Screen Printing Process

1. The customer describes what the shirt should look like or sends a file (see art requirements page) of their existing design or logo.
2. The art files are then brought into the computer and "cleaned up" or the art is created to the customer's specifications by the art department.
3. When the design is complete, the customer recieves an email with a link to our unique Online Comps Service - YourComps.com where the design can be viewed for changes or approval.
3. After recieving the approval, the art is "color separated".  This is done by separating out each color in the design and printing it on a clear film, called a "positive". For Example: A picture of the U.S. flag would be need a blue positive, a red positive, and a white positive.
4. These positives are then "burned" onto screens. A screen is a thin piece of material stretched over a frame and thinly coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Each positive is placed on a screen and exposed to a high-powered light. The emulsion becomes hardened except where the positive image was against the screen. The screen is then washed to remove the unburned emulsion and what remains is a reversed image of the design.
5. The screens are then aligned on the printing press, piecing the image back together like a puzzle.  A rubberized wedge called a "squeegee" is pulled across each screen forcing the colored ink through the mesh of the screen and onto the t-shirt.  This results in the design being placed on the t-shirt.
6. After the printing is complete, the shirt is placed on a conveyer that rolls it slowly through a dryer, curing the ink and making the image permanent.
7. Then it is folded, bagged (if requested), and boxed for pick-up or delivery.

At ACP we pride ourselves in making products of exceptional quality and value.  We are able to maintain our extremely high quality and insure our turn around time by handling all aspects of your order in-house.  Our self- contained print shop is housed in a 10,000 square foot facility and has its own screen burning and stretching capabilities, color mixing area, and shipping docks. Below is some of the state of the art printing equipment used in our print shop.

18 Color Automatic Press 8 Color Automatic Press 8 Color JUMBO Press 2 Manual Presses

8 Color Automatic Press

Folding and Bagging Machine Additionally, we can offer such amenities as automatic folding/bagging, hang tags, and have plans to add in-house pad printing capabilities in the near future.

8 Color JUMBO Press In our 20 years in the garment screen printing field, our clients have included major Nascar drivers, International Corporations, International Music acts, and have established a reputation for print quality and on time delivery. From our location, 11 miles north of Nashville, we have access to airlines, trucking, and numerous other shipping options to serve you efficiently. We can also supply you with the best prices in quality embroidery, along with an array of specialty items, such as mugs, cups, pins, buttons, cozies, fanny packs, keychains and more.