Tips On Buying Used Screen-Printing Machines and Equipment

In many small and medium-sized businesses, especially if you are a screen-printing startup, one of the finite resources is cash. Hence, opting for used screen-printing equipment is one of the best decisions you will ever make. This is because you will end up saving a lot of money while getting yourself equipment that meets your business needs.

However, most screen-printing startups shy away from buying used screen-printing machines and equipment. The primary reason for this is due to their fear of procuring an overly used or malfunctioning piece of equipment.

It is true that purchasing used items or machines poses a lot of risks, especially if you don’t know or have enough experience to discern which tool is in excellent working condition and which one is not.

Nevertheless, in this article, you will learn the steps to take and what to look out for when buying used screen-printing equipment.

Why Do I Need to Purchase Used Screen-Printing Equipment?

There are usually a lot of expenses to contend with when starting a new screen-printing business. This includes the cost of renting a suitable office or space for operations, annual running costs, electricity bills, etc. The cost of the equipment is not left out, as well.

However, you can cut down the cost of starting your dream business by purchasing used screen-printing machines. Many startups usually find this aspect a bit challenging.

While buying new equipment is faster and easier, the truth is that if you can lay your hands on quality used screen-printing equipment that is in excellent condition, you will enjoy roughly the same value at a much lower cost. It is also the preferred course of action since you are likely on a very tight budget as a startup.

However, securing properly used equipment is a challenge on its own. Not only is it wrong to start a new business with faulty machines or equipment, but it can also reduce product quality, efficiency, as well as effectiveness.

This will, of course, eventually affect business cash flow, and before you know it, you are out of business even before you start.

A veteran in the screen-printing business has enough experience under his or her belt when it comes to buying used screen-printing machines. And since you are a novice in the industry, it is highly unlikely for you to have such a wealth of experience behind you.

This is why you must learn what to keep your eyes peeled for when searching for reliable used screen-printing equipment.

What Should I Look Out for In Used Screen-Printing Hardware?

Keep the following tips in mind when searching for used printing equipment:

Static Screens

You can readily come across Static Screens, which are part of the components of a screen-printing machine. So, take a close look at the mesh, which must be in a usable condition. If it is not in perfect working condition, you should ask for a replacement immediately.

It is much better, and economically cheaper, to replace the mesh than to buy an entirely new Static Screen.

You should also check the screen tension to be sure that it has not deteriorated. If it has, then check to see whether or not it is firm enough to facilitate smooth production.

Otherwise, get a new one or look for another source of supply.

Electric Dryers

Electric dryers are one of the most common items that are usually left behind by printing shops that want to relocate. And it is understandable because most dryers take up a lot of space.

The real challenge, however, is that dryers require a lot of power to operate and must also be well-ventilated for smooth operation. 

Buying used electric dryers, in most cases, is usually pointless unless the machine has barely been used. But if you must purchase it, make sure that all the electric fittings are in excellent condition.

Check the equipment out thoroughly, and take an expert along with you for added measure. This is to be sure that the electric fittings do not have any unattended faults so that they will not cause a hazard in any way at your business location.

Plastisol Ink

As long as plastisol is stored correctly, it does not spoil or expire. It is also one of the common items that closing or relocating shops usually leaves behind.

However, it is better to stick with full containers since half-filled containers may have been contaminated as a result of the addition of external components. 

Flash Cure Units

Check the bulbs of the flash care units to ensure that some or all are not damaged. If they are, then replace the damaged one. This will help you to save a lot of money instead of purchasing a brand-new flash cure.

Platens 

When platens are purchased secondhand, they come at a much lower price, up to 50 percent off the original price. That is a lot of money that you can channel to other purposes.

Moreover, they work almost as efficiently as brand-new ones. But check to make sure the used platens you want to purchase are not warped in any way.

Where Can I Find the Best High-quality Used Screen-Printing Equipment?

The first step to securing used equipment is to know where to look. Printing equipment is usually manufactured or designed to outlast the business of the original owners.

And if something unexpected happens and the owner goes out of business, these screen-printing tools are sold off at meager prices. This is why you should position yourself as a smart businessman who will see and take advantage of such an opportunity without wasting any time.

You can find used screen-printing equipment in excellent working conditions via the following channels:

Online Shops

There are a plethora of online auction platforms out there where you can find owners who are more than ready to sell off their used screen-printing machines and equipment.

Some of these online platforms include:

• CraigsList – remarkable and serves different niches. Therefore, make sure you bookmark the website and visit it as often as possible. Always check urban and metro areas nearby if you can’t find what you are looking for in your city.
• The Facebook Marketplace – allows you to find great deals near you quickly.
• eBay – always has something that users want at incredibly low prices.

However, the best place to buy old screen-printing hardware is from specialist sites such as:

• Cosmexgraphics: You can purchase used equipment at very moderate prices here
• DigitSmith: This is the go-to resource for people who need to use gear in the embroidery and screen-printing industry. The deals in this forum are unbeatable, even though it is old school.
• Screenprinting Products: For used, high-end screen-printing equipment at rock bottom or reduced prices, this is the place to visit. Dave McLain runs it.

