMPRESSIONS

Today, there are art software programs, like
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and
CorelDRAW, available for printers to create their own custom graphic designs, color
separations and more. Learning these programs keeps you on the competitive edge.
In addition to software, there's a
multitude of digital fi lm output devices
available for producing fi lm positives for
making screens. But the most significant
digital advancement for screen making is
the computer-to-screen, or CTS, technology. Computer-to-screen imaging bypasses
the need to print fi lms by printing the
graphic image directly onto the photosensitive screen instead of printing on a fi lm
carrier sheet prior to exposure and washout. With CTS systems, there is no need to
store hundreds of pieces of fi lm since your
customers' artwork now can be saved in

Digital controllers
can be found on nearly every piece
of screen-printing equipment in
today's shop. This is a photo of a
digital touch pad for a Nuarc
screen-exposure unit.
SUMMER 2015 § 23



Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015

Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015
Contents
First Impressions
How to Optimize Digital Dark Shirt Printing
Prepare to Launch! Minimizing the DTG Learning Curve
Sublimation Rising: The Super Spot
What Does Digital Mean to Screen Printers?
Beyond the DTG Printer
Top 5 Color-Correcting Methods for Customer Photos
Digital Appliqué — the Best of Both Worlds
Digital Decorating Products
Shop Spotlight: Dragonfly Graphics
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Cover2
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 1
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Contents
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 3
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - First Impressions
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 5
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - How to Optimize Digital Dark Shirt Printing
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 7
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 8
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 9
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 10
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 11
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 12
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 13
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Prepare to Launch! Minimizing the DTG Learning Curve
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 15
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 16
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 17
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 18
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 19
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Sublimation Rising: The Super Spot
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 21
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 22
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - What Does Digital Mean to Screen Printers?
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 24
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 25
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Beyond the DTG Printer
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 27
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 28
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 29
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Top 5 Color-Correcting Methods for Customer Photos
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 31
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 32
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 33
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Digital Appliqué — the Best of Both Worlds
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 35
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 36
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 37
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 38
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Digital Decorating Products
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 40
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 41
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 42
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Shop Spotlight: Dragonfly Graphics
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - 44
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Cover3
Impressions - Digital Decorator - Summer 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
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