“You Had Me At Pizza” Shirt

To start this project, follow these steps in xTools Creative Space:
    1.    Change “Process on Flat Surface” to “Screen Preparation.”
    2.    Click “Calibrate Origin” and use the on-screen buttons to align the laser to the top right.
    3.    Adjust the Easy Set settings to 100% power and 135 speed. I find this setup more effective.
    4.    When I used the Air Assist, it did not work for me, but it might work for you.
 

Steps for Positioning a Shirt Design
With a Projector:
    •    Use a low-cost projector to project the design onto the shirt.
    •    Mark the design’s position using small pieces of white sticker paper or tape.
    •    Measure the size of the design.
Without a Projector:
    •    Estimate the design’s size.
    •    Use a ruler to measure one dimension.
    •    Resize the design to fit different shirt dimensions for the best result.
Centering and Alignment:
    •    Fold the shirt in half to determine the center.
    •    Mark the center with two pieces of tape or sticker paper for alignment.
Tip: Resize the design in xTools Creative Space to ensure it fits your shirt properly.

Engraving a Single-Color Screen with D1 Pro:
    •    The next step is to engrave the screen for our single-color design using the D1 Pro.
    •    Follow these steps to ensure precise engraving and proper setup for screen printing.
    1.    Prepare Screen: You need to engrave one screen for the single color in your design.
    2.    Align and Scale: Ensure the origin is aligned and the design is properly scaled and positioned within the green engravable area on your screen.
    3.    Flip and Orient: Verify that the design is flipped horizontally and oriented correctly for your shirt.
    4.    Start Engraving: Begin the engraving process. The time required will vary based on the design size; mine took about 30 minutes.
    5.    Watch Tutorial: While the D1 Pro is engraving, watch this YouTube video on screen printing with the xTools Screen Printer, as the next steps can be technical.

    1.    Set Up the Engraved Screen: Take the screen from the laser cutter and firmly attach it to the Screen Printer.
    2.    Prepare the Shirt and Plate: Place a sticky mat on the wooden plate to keep the shirt steady during printing. Lay the shirt on the sticky mat. The mat is crucial for preventing movement throughout the process. For white ink, apply multiple coats for a vibrant result.
    3.    Align the Shirt: Use the three knobs at the bottom of the plate to adjust and align the shirt accurately. Center the shirt using tape markings for precision.
    4.    Apply the Black Ink: Flood the screen with white ink at a 45-degree angle, ensuring full coverage by adding more ink at the design’s bottom.
    5.    Print and Dry: Lower the screen onto the shirt and pull the squeegee across the design to apply the ink. Lift the screen and dry the ink with a hair dryer, heat gun, or heat press. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the ink is vibrant.
    6.    Finish: Carefully remove the shirt from the plate and allow it to dry completely, which can take up to 24 hours without heat. The ink is dry when it’s no longer sticky.