How to prepare a motif for screen printing
It's easy to prepare
See how to do it, so the sieve understands you at a glance
1. Black and white, nothing more
Your proposal must be black and white - draw in black what you want to print on the T-shirt.
The white (or blank space) will remain unprinted.Do not add any grey shadows, gradients or other colours - the sieve likes sharp contrast.
And don't worry, you won't print black in the final. You choose the colour on the spot - feel free to choose pink, green or gold.
2. Fix, tablet or pause?
The motive you can:
- prepare in tablet or computer, send us an email or print it from us (wi-fi and Bluetooth ready)
- draw directly on tracing paper (black acrylic marker)
The main rule?
Black must be really black. Not a grey bore, but a proper saturation.
3. Digital documents
If you are preparing the design digitally:
- we don't need vectors, but let us ideally 300 dpi
- pay attention to the strength of the lines: at least 0,4 mm - and calmly more. Ptoo thin lines are harder to transfer - and the sieve doesn't like that very much
4. Size & format
We recommend sticking to A4 size - ideal for first printing.
Do you want to go bigger (maybe up to A3)? It's possible. You just need more experience.
5. Don't overpay
Síto likes clarity and simplicity.
At first press Recommended distinctive motif understandable at a glance.
Save the detailed drawings and subtleties for round two in the open workshop.
6. What about the print colour?
What you have in black in the proposal, you can print in any colour - neon, pastel or gold.
The black is only used for transfer to the sieve. What you do with it next is up to you.
7. If you want to use AI, use this prompt
Create a black-and-white design for me [describe the theme, e.g. “a fox in the woods”, “the words ‘Watch out, I’m cycling’”, “a geometric pattern”] suitable for screen printing.
Please follow these rules:
• Black and white only – no shades of grey, no gradients, no colours
• Sharp, striking contrast – black must be a truly deep black (rich), not dark grey
• Resolution: 300 dpi
• Thick lines – at least 0.4 mm (on posters/printed material), no fine, hairline strokes
• A simple, clear design that is easy to understand at a glance – without unnecessary details or intricate linework
• Ideally, the format should be no larger than A4 (portrait or landscape, depending on the design)
• Style: [fill in as you wish – e.g. “linocut”, “minimalist”, “old-school tattoo”, “comic-style”]
