Screen Printing: Art, Ad, or Alchemy

This episode of Art, Ad, or Alchemy takes us from state of the art in Orlando, to seat-of-your-pants printmaking on the side of a volcano in a 3 room schoolhouse. From Tito’s Cantina in Veracruz, to the biggest rock festival in Mexico. Screenprinting may be a process, but it’s also a vehicle to meet people, get creative, and have cool adventures. Join us.  

In episode 30, Andy takes stock of the changes that have happened since he started writing for Screenprinting Magazine 32 years ago, and the demise of the once mighty printing industry worldwide. The changes at the Magazine reflect this, but with the switch to digital, it’s the opportunities we need to look at, not the demise of certain types of printing and media. One thing that hasn’t changed -...

You get to a certain age, you’re supposed to retire. But some people — idiots like me — stay connected to a process that gave me a living, a good life for my family, and great experiences and friends. You can’t ask for much more in life. But one thing I always wanted to do was go motorcycling in Europe. What was supposed to be an adventure of a lifetime also allowed me to reconnect with some inter...

 In Episode 26, Andy MacDougall puts the screen-printing process into perspective using the old game, Rock, Paper, Scissors. The game elements represent INK, STENCIL, and EXPOSURE. They all must work together to win. INK type determines stencil type. If the STENCIL is bad, it’s usually the light source and process. The EXPOSURE must cure the stencil properly to ensure there is no breakdown when th...

In Episode 25, Andy MacDougall interviews John Magee of Avient Inks about his long-time tenure as an industry expert and educator about the ongoing conversation on where the tried-and-true screen-printing industry is headed. Oh, and Andy wrote a song especially for you, Printers. Check out the video!

This episode of Art, Ad, or Alchemy will be of interest to screen printers who take on a job and then actually don’t know how to print it. Now what kind of idiot would do that? This one. Stick around and we’ll run a little primer on how it’s done with some veteran printing friends who lend their expertise. Remember, you can read more and see pictures of the live poster printing job in this month’s...

In the 2-D world of screen printing, somewhere between puff tees and posters, exists the world of the 3-D printer. The human version, not the machine. That’s someone who knows how to print images or logos directly — and permanently— on 3-dimensional housings or fabricated parts with weird angles or print locations, all of them made with challenging materials and finishes.  In Podcast 23, we meet K...

Just so readers know, I got roped into this article to present some kind of counter argument to Marshall Atkinson’s devotions to Midjourney and the cult of AI, one of the newer crop of prompt-based art production tools. Read his article before or after you are done here (The Marshall Plan, “Point/Counterpoint: AI Image Generation Pros”). The podcast is better than both, because…Two words: Jeral Ti...

It seems like the entire printed graphics world has turned to digital processing and imaging. The need — and skills — required for custom mixing and printing of spot colors faded into a blur of stochastic dots spit out by 4-, 6-, and 8-color print heads. The actual printing of a specific color is controlled by the algorithms of the computer and a button. Don’t get me wrong; that’s some fancy print...

In Episode 20, Andy MacDougall interviews Dan Gilsdorf, of Sefar USA about the hidden and lucrative world of functional and industrial screen printing. The world of functional and industrial (F&I) printing is hiding around us in plain sight. Since first appearing in the 1940’s, F&I has managed to avoid the U.S. and Canadian governments, who still consider print as predominately on paper. T...

In episode #19, Andy MacDougall interviews legendary flatstock poster printer Tuffy Tuffington, VP of the American Poster Institute, the non-profit that runs the Flatstock Exhibitions of rock poster art. For 20-plus years, the exhibition has taken place at major music festivals around the world. With the rise in popularity of attending music and other events that need merch such as posters, Tuffin...

In episode 18, Andy MacDougall reflects on the history and the future of an industry more diverse than many realize. From control panels and electronic interfaces to batteries and biomedical devices – even contributions to Allied victory in WWII – screen printing has always been so much more than decorated apparel. Moving forward, opportunities abound in active clothing, the Internet of Things, cl...

In episode 17, Andy MacDougall interviews Richie Goodtimes, a textile and poster production artist who suddenly went blind. Richie’s story is one of coming back from the edge. In the course of diving into his background, we also dive into a parallel story that is less personal, but also relevant. That’s the story of GP, or gigposters.com , a legendary forum that begat the Flatstock show prior to b...

In Episode 16, Andy MacDougall interviews Nick Rhodes. Nick’s story illuminates why it could be a mistake for anyone (particularly North American politicians, educational institutions, and trade associations) to essentially write off screen printing for anything other than decorating apparel. In this case, print – in a few different forms, not just screen – is a potential solution to yet another 2...

In Episode 15, Andy MacDougall interviews Julia Murphy, a founding member of Pedal Press ( pedalpress.org ). She believes screen printing can offer kids who maybe don’t fit into high school academics (or even high school) an opportunity not only to learn, but eventually, to earn,as well. Although Julia’s work and story are unique, this edition of “Art, Ad, or Alchemy?” touches on a theme from prev...

In Episode 14, Andy MacDougall interviews industry vet Rick Roth. Rick and his wife, Pam, run the ongoing “Shop Talk” interview program at Impressions Expos under the banner of the Ink Kitchen ( inkkitchen.com ). Rick chats with players in the garment decorating industry. They share insights into all aspects of the trade. Through YouTube and their website and social media, this advice is free (alt...

In Episode 13, Andy MacDougall interviews Edward Cook, recently retired head of ECI Technologies, past chair of SGIA/PU, SCREEN PRINTING Editorial Advisory Board member, and a screen printer who sees one of the main challenges to the ongoing health of our print industry is the lack of talented young creatives coming in.

Episode 12 continues the exploration of the fascinating world of functional print, where screen printing still rules. Our two guests represent the creators of the specialized materials being printed, and the companies who turn these materials into the Human Machine Interfaces, sensors, and control systems that are everywhere in every appliance or vehicle. Join host Andy MacDougall, Dr. Julie Ferri...

In this podcast, Printing United returns, some hosers in Canadia get lit and loud, I take exception to a misleading image in a rival publication, and we launch a new series of interviews on industrial and functional print with industry veteran Ron Hayden of RH Solutions. We move past Art and Ad, onto Alchemy. The size and scope of the industrial and functional usage touches every segment of societ...

Squeegeerama 2022’s guest host, Dan Stiles, details his unique and impressive poster making methods. Only he could intertwine conductive materials and lights into his screen printed posters. Listen to learn more about the Portland, Oregon-based designer who has worked with an impressive list of clients from many entertainment industries, and check out the accompanying column here.

Screen making is arguably the most important job in any shop, and it deserves to be respected as such. Dave Dennings of Kiwo gives the lowdown on the screen making process and explains how he ended up as an authority on the subject.

Andy MacDougall’s guests this episode are Billy Perkins, an Austin-based artist, and Dan MacAdam, an artist/printer from Chicago. Billy is a classic illustrator, inspired by comic book artists from his youth. Dan uses his own photographs of decrepit post-industrial buildings and machines scattered around Chicago as the basis of his unique work. They look gritty, but the technique he has evolved is...

Manolis Angelakis runs tind.gr, a long-running Athens, Greece, screen printing shop that does graphic and textile printing, as well as experimental graphics with exotic inks, art prints, and displays for a range of clients in Europe. But it’s his unique live screen printing adventures Andy MacDougall explores in this episode. Formulating special skin-friendly inks, and printing - printing - yes pr...

Today’s entrepreneurs are growing their operations and looking for tech help, automation information, and innovation in the apparel and fashion industries. Brett Bowden and Tom Davenport have made commitments outside their day-to-day businesses conceiving, promoting, and running education-oriented activities, including their latest venture MADELab. In the midst of a continuously changing industry,...

In the third of three Mitography, Manufacturing, and Makerspaces episodes, Adrian Granchelli, an engineer turned screen printer, joins Andy MacDougall to discuss his clothing line, his unique perspective in the industry, and the importance of makerspaces.