Registering multiple colours using a screen printing jig [IS31]

With your screens made you are now ready to start printing. A screen printing jig [single or multiple colour] will speed your printing and most importantly make the prints straight & accurate.

In this example we are going to print a 2 colour design onto a t-shirt.

Important note before you begin

Screen is OK as arm reaches design The location of your design may play an important part on how you layout and create your screens. The reach of a jig's arm combined with the frame size you use is important.

Left is a screen that has the arm at full extension but still covers the design area with room for registration.

Screen can not be used as frame is too small Pictured right is a screen where the image is too low and the arm can not travel any further to reach the design area. This problem is caused by fitting a design to a frame that is too small for the outreaching areas of the jig.

By laying out your design & frames on top of the item in your jig before you begin to print you will avoid this problem.

Step 1
Colour separating your artwork is the most important aspect of multiple colour printing. If your artwork is out of registration then no matter what you do you will not get a straight print.
You can colour separate your design by hand or using computer, details for both processes are covered on separate NEHOC Training Sheets:
Colour separating designs by hand
Colour separation a design using a computer

Pictured left is the sample design we are using, the 2 screens at the top and a copy of the complete design on paper at the bottom.

Step 2 - Register your artwork [with all colours] onto the item

Step 2
Place a copy of the full design, with all colours/ layers present, onto the item and align as required.

This becomes your master template for registration of all the colours so it's critical you get this registered in the right place.

Once in place adhere the artwork onto the item with masking tape so it can not move.

Hint

When registering a design onto a t-shirt, slip the t-shirt over the board just like you would for printing and register the design. Then remove the t-shirt with the designs adhered and actually put it on and look in a mirror or have someone else look at the design to check level.

Step 3
With a aligned design on the item, place it onto the jig to begin the registration process.

For T-shirts [as per example]: Pull the t-shirt onto the board with the artwork attached - this is all you need to do! Proceed to step 4.

For flat items: To ensure the item is placed in the same position each time, we need to create corner/ side registration points on the board that the item will slot up against. Full details of this process are available in Information Sheet #30 - click here . .

Important Note

Jigs differ in operation between models and functions - the following is based on the NEHOC Single & 4 Arm Screen Printing Jigs. If your jig does not have adjustable arms then you may be required to move your item to a different location on the board before fine tuning the registration in the arm [this applies when using Jig Hinges].

Step 4
With your artwork in place on the item, and your item in place on the jig, you can now register the first colour/ screen over the artwork.: Pictured left, we are registering the lower part of the design first - you will note it is darker to see through as the screen has been imaged and you can see the artwork clearly through the design.

To register the first step is to loosen all the parts of the jig for easy movement.

Place your screen into the jig and move the arm out - when in place tighten to lock in.

Now you can fine tune the registration by moving the screen over the item as pictured. When in place, tighten the arm to lock the screen in place.

Hint

If you are required to print 'off contact' then insert the plastic raisers under the frame in the screen now before registration.

When using the NEHOC Single & 4 Arm Jigs, place a piece of plastic between the frame and the tightening screw - this helps stop movement of the frame when tightening.

Step 5
With the first screen registered we now move onto the next screen - place the second screen over the artwork.: Pictured left, we are registering the top part of the design second - as with the first screen you will note it is darker to see through as the screen has been imaged and you can see the artwork clearly through the design.

To register the first step is to loosen all the parts of the jig for easy movement. Place your screen into the jig and move the long arm out and when in place tighten to lock in.

Now as with the first screen you can fine tune the registration by moving the screen over the item as pictured. When in place, tighten the arm to lock the screen in place.

Repeat the process above for all remaining colours/ screens. As you can see the process is really the same for 1 - 100 colours - it all depends on your designs and the number of colours you want to have.

Test the colour registrations by lifting the arms of the jig and lowering them back down over your artwork.

You are now ready to begin printing.

Printing
The printing process is the same as normal, however for information and a few tips on using jigs please see the FAQ on Screen Printing Jigs - click here . .

Print #1

With your screens aligned and ready to go, perform a test print onto paper over your t-shirts to check the screen.

When your screen is ready, remove the paper and perform the first print onto your t-shirt.

In this example we used Opaque Orange fabric ink, elevated 4mm using off contact style printing. 2 passes were required with the squeegee to provide sufficient ink coverage.

Print #2

With the first print performed, swing the 2nd screen round and lower over the design - now perform the 2nd print as per the first.

In this example we used Standard Black fabric ink, with no elevation. 3 passes were required with the squeegee to provide sufficient ink coverage on this darker background.

When lifting the 2nd, and subsequent, screen for the first time, take a little extra time to see if any of the ink from the first colour 'sticks' to the back of the screen. If this is really heavy & holding the screen as you lift you may need to dry between prints.

		*Related links* Registering single colours Artwork types & preparation Imaging screens Support/ request info. *Video links* Video of this process available to GOCCOclub Members - see GOCCOclub Video homepage Screen printing technique *Product links* Screen printing jigs Screen printing systems Screen printing accessories

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