When you catch sight of the old screen printing equipment you are interested in, you should ask as many questions as possible. Questions such as:

• Why are the screen-printing machines being sold?
• What is the usage period of these machines?
• What is the frequency of use, or how frequently were these machines operational?
• Are there any previous or existing faults that you need to learn about?

Since the transaction is likely to take place online, insist on getting comprehensive and highly detailed or high-definition pictures of the fundamental parts of the equipment.

It will also be in your best interest to see or observe the equipment when it is in operation.

The second-best line of action you should consider is to hire an experienced or veteran screen printer while making the purchase. This is to significantly reduce the risk of finishing up with a machine that conks out while in use.

Relocating Manufacturers or Shops

Shops can relocate for several reasons, and printing shops are not an exception. Some of these printing shops may want to part with some of their old screen-printing equipment to minimize the cost of transporting them to the new location.

Some manufacturers may also want to get rid of some machines so that they can shift their focus into producing other types or upgrading to new ones. This usually drives such manufacturers or relocating printing shop owners to sell off the old stock or equipment they do not want to haul off in flash sales.

In this scenario, however, you may even be lucky to get your hands on brand-new screen printing equipment at a ridiculously low price. 

Closing Shops

Just as relocating, screen-printing shops close down for a variety of reasons. One thing you can be sure of is that malfunctioning screen-printing machines are seldom the reason why businesses shut down unceremoniously.

Most screen-printing equipment lasts much longer than the majority of the businesses out there. This is because they are intricately constructed to last for extended periods, which is why the new ones are costly in the first instance.

So, if you hear that a screen-printing shop in your locality or the next town is closing down, run as fast as possible to the location.

If the shop that is closing or relocating is a big one, then the better for you. This is because you will be able to get the best deals since they will have a lot of machines that they’d like to get rid of immediately.

Do not wait until such shops list the fact that they want to sell their equipment online before you visit them. You may lose out on excellent deals that way. Besides, there are several pieces of printing equipment that they may forget to add to the list.

Therefore, always be on the lookout for closing shops so that you can get your hands on the readily affordable equipment they want to sell off. 

Liquidation Outlets

Almost every urban center has one or more large liquidators for office supplies and furniture. People who run these outlets are privy to information about closing shops, etc.

So, get close to such individuals, let them know that you are interested in purchasing equipment, and always stay in touch. Guess who will come up first in their minds when they eventually have access to some screen-printing machines? You, of course!

On a final note for this section, broaden your horizons. Do not let your search be limited to within your city. You may even come across some excellent and unbeatable deals in a city that is far away from your place of residence.

What are the Used Screen-Printing Machines, Tools, and Supplies You Can Buy?

Here are some of the used screen-printing tools that you can purchase at significant discounts:

Static Screens

This is perhaps one of the most efficient and best ways to save a lot of money as a beginner or startup in the screen printing industry. You can find used screens with usable mesh at $2 to $5 max.

You can also re-mesh your used screen much later on, and it won’t cost you more than $10 to replace each one.

Electric Dryers

Electric dryers are usually big, so most relocating shops are not always interested in transporting them to new locations.

But if you are interested and willing to hire a box truck to move it to your shop, you will surprisingly discover how extremely cheap they can be if you buy the used version.

So, you should look at spending not less than $1,500 to cover the cost of purchase and transportation. You need to make sure, beforehand, that your shop is equipped with the 3-phase requirements as well as ventilation that these dryers require for efficient and smooth operation.

Automatic Press Squeegee Blade Holders

The retail prices of squeegee holders cost around $70 each. That is a lot of money, considering the fact that you can purchase the used variety at $0.50 per inch; that is about $8 for every 16-inch squeegee blade holder. An 85 percent discount looks good in the books, wouldn’t you say?

You may be lucky enough to come across oversized flood bars and squeegee blade holders at eBay or a brick-and-mortar outlet. All you need to do is to whip out your miter saw and cut them down to the required sizes!

Plastisol Ink

Plastisol can virtually last forever, provided it is stored correctly since it does not have any expiration date. Make sure you go for full containers as some users may likely add in some external components – such as a reducer – to half-full containers of plastisol.

Flash Cure Units

Do you know that, with in-depth research, you can find a flash cure unit for as low as $1,400? It doesn’t even matter if you have to replace a few missing bulbs, which usually cost approximately $100 each.

That is still way less than forking out $2,500 to $3,000 for a brand-new flash cure unit!

Stock Ink and Pantone Matched Ink

Many veteran screen-printing shop owners can tell you for free that you can purchase stock ink at incredibly steep discounts. More so, some shops usually give out Pantone-matched ink, free of charge. Nevertheless, you need to be aware that to dispose of uncured Plastisol ink, you have to follow local regulations about hazardous materials.

