Train-Inspired Screen Print
Josh seems to have finally mastered the art of the two-color screen print (it’s much harder than you’d every imagine)…
Recognize the logo?
That would be Union Pacific.
We’ve already talked about why we’re supporting Obama-Biden this year, so we won’t get into that any further (although, if you’re inclined, check out what’s going on over at The Obama Craft Project), but we’re also big fans of trains, and Josh’s dad is a HUGE train aficionado. Huge. He subscribes to train magazines. So, Josh decided that his dad really needed a custom screen-printed Obama-Biden hoodie that was train-inspired, and this was the result.
The challenge was printing the two-color image. Despite that we have a number of screen printing reference books, it’s still very much a trial and error type of situation—one of those old-fashioned “learn by doing” situations. After a lot of trial and error, Josh figured out that he could lay transparencies over each part of the logo, so that red ink wouldn’t encroach on the blue and vice-versa. It worked quite well (although some ink did dry in the screen, which is frustrating), and the colors turned out rich and opaque, thanks again to the Jacquard screen printing ink we like so much.
Josh also made T-shirts for each of us, but they’re not nearly as awesome at the sweatshirt that’s en route to Ohio. The thick fleece took this large, bold graphic much better than the thin jersey of a T-shirt.
Good thing we mailed it off to Josh’s dad right away, because Josh seemed to be getting a bit attached to it during our “photo shoot.”
~S & J
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
3 Comments
Leave a comment
Recently
- Recent Projects + Some Ramblings
- Winner! City Quilts Blog Tour
- A Few Things That Are Awesome
- Cool PDX Event: Heather Ross at PNCA
- City Quilts Blog Tour: Cherri House, Awesome Creative Entrepreneur
- Join Us on the City Quilts Blog Tour
- Cool PDX Event – Laura Gunn at Modern Domestic
- Recipe: Sarah’s (Somewhat) Healthier Mac ‘n’ Cheese
- This & That: Catching Up
- Best of ’09: Blazers Letterpress Project









[...] sweatshirt for his dad, a train enthusiast and Obama fan. You can check out a few more pictures over here… (Yeah, that’s our other blog.) Download Barack Obama’s transportation plan right [...]
I’ve only silkscreened in one color… maybe b/c I can imagine how hard more than one color would be without a commercial machine! Great job on this sweatshirt! The colors are very rich and the lines are crisp. Do you think you’ll try this multi-color silkscreen thing again?
It is quite okay to use a spray bottle with a fine mist to keep the ink damp in the screen between prints…I do this all the time – especially when you use the heavier opaque inks.