Loading tees onto the platen

[noiseloops]

We have a our first run of 50 shirts yesterday. However it should an area where we found that we might be overlooking simply. Loading up the shirts onto the platen.
We had the issue with the image being slanted/not center after its printed.
Any tips on to how it should be done proper, or to minimize this issue? We wasted about 4-6 shirts for this yesterday,

[Frog]

Perhaps the first thing to try is to place the shirt onto the board all the way until it "bottoms" out on the shoulders. The shoulder seams will indicate straightness, and the sleeve seams will show is it is fairly centered side to side.
Then, you can gently and evenly slide the shirt back up the board towards you to whatever reference mark you use
Eventually this will go pretty fast and you will also start seeing the actual knit as parallel and/or perpendicular to the board.

Be wary of the center crease, because as soon as you rely on it as your only reference, you will find one (or more) way off!

[noiseloops]

Thanks for that. We'll try that out. We fairly did it similiarly like that. But somehow it looked a bit off.
Thanks again mate!

[screenxpress]

Eventually...you will also start seeing the actual knit as parallel and/or perpendicular to the board.

Good lighting helps with this a lot!

[Inkworks]

A quick check of the line between the two arm pit seams is how we check for straight.

[sweetts]

Step one that I do is to square up the design to the platen, I use a T square and measure off the sides to make sure it is centered or where I need it to be.
Then I put a shirt on the platen, pull it all the way down and make sure sides are even. Then run a test print and make sure it's all correct, now I adjust my lasers to line up on seams or buttons or whatever so i can repeat everything the same on each shirt. Then print away. If its your first run don't be discouraged practice makes perfect. Remember the actual printing is like 20% of the job the prepress and setup is where it counts. Take your time to get it all correct before you start the run and everything else should fall into place.


RT Screen Designs
www.rtscreendesigns.com

[Chadwick]

Just to second the center crease concern,
It's often better to trust the shoulders of the garment,
which is why everyone recommends you to load long, then bring back.

It becomes so second-nature after awhile, that if you think about it, you screw up.
It just takes repetition..... and you will get lots of repetition.
 

Cheers.

[noiseloops]

Step one that I do is to square up the design to the platen, I use a T square and measure off the sides to make sure it is centered or where I need it to be.
Then I put a shirt on the platen, pull it all the way down and make sure sides are even. Then run a test print and make sure it's all correct, now I adjust my lasers to line up on seams or buttons or whatever so i can repeat everything the same on each shirt. Then print away. If its your first run don't be discouraged practice makes perfect. Remember the actual printing is like 20% of the job the prepress and setup is where it counts. Take your time to get it all correct before you start the run and everything else should fall into place.


RT Screen Designs
www.rtscreendesigns.com

Lasers? Phew. That's almost something out transformers. Hehehehe. We juz have a basic vastex v1000. So lasers are out.

[starchild]

Whether loading on just a heatpress or a one color press lasers help significantly.. 
You make it sound like printing on a V1000 is not worth production efficiency. I guess a pre registration system is also out of the question. In this industry,
ignorance is not bliss.

Don't start by selling yourself short.. That press has made others significant incomes.

[mooseman]

when we sarted out we had the same questions / issues with loading.
What helped us a bunch was practice -practice -practice.
here are a couple of tips.
taks an xl size shirt 2x or 3x is better as they are tougher to square on the pallet due to size.
Lay the shirt on a table flatten it out and then draw a chalk line smack down the middle of the shirt, collar to bottom hem.
now go load it on the pallet and see what you see.

Use the heel of your thumb on the edge of the pallet with your fingers pointing down to the floor and feel for even distance of the shoulder seam below the pallet edge on both sides

ignore the shirt crease, pay attention to the grain of the fabric starting at the collar and working down to the hem.

build a shoulder board or neck board for your press.
look at this video by Calibrated screen print supply

http://www.calibratedsps.com/screenprint/screen-printing-tutorials-/on-press-tips-and-tutorials/how-to-load-a-shirt-fast-and-accurately.html

best of luck keep at it it will work....
mooseman

[noiseloops]

Whether loading on just a heatpress or a one color press lasers help significantly.. 
You make it sound like printing on a V1000 is not worth production efficiency. I guess a pre registration system is also out of the question. In this industry,
ignorance is not bliss.

Don't start by selling yourself short.. That press has made others significant incomes.

okies now after reading a fair bit, lasers can definitely help. its just that i always thought that lasers are mostly found on auto machines. but it seems like there are standalones that come seperate.

thanks for the heads up!

[sweetts]

Whether loading on just a heatpress or a one color press lasers help significantly.. 
You make it sound like printing on a V1000 is not worth production efficiency. I guess a pre registration system is also out of the question. In this industry,
ignorance is not bliss.

Don't start by selling yourself short.. That press has made others significant incomes.

okies now after reading a fair bit, lasers can definitely help. its just that i always thought that lasers are mostly found on auto machines. but it seems like there are standalones that come seperate.

thanks for the heads up!

pick up some cheap ones at harbor freight they are a god send


RT Screen Designs
www.rtscreendesigns.com

[dave58]

The neck hole is NOT the center of the shirt in many occasions.......you can adjust the side arm seam so that the are even or close.....and often you will see the neck is off center.......just tell that dude to walk lurching over so know no notices

and every now and then you just get a shirt that is so out of whack there is nothing yo can do