Before we begin creating this shirt, it's important to note that this project requires several materials. You will need:

- Two colors of ink: white and gold. (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.

Now, let's get started with the project. Make sure you have all your supplies ready and organized before you begin printing.

Open xTools Creative Space and adjust these settings to start the project:

1. Switch “Process on Flat Surface” to “Screen Preparation.”

2. Calibrate the origin, moving the laser head to the corner to display the engravable surface on the workspace.

3. Modify the Easy Set settings to 100% power and 135 speed. I find these settings work better than the suggested ones.

4. Ensure Air Assist is off if you have one, as it caused improper engraving in my first attempt.

For precise design placement on shirts, using a low-cost projector is one method I rely on. By projecting the design onto the shirt, I can mark its position with small pieces of white sticker paper bought from Amazon, then measure the design’s size. If a projector isn’t available, you can estimate the size and use a ruler to measure one dimension. It’s important to resize the design according to the different dimensions of shirts for the best result. Once you have the correct design size, fold the shirt in half and place two pieces of tape or sticker paper to mark the center, assisting with alignment during the printing process.

Engrave the screens for your design by repeating these steps until all colors are completed. Here’s the procedure:
 

1. Prepare Screens: Engrave separate screens for each color used in the design.

2. Separate Colors: Drag to isolate each color in your design file.

3. Align and Scale: Align the origin for each screen and scale the design to fit within the green engravable area.

4. Flip and Orient: Ensure each design is flipped and oriented correctly for accurate printing.

5. Start Engraving: Begin the engraving process for all colors, which will take some time.

6. Watch Tutorial: Use the time while engraving to learn more from screen printing tutorials if you're new.

    1.    Begin by setting up the engraved screens: Remove them from the laser cutter and attach one securely to the Screen Printer.
    2.    Prepare the shirt and plate: Place a sticky mat on the wooden plate to prevent the shirt from shifting. Position the shirt on top of the mat. The sticky mat is essential for keeping the shirt in place during multi-color prints. For white ink, apply it multiple times until the color is vibrant.
    3.    Align the shirt: Adjust the shirt with the three knobs on the bottom of the plate for proper alignment. Use the tape-marked center to ensure accurate positioning.
    4.    Apply the initial color: At a 45-degree angle, flood the screen with the first ink color, adding more ink at the bottom of the design for even coverage.
    5.    Print and dry: Position the screen over the shirt and pull the squeegee to apply the ink. Lift the screen and let the ink dry using a hair dryer, heat gun, or heat press. Repeat the alignment, color application, and printing steps for each additional color.
    6.    Finalize: Remove the shirt from the plate carefully and let it dry completely, which may take up to 24 hours without additional heat. The ink is dry when it no longer feels sticky.