Guy's Retro Logo Tee - White Recipe

Prewash or ensure the white tee is pre-shrunk and lint-free. Use a lint roller to remove dust and loose fibers from the print area (center chest). Place the tee on a heat-resistant platen and secure with tack adhesive spray so it lays flat and centered.

Prepare Artwork

Confirm artwork is separated into individual color layers matching the intended retro palette. Size the design to final print dimensions (commonly 10–12 inches wide for adult chest). Add registration marks to each color separation.

Make Film Positives

Output high-contrast film positives for each color at 100% scale. Inspect films for clean edges and correct registration marks.

Coat and Expose Screens

Evenly coat each screen with photo emulsion in a dark room. Let emulsion dry in a dust-free area. Align the corresponding film positive on each screen using registration marks and expose under UV light for the correct time for your emulsion. Rinse out the screens to reveal the stencil. Allow screens to dry fully.

Set Up Press

Mount the first screen (usually the base color or underbase) on the press. Ensure platen is clean and the shirt is correctly registered so the design prints centered on the chest. Use registration tape to lock screens in place.

Print Underbase (if needed)

If printing on a white tee and using discharge inks for vintage look, an underbase may not be required; however, for stronger retro pigments or specialty inks, print a thin white underbase using water-based discharge white ink. Pull a test stroke onto scrap fabric and adjust flood and pull technique for even coverage.

Print Color Layers

For each color separation, apply the corresponding ink to the screen. Flood the screen away from the shirt, then pull the squeegee firmly and evenly across the stencil to lay ink onto the tee. Print colors in order from lightest to darkest or as required by the design, allowing registration to remain consistent. For multi-pass colors, flash cure between passes with a flash dryer to prevent ink smudging and to set any underbase layers (flash for ~10–20 seconds or until slightly tack-free).

Detail Passes

Use spot-clear or plastisol for high-opacity details if needed. Carefully align and print small elements such as outlines or highlights after main colors are printed.

Final Cure

Once all colors are printed and any flash cures are done, fully cure the print using a conveyor dryer at the recommended temperature for the chosen ink (typically 320–330°F / 160–166°C for plastisol; follow manufacturer guidelines for water-based/discharge inks, often around 330°F/165°C for proper polymerization). For small runs, use a heat press set to the correct temperature and dwell time specified by the ink manufacturer. Use a handheld infrared thermometer to verify platen temperature if available.

Inspect the printed tee for registration accuracy, ink coverage, and any defects (pinholes, misprints, ghosting). Perform a hand wash test or rub test on a sample to ensure ink adhesion if using specialty inks.

Remove any excess adhesive and trim stray fibers. Attach size/care label if not already present. Fold the tee, place in tissue paper if desired, and insert into packaging (poly bag).

Record production details (ink type, cure temperature, batch number) for future reference and quality control.