Can you think of a way to put the ink to good use? Then, it is a smooth win for you.

Platens 

You should know by now how extremely expensive brand-new Platens can be. Therefore, you really have no choice but to buy the used version if you are looking to cut costs.

You need only to confirm that they are not warped in any way by going over every inch carefully or bringing an expert along.

Used platens cost way less – up to 50 percent – than brand-new versions. And the good news is that they work as efficiently as a new set.

Exposure Units

Finding used exposure units that are in excellent shape is very tricky, but not impossible. This is why you need to perform a lot of research if you truly need them.

Depending on the model you are looking for, most used exposure units cost between $700 to $3,000. This may not seem like an excellent bargain to you, but you will thank your stars if you land an exposure unit that serves you for a very long time.

Additional Pointers for Saving on Furniture, Production Shelving, Racks, etc.

As mentioned earlier in the opening section of this article, opening a new shop for a screen-printing business can cost you a lot of money. If you are on a tight budget, then you should consider getting the used versions of most of your office paraphernalia.

For instance, brand-new filing cabinets, desks, office chairs, shelving storage racks, tables, etc. come at hefty prices that will dent your wallet or bank account.

And since most of the furniture will likely take a lot of beating anyway – ink stains, scratches, etc. – then consider getting something that is low-cost and very replaceable. It is not as if you will be vying for an office design award, anyway.

Once again, a visit to the local furniture liquidators in your area will pay a lot of dividends, especially if you befriend them well. You should also be on the lookout for business closures or large relocations in your area so that you can swoop in to snatch up any furniture they will not need again.

And do not fail to take note of estate sales, garage sales, and even moving sales. Since most furnishings for your printing shop – such as bookcases, wire shelving, chairs, and desks provide little direct production value – getting them at steep discounts will save you a lot of money.

Hot Tip: If you want to get the best deals at estate sales, go on the very last day of the auction!

You can get the following at great discounts:

• Wire racks and shelving: You will be astonished to discover that you can purchase nice-looking shelves at $10 each, especially if it were at an estate sale (remember the tip shared previously). Since no one else wants them, you can pick them up along with wire racks at low prices.
• Clothing racks: You can get these for virtually free if you are lucky enough to come across department stores that are relocating or have gone out of business.
• Pushcarts: Every shop must have industrial-grade pushcarts. Unfortunately, they are astonishingly expensive if you go for new ones. But you can find excellent bargains – between $20 to $40 – for used carts if you spend quality time online. 
• Pallet racking: A new 8-foot pallet rack can cost as much as $350! That is a crying shame and a total waste of good money because you can get the 64 linear feet version – which comes with shelving – for about $600 at a moving sale.

Conclusion 

As you can see, you can save a lot of money when starting out as a new screen-printing business owner.

Even though every screen-printing shop is remarkably different, one thing is sure:

It is, therefore, a wise move on your part if you can take advantage of these low prices and secure these great used machines for your business. Business is all about profit, and if you can get well-conditioned screen printing hardware, you will not only save a lot of money but also enjoy the extra profit.

Therefore, carry out a lot of research; ask probing questions, make inquiries, and test a lot of screen-printing tools. You should also be very good at negotiating prices. 

Always be on the lookout for new deals; keep up with your competitors, and the goings-on in the industry. You will soon start smiling to the bank every day of the week when your screen-printing business picks up!

Learn about The Equipment Needed for a T-Shirt Business.

Embroidery always looks beautiful with its multitudes of designs, thanks to highly creative and intricate weaving. Although embroidery designs were conventionally done by hand, the advent of technology has made it possible for the creation of embroidery creation software. 

This has overridden the manual process of embroidery, which was incredibly time-consuming.

Hence, from hand embroidery to the use of embroidery, lots of improvements have taken place, particularly in digitizing the embroidery process. 

Embroidery machines were known to provide lots of flexibility, but it still had some limits that embroiderers could not readily overcome. 

But thanks to digitization, several tweaks were added to the entire embroidery process, thereby unleashing the vastness that comes with using embroidery. 

Also, thanks to digital software for embroidery machines, designs can now be manipulated and altered in such a way that they produce more captivating or creative effects. Images can readily be copied or mirrored without errors; colors could be added or removed while underlays could also be deleted or added.

Even different elements from design could be merged without any limitations whatsoever. 

These and many more customizations can be carried out with ease, thanks once again to the variety of creative drawings and embroidery.

Embroiderers are encouraged to try out their skills with the wonders of the 21st century with digital software for embroidery machines.

However, if not done the right way, it could lead to unwanted chaos which could douse the enthusiasm that is currently shared in the industry about the magic of embroidery.

To avoid such a scenario, it makes sense to learn how to get your hands on any of the top-notch embroidery machine programs in the industry.

This article will also help you avoid the undue stress of searching the market vigorously for the best digital embroidery software out there today.

Quick Pointers to Take Note of While Searching for Embroidery Applications

If you are searching for the best embroidery machine for Windows or Mac, there are a few pointers that you need to pay close attention to when buying.

If you are a newbie, you should stick to using the free versions of embroidery apps out there, i.e., the basic ones.

However, if you are looking for the embroidery design software that will add several touches to your designs and elevate your embroidery skills to the next level, look for advanced embroidery application with unique features:

Versatility is a Must

A good embroidery creation software must be able to work with a wide range of embroidery machines. It must also be compatible with any operating system such as PC or Mac or both. 

This is one of the most crucial aspects you need to pay close attention to before purchasing any embroidery app. Nonetheless, the best part is that the embroidery must be compatible with any equipment at your disposal. 

So, take note of the type of computer and the embroidery machine you have and then check with renowned manufacturers, to see if the embroidery design software you are interested in works with the equipment you have.

Don’t let any retailer or seller coax you by telling you that all embroidery digitizing software are compatible with all devices. 

Some embroidery apps can only be used with Mac while just a handful support both systems and devices.

Take your time to check this out before shelling out your hard-earned money.

Customization

Embroidery making software should be customizable, especially if you want to be creative by trying out other forms of patterns, designs, and even lettering. 

This means that you should not be limited by the built-in features that come with the embroidery application. 

Use Licensed Software Only

Free embroidery abounds everywhere online, and it is great to have and use them as you see fit.

However, if you want more from an embroidery making software than being able to play around or create one or two projects for yourself, you need to go for a licensed product.

Embroidery businesses handle multiple projects, and if this is you, then you need to go for paid versions or licensed copies of these embroidery design software. 

Using a licensed embroidery software is for your safety and that of your embroidery machine. 

For instance, if you encounter technical problems, most of the creators or manufacturers of free embroidery software are not under any obligation to help you out if you purchased and used their product.

Creators of free embroidery digitizing software do not offer customer and product support in any way. 

They have no business spending time to guide you through the entire installation process if you don’t know how to go about it.

You will not receive any form of notifications about software updates if you go for free embroidery software. Moreover, if you do – in most cases – they will require more money from you. 

But paid versions of creative drawings embroidery offer full access to their updates as well as excellent customer support if you run into any technical problems that you cannot handle.

This is vital because if you keep making use of outdated embroidery app, it may crash when you least expect. And this could happen when you are mid-way into an embroidery project.

Another thing you need to take note of if you go for free versions of embroidery apps is that you will only gain access to the most basic features. 

Getting your hands on the advanced features is impossible unless you go for the premium version. More so, getting the licensed copy of an embroidery creation software is far better than relying on freemium embroidery software.

Price Range

The price of embroidery production management software varies from $100 to $700.

This is why it is good to note down the functionalities and features you need before deciding the amount of money you are willing to shell out on this program.

In essence, experts advise that you should not skimp if you intend to use the embroidery format conversion software commercially. 

However, if you are going to be a home user, then it doesn’t make any sense for you to overpay for an embroidery software with sophisticated features that you may end up not using.

Excellent Customer Service and Product Support

The brands or creators of these embroidery software also provide unquantifiable support and excellent customer service at any time you need them, especially if you encounter a few glitches when using their products.

Some of these brands also have forums where you can ask questions or rub minds with other users or members. Therefore, product support is crucial, and you can only get it if you buy the licensed versions.

Thirdly, paid versions of embroidery software come with tons of advanced features. Once again, the product support service will be able to help you out so that you can get started with the embroidery designing software without undue delay.

Based on the pointers outlined above, here are some of the best embroidery application in the market today. We have even gone to the trouble of categorizing the embroidery software based on two things:

• Embroidery shop administration software, and 
• Machine embroidery business software

Before discussing the embroidery machine in these categories, let’s take a look at the types of embroidery software that exist today.

Types of Embroidery Machine Applications

There are different types of embroidery software out there in the market these days. All you need to do is go for the one that meets your requirements and budget. 

So, here they are in no particular order:

Embroidery Digitizing Software or Digitizers

This type of embroidery software is explicitly designed to convert an image to embroidery file, thereby making it ready for immediate stitching.

Embroidery digitizing software translates or digitizes the vector format into a stitch format, thus getting it ready for use.

Monogramming Embroidery Software

This is the lettering type of embroidery software, and it is mainly designed to create highly optimized stitching fonts. 

Some monogramming embroidery machines may combine or merge with different modules. A few others, however, only focus on one thing at a time.

Editors

This type of embroidery software gives you both control of and access to the creative part of the design, which allows you to start from scratch and then develop all the vectorizing, digitizing, and the final stitches. 

This is one of the primary reasons why you need to know the type of embroidery production management software you want before you purchase it.

Vectorizers

This type of creative drawings embroidery software is designed to translate or digitize bitmap images into a vector format or vectorized picture. 

This implies that the image undergoes a linear transformation that primes it for digitizing.

EMBROIDERY BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Onsite Embroidery Business Software

To successfully run an embroidery business, you must allow or plan for certain possibilities. This may involve several tiny details which may appear somewhat comprehensive on both softcopy and hardcopy documents.

Keeping up with every aspect of an embroidery shop is the untold secret to running a highly profitable – and efficient – embroidery business for a long time.

An industry-standard embroidery production management software that has been trusted for more than 20 years to alleviate the stress of running the administrative functions in embroidery shops is the OnSite Embroidery Business Software.

OnSite Embroidery Business Software makes use of several variables to give embroidery designers seamless control over the following:

• Pricing, marketing, and sales
• Production management
• Purchasing and inventory
• Accounting and financing
• Order processing
• Shipping 

This remarkable software application provides an extensive digital environment for embroidery designers. It helps in creating much room for recording, storing as well as calculating the sheer value of all the related activities in the embroidery shop.

OnSite also has a user-friendly interface which is mainly designed with embroidery designers in mind. Hence, great value for your money is guaranteed.

MACHINE EMBROIDERY BUSINESS SOFTWARE

Embrilliance Business Software

Embrilliance business software is embroidery software that practically covers almost everything that is needed for making embroidery with your machine. The franchise provides many embroidery programs which include a wide range of fancywork such as vectorizing, lettering, and digitizing.

They also have embroidery applications that cover advanced functions like developing designs from scratch as well as editing. These embroidery programs allow you to start the entire process from beginning to the end.

Digitizing

If you are interested in digitizing, you may go for Embrilliance StitchArtist (Levels 1, 2, or 3). This, of course, depends primarily on what you are looking for as well as your budget and expertise.

The embroidery digitizing software program may lack automation features, but it makes up for this slight error in other functions such as creative flexibility, design development while – at the same time – setting up desired properties – such as stitch type, etc. – or controlling shapes.

In essence, you can draw, edit, rotate, size, set stitches, and sort colors as well as carry out other properties that are required to facilitate embroidering at every level. 

What makes one level different from the other has to do with the extra features that are embedded in the embroidery program. The embroidery software allows for more sophisticated and built-in designs as you go from one level to another.

Let’s take a quick look at each level:

• Level 1

This is for newbies or beginners or people who want to take up embroidery as a hobby.

• Level 2

If you have become proficient at handling embroidery equipment along with the complexities that come with embroidery design, then this is the best one for you.

• Level 3

If you want to be an embroidery designer or if your goal is to make embroidery design your career and run it on a large scale, this is the ideal option.

Pros

• All levels are user-friendly 
• Equipment is compatible with Windows and Mac
• The perfect choice for those who are interested in stitch-design from scratch or for self-designs
• Great value for your money

Cons

• It does not have photo-to-stitch automation features

Additional Functionalities Offered by Embrilliance

StitchArtist may possess all the essential features or elements that are required for use for any embroiderer at any level; there are several functionalities which are also offered by Embrilliance via some embroidery software programs such as:

• Embrilliance Essentials

This program provides embroidery designers with the essential tools that are required for altering new or existing designs such as colorization, edits or reverse changes, lettering, and many more.

• Embrilliance Thumbnailer

This embroidery software program helps embroiderers to not only save but also to access or view designs with maximum ease on their PC or Mac.

• Embrilliance Enthusiast Embroidery Software

This program offers multiple innovative functions such as:

• Precise position
• Advanced thread editor
• Stitch editing
• Control
• Instant repeat scatter and carousel
• Advanced sizing, etc.

This is the perfect embroidery program for a seasoned or expert embroidery designer.

Amazing Designs Digitize N Stitch Software

Amazing Designs Digitize N Stitch software is the best choice for any embroidery designer who is looking for a feature-rich, exclusive, and affordable experience.

This program allows users to automatically create unique cross-stitch, applique, border as well as various embroidery creation software designs with ease.

It is an auto-digitized embroidery creation software which will turn every one of your imaginations to reality by helping you to create exceptional, customized, and beautiful crafts. 

You will be able to readily insert your favorite pictures or even clip art and convert them into stitches. 

Digitize N Stitch is suitable for use by both newbies or beginners as well as advanced users. It is indeed one of the best creative drawings embroidery in the market today.

Pros

• Highly suitable for use by both beginners and advanced users
• This high-quality embroidery creation software easily converts images and clip arts into stitches
• It is loaded with several innovative features and highly pocket-friendly
• It automatically creates borders, cross-stitches, and unique appliques with a few clicks
• It is easily one of the most favorite – and popular – embroidery machine on the market today

Cons

• Some users find it incredibly challenging to edit images 
• A few users have complained about how difficult it is to install and operate the embroidery design software

BuzzXplore v2 Premier Embroidery Design Management

BuzzXplore v2 Premier Embroidery Design Management is a user-friendly and highly organized embroidery creation software. It will not only organize and manage your designs but will also ensure that you don’t lose them in any way.

This embroidery making software has multiple functionalities:

• It is an embroidery drive writer
• It organizes your embroidery designs
• It works like a zip processor and browser
• It functions as an instant 3D viewer
• It serves as a converter

This is one of the best – and well-known – embroidery production management software in the market today because it is familiar, thanks to the fact that it works much like Windows Explorer.

The embroidery program also possesses all the essential tools which provide users with the perfect embroidery experience while bringing to life every one of your embroidery dreams.

Pros

• Manage and organize your embroidery designs
• Converts Embroidery Formats
• Embroidery Drive Writing
• Graphics support
• Locate Designs

Cons

• Some beginners may find this embroidery application somewhat challenging to install

Brother PE-Design Plus Embroidery Digitizing/PhotoStitch Software Package

Do you want to turn your favorite paintings, fabrics, and photos into embroidered artworks? Then, the Brother PE-Design Plus Embroidery Digitizing/PhotoStitch Software Package is the ideal choice to help you accomplish the entire process effortlessly.

This embroidery format conversion software comes with advanced features – such as Flip-Pal mobile scanner, etc. – so users can readily scan whatever they want and convert images into digitized design files, thereby making them ready for stitching.

And that is not all: users of this package do not need to be afraid of losing relevant images and documents. This is possible due to the availability of the Flip-Pal mobile scanner. 

The mobile scanner helps to keep your documents and images safe and stored. 

Pros

• Premium Embroidery Fleshtone Thread
• Easy to use, feature-rich, and highly affordable
• PE-Design Plus and Flip-Pal portable scanner

Cons 

• Some users find this embroidery machine a bit challenging to use

Advantages of Choosing and Using Top-quality Embroidery Design Software

One of the most significant benefits of choosing and using top-quality embroidery creation software is that you will no longer be limited to the designs that are offered by your embroidery equipment or machine, especially when it comes to letting loose your creativity.

The in-built design features that come with many of the high-quality embroidery machines out there today may be more than enough for people who see embroidery as a hobby.

But if you take up embroidery as a commercial venture and not a hobby, you need topnotch creative drawings embroidery software that does much more than store some stitches or designs.

For instance, as a commercial embroidery designer, you may need a program that allows you to make use of scanned images. One that enables you to create the exact designs you have pictured in your mind or that of your clients.

Some of the most robust software programs for embroidery allows users to create highly intricate designs. As long as you can picture it in your mind, you can recreate it.

Finally, you may need an embroidery merging software that allows you to download images from specialized sites.

Conclusion

Some embroidery machines come with built-in embroidery application. However, most do not, and the best way to enhance your embroidery skills is to buy a good embroidery application that is suitable for your machine.

So instead of using free embroidery software which has the potential of irrevocably harming your embroidery machine, you should go for an excellent embroidery production management software which will not only boost your skills but also allows you to give your creativity free rein.

Quickbooks Alternatives for Screen Printers

Most small businesses offer various widgets or services. Widget is a generic term for any number of items that a business simply buys and re-sells. Services typically represent labor that a company or business owner renders to a customer in exchange for a stipulated payment. 

Examples of such businesses could be equipment parts wholesaler, retail stores, or more elaborately, AC contractor who sells a combination of widgets and offer repair and maintenance services.  

The order management and financial transactions of retail businesses are straightforward. Such businesses usually involve the purchase and resale of a product, from manufacturers to consumers. An inventory of the widgets is kept as they are stocked and resold to clients via a website or physical retail outlets. 

Screen printing and embroidery businesses are different. In most cases, you are not only “buying and reselling” items. Instead, you buy an item, modify it (like screen print or embroider on it) and THEN resell the item. More often than not, this “modification process” can be complex. 

What Sets Screen Printing Businesses Apart From Traditional Retail Businesses?

As we have pointed out already, a screen-printing business doesn’t follow the same line of transactions as most retail stores do. The majority of retail stores one would find today simply buys and resells any number of products. With screen printing, a few more links are added to the chain of a transaction, and that includes:

• Order placement by the customer and acknowledgment by the screen printer
• Creating designs strictly tailored to suit the unique needs of a customer
• Design approval (and possibly, modifications) from the customer
• Placement of product requirements by the customer, noting desired material, color, size, etc.
• The screen printer places an order for this product from a manufacturer, that is, if the product is not readily available in stock.
• The production manager schedules the order for production based on customer needs as well as the screen printer’s current workload.
• The blank materials arrive, and the printer proceeds to embellish them with the approved designs
• The order is shipped to one or more shipping locations based on customer needs.
• The order is invoiced

Basically, this process has bits of manufacturing, as well as retailing and service rendering embedded in it. The creation of designs requires the expertise of a designer, which makes it a rendered service. Embellishing the purchased materials with the desired designs transforms it from one product to another, hence making it plausible for a screen printer to be identified as a manufacturer. Finally, buying and reselling of materials to a customer places a stamp on the transaction as a retail business.

Reading through this brief analogy, it becomes evident that to run a screen-printing business with ease, one would need a tool that aptly satisfies all areas of the business. In this instance, commonly available accounting packages wouldn’t do the trick. You will need something more precise; an accounting package that has been developed to serve the needs of a screen printing business strictly. 

Shopworks Onsite Software: The Alternative to QuickBooks for Small Businesses

 Traditional accounting software like QuickBooks, Peachtree, and others are primarily designed for “widget” and “service” type businesses. You can purchase additional software “add-ons” if you are a manufacturer or mainly focus on selling services. The problem is that accounting software sees your business from an “Accounting” perspective. Sure, you do accounting transactions every day. But your business revolves around processing orders, from service rendering to manufacturing to retailing. 

As a result, QuickBooks does a good job at managing the accounting aspect, but, it is not really designed for Order Processing. A task that majorly highlights what you and your staff REALLY do the bulk of every day. Small screen printing and embroidery businesses need an alternative to QuickBooks because they have specific needs that the software cannot handle.

It is for these needs that ShopWorks OnSite has been designed. It boasts a whole lot of incredible features. ShopWorks OnSite doesn’t just handle finance and accounting, but it also helps in sales and marketing, order processing, purchasing and inventory, production management, etc. 

Below is a brief comparison between the basic features of QuickBooks and the alternative, ShopWorks Onsite software. 

QuickBooks Features

• Quoting – Generic
• Order Entry – generic
• Purchasing
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• General Ledger

ShopWorks OnSite Features

• Customer management (CRM)
• Quoting – Generic
• Order Entry – Industry Specific
• Purchasing
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• General Ledger
• Art and Design Scheduling
• Customer Proofing
• Receiving
• Integrated receiving
• Prospect management

Find out if you are outgrowing QuickBooks and request an evaluation.

If you just opened this link; the higher chances are that you recently started thinking of all the potentials and prospects of owning a screen printing business, or you are just curious to know what we have got to say. Well, just as with every other business, it is not unusual for newcomers to get disoriented when they venture into screen printing tee shirts or apparels without understanding how to start a screen printing business or what it takes to keep the business running, profitably.

Nevertheless, you are here now; so, let’s break down the salient points and considerations that make a screen-printing business a viable one from the onset. 

Consider the Screen Printing Business Opportunities

One of the fundamentals of starting any screen printing business is understanding who your customers are, and what your services will entail.  This understanding provides you with a spectrum of the array of opportunities in the industry, as well as gives insight on what you can do differently to make a mark in your niche. As a screen printer; who are your services for? What are the traditional services you are expected to provide? What are the probable limitations of opening a screen-printing business in your location? How do you bridge them?

In considering some of the opportunities entrenched within the business, one can think of all the customized t-shirts, caps, banners, bags, mugs, towels, notebooks, and numerous brand-able items. And then think of all the special events, clubs, businesses, sports teams, schools, holidays and numerous yearly activities and business that need branded forms of those materials in your locality. 

Almost anywhere you look, people are wearing/using one form of branded material or the other – it is a never-ending trend. Studying the market within your location as a unique prospect will put you in a better position to profit from the screen printing business, with ease. 

Consider the Set-Up and Running Costs

Costs incurred in setting up and running the business is dependent on a lot of factors. Whether you are starting from home or leasing a warehouse, it’s never a bad idea to contract an analyst or your mentor for financial assessments, so you don’t get stuck in the middle.

Skill Development and Training

All is nothing if you don’t know what you are doing as screen printing professional. As much as one can scroll through YouTube and learn almost anything, you will need to commit to a lot more than that if you wish to deliver high-quality services to your customers. Opting for a business mentor that is willing to put you through the baby steps will be a great choice. Also, great attention will need to be put into learning:

• How to handle the screen-printing equipment and make screens; you can learn this from the suppliers or an existing screen printing shop. Learning from a screen printing shop also provides you with experience on other aspects of screen printing business and affords you tryouts that give you the confidence to starting on your own. 
• How to create screen printing artworks and designs: understanding this is a specialty on its own. It takes expertise to create screen printing artworks, correctly. Otherwise, it is a time-consuming task that without the required expertise, will end up as a waste of time and labor, to produce an inferior print. It cannot be overemphasized how critical it is to master how to create artwork for screen making and film positives. 
• The variety of inks most suitable for different types of garments: put simply, there are grades to screen printing inks, and not all will make a good print on all materials. Knowledge of this will help you make prints that don’t fade after the first wash. 

Getting Your Screen Printing Location, Equipment, and Accessories

A good location with a bold storefront is always a good step in customer attraction; this will get customers entering your shop in a whim.

Will you be operating from home or are you going commercial? In both cases, you will need a well-defined space. But for commercial screen-printing equipment, you will need a lot more space; as they may require special installations for electrification, waste disposal, ventilation, etc.

Create an inventory of all you will need to run your business (such as a computer, chemical supplies, press) by contracting the services of a professional in screen-printing business, or by taking a tour of an existing business. Starting out commercially might cost a lot, and it might be wise to negotiate terms of the lease of machinery with your supplier if you can’t afford it instantly.

Going Legal

In most cities, a screen-printing business is considered as a semi-industrial business and might be a subject to zoning laws and environmental regulations. It is important you research for all laws and regulatory bodies applicable to screen printing business in your location and fulfill all requirements, so your business is deemed legally compliant. Additionally, you should: 

• Make the business a legal entity (such as an LLC) and register for taxes
• Obtain all applicable permits, licenses, and business insurance
• Open a separate bank account and set up a business accounting file

How Far Do You Want To Go?

For most screen printing businesses, a base is mostly established online and on the local level. Some locations might offer an entrepreneur a large client base from the onset, but that does not rule out the need for an online presence. The web and social media serve as an avenue for a high expansion rate, influenced by the influx of a diverse customer base, beyond what is locally obtainable. As well, it is a platform for your prospects to access what you have to offer and place orders effortlessly.

Offering services that include pre-set graphics and phrases, as well as accepting and being able to efficiently design customers’ submissions for custom designs and DELIVER ON TIME, will put any screen printing business on the road to success. 

What is DTG Printing? – Direct to Garment Printing Process

As an entrepreneur, once you take a step into the t-shirt printing industry, you are most likely to be faced with a variety of printing methods. The most popular methods being Screen printing and Direct to Garment (DTG) printing. To most, if not all t-shirt printing business owners, DTG is a step above the traditional screen printing method. Now, there are a whole lot of factors that will determine which to go for, but in this article, we will be focusing on DTG printing. What is Direct to Garment printing all about? What makes it stand out?

The advent of DTG printing can be traced way back to 1996, starting with the development and introduction of the first commercially available DTG printer, aptly called “Revolution.” And it was indeed the start of a revolution from the traditional printing techniques to a digitalized solution that offers much more than what was available. A lot of other trends followed in the DTG printing industry, but the game changers occurred in more recent times following significant technological advancements. 

What Makes DTG Printing Stand Out?

Direct to Garment printing, as the name implies, is a fast and straightforward method of printing graphics on textiles or apparels. The process is highlighted by the use of innovative inkjet technology to make prints on materials, using any/combination of any of the millions of color combinations made available in the digital inkjet printer. Thus, creating a high-quality image that will maintain its original form on the garment for years to come. Put simply, you can think of it as your regular printer, but instead of printing on your paper, the graphics are printed on apparel – DTG printing is that straightforward.

DTG printing can, in some cases, also be referred to as inkjet-to-garment printing, digital garment printing or digital apparel printing. Unlike other forms of garment printing, this method is not affected by color limitations; allowing for much more, as there is no need to match colors by pantones or by ink. The result on garments are prints that are as close as possible to true color when compared to that of screen printing.

Garment printing with a digital inkjet printer is as simple as can be, but it might take a number of experiments to master its perfection. There is a need to invest in the best DTG printers, and as well experiment on and master color combinations and its compatibility with different textiles, if you want to deliver high-quality results, always. 

How Does the DTG Printing Process Work?

Printing on any garment is made possible, as well as affordable, owing to the fact that unlike traditional printers, DTG printers don’t require set-up time or a minimum limit to the number of prints. Hence, it is possible to take in order for a t-shirt; download an image of the internet, send it to the printer, then print, cure and have the t-shirt ready within five minutes. This is possible due to the ease of operability, and the fact that the number of colors applicable to a design does not affect printing costs. 

The digital technology used in DTG printing also allows for the printing of photorealistic image through the use of the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and the key color) color model. Also referred to as four-color processing, these model uses combinations of these colors to generate all the colors needed to print a digital design. 

Garments to be printed on are pre-treated to give room for a smoother substrate and allow for easy bonding between the garment and the ink. To achieve this, the machine is to be adjusted to a right pre-treat level between 1% to 200% saturation. The saturation level also provides a guide which the ink level will have to correspond to; as this allows for sharp, permanent prints.

DTG printers make use of Japanese water-based textile inks, specially formulated and cured for use by the inkjet printers. Due to the nature of the ink used in DTG printing, the process is most suitable for use on 100% cotton. It is also suitable for materials made of linen, bamboo and other natural fibers, as well as for tri-blends, CVCs and other materials that are to an extent made up of cotton. 

The pre-treated garment is held in place in the fixture of the printer designed for holding the garment, while the printer prints the input design on the shirt. During printing, the printer jets or spray the inks on to the garment, which soaks into the fibers to stain them permanently. After which heat is applied, to dry the ink.

The Benefits of Direct to Garment Printing

Color versatility – DTG printing allows for varieties of colors to be printed simultaneously, and these colors are delivered with as much accuracy as is possible. It also offers extensive color variations to choose from.

Design precision – printed designs or images are highly detailed when compared to the results of a traditional printing. 

Cost-