Before starting on this shirt-making project, be aware that you'll need several materials. Here’s what you’ll require:

- Two colors of ink: black and red. (I recommend Speedball, or xTools)

- An xTools screen printer.

- Two coated screens.

- A drying tool, such as a hairdryer, heat press, or heat gun.

- A dark-colored shirt.

Once you have all these materials ready, you can set up your workspace and begin the process of screen printing your shirt. Make sure everything is organized and within reach for a smooth workflow.

To kick off this project, launch xTools Creative Space and tweak the following settings:

1. Replace “Process on Flat Surface” with “Screen Preparation.”

2. Calibrate the origin to shift the laser head to the screen's corner, showing the engravable surface in the workspace.

3. Set the Easy Set settings to 100% power and 135 speed. Though not the recommended values, these have given me better results.

4. Disable Air Assist if you have one; my first use of it led to subpar engraving.

Accurate design placement on a shirt can be achieved through several methods. I find using an affordable projector very effective. By projecting the design onto the shirt, I can use small pieces of white sticker paper from Amazon to mark its exact position and measure the size. If you lack a projector, you can estimate the design’s size and measure one dimension using a ruler. Resizing the design to fit the diverse dimensions of various shirts is crucial for the best outcome. After sizing the design correctly, fold the shirt in half and mark the center with two pieces of tape or sticker paper to ensure proper alignment when you proceed.

To complete the engraving for your multi-color design, repeat the steps until all the colors are engraved. Here’s how:
 

1. Prepare Screens: For your multi-color design, engrave the screens for each color separately.

2. Separate Colors: Isolate each color in your design file, preparing for individual screen engraving.

3. Align and Scale: Ensure each screen’s origin is properly aligned and the design is correctly scaled within the green engravable area.

4. Flip and Orient: Check each design for proper horizontal flipping and orientation.

5. Start Engraving: Engage the engraving process for each color. This may take some time, typically just over an hour per color.

6. Watch Tutorial: As each screen is engraved, view a tutorial on screen printing for additional tips if you're new.

    1.    Install the engraved screens: Detach the engraved screens from your laser cutter and securely fix one onto the Screen Printer.
    2.    Prepare your shirt and plate: Place a sticky mat on the wooden plate to prevent the shirt from shifting during the print. Lay the shirt on the sticky mat. This step is important for multi-color printing to ensure the shirt remains stationary between prints. For white ink, multiple applications may be needed to achieve a vibrant color.
    3.    Align the shirt precisely: Adjust the shirt using the three knobs at the bottom of the plate for accurate alignment. Line up the shirt with the central tape marker for precise positioning.
    4.    Apply the first ink color: Flood the screen with the first color of ink at a 45-degree angle, adding more ink at the bottom of the design to ensure complete coverage.
    5.    Print and let dry: Lower the screen onto the shirt and drag the squeegee across the design to deposit the ink. Lift the screen and let the ink dry with a hair dryer, heat gun, or heat press. Follow steps 3, 4, and 5 for each additional screen and color.
    6.    Finish up: Remove the shirt from the plate carefully and allow it to dry thoroughly, which may take up to 24 hours without heat. The ink is fully dry when it is no longer sticky.