By Custom Graphics
Q: What is the greatest number of colors you have screen printed?
A: An average job ranges from one color to a handful. However, we have done some complex jobs where there are up to 14 colors.
Q: What is the most difficult part of screen printing?
A: Screen printing is still very much a hands-on craft. Unlike automated processes, it requires physical labor and a sharp eye for detail. One of the most challenging aspects is color matching. Inks must be mixed by hand, adjusting the formula until the hue and shade are just right. This requires both technical knowledge and an artistic touch because lighting, material type, and even the order of printing layers can affect the final look.
Q: What does the process of color mixing/color matching look like?
A: To accurately match the color, we mix a variety of inks to get the exact hue and shade needed. Once we’ve mixed the color, it’s important to test it in the same lighting conditions where the decal will be displayed.
Q: What is the difference between screen printing and digital printing?
A: Screen printing is an art form. It’s the process of handcrafting each specific color and creating layer upon layer, that when laid together, create a design. Digital printing, on the other hand, relies more on the preparation of the design beforehand. The printing itself is straightforward, working much like a standard paper printer, but on a much larger scale and with a variety of materials.
Q: What is the largest and smallest screen we can produce?
A: We produce decals ranging from ½ inch to 7 feet wide by 4 feet tall, with production runs that can exceed 10,000 parts.
Q: What does the future of screen-printing look like in signage and decals?
A: While digital printing has made many advancements, screen printing still takes the lead for durability and continues to be ideal for decals used in harsh environments such as agriculture, construction, marine, and industrial.
Q:When did screen printing first show up in the modern world?
A: Although screen printing dates back somewhere between 960 and 1279 AD, in 1907, a man from England named Samuel Simon patented a method using silk mesh for commercial printing.
Q: How did screen printing influence the boom of decals on vehicles and ag equipment?
A: In 1946, a screen printer named Forest Gill invented bumper stickers by combining fluorescent paint and self-adhesive paper. This was the start of what we now know as adhesive vehicle graphics.
Screen-printing made it possible to mass-produce highquality decals that were weatherproof, which was an essential function when producing agricultural decals
The Evolution of Screenprinting in the Decal Industry
Expansion into Industrial Applications: (1930s-40s)
In WWII, screen printing was used to make labels, warning decals, and instructions for machinery, along with banners, flags, and other signage.
Birth of the Modern Sign Market: (1950s)
Screen printing is adopted by billboard companies and vehicle branding. Decals become weather-resistant, opening up outdoor advertising opportunities. Introduction of solvent-based inks and plastisol.
The Big Boom: (1960s-1970s)
- Adhesive-backed vinyl film has become common for decals.
- Large-format screens allow oversized graphics for buses and trucks.
- Multi-station presses enable faster production time for high-volume orders.
- Signage companies start specializing in custom corporate branding.
Industrial Scale Production: (1980s)
- Semi-automatic and fully automatic presses dominate, boosting speed and reducing labor costs.
- UV curable inks emerge, meaning instant dry times and excellent outdoor durability.
- Mass production of decals for appliance panels, control boards, and industrial labeling.
Peak Dominance: (1990s)
- Large-scale screen printing reaches its peak share in the signage industry.
- Specialized inks for metallic finishes, reflective coatings, and textured effects become common.
- Fleet graphics boom, with large decal kits produced in volume.
Hybrid Era: (2000s-2010s)
- Combination of digital printing and screen printing emerges.
- Digital printing for complex imagery and screen printing for solid color
layers and protective overcoats.
Custom Graphics Inc.
Contact Us:
Customgraphicsinc.com
701-237-5685
Instagram | @Customgraphicsinc
Facebook | @Customgraphicsfargo
2501 3rd Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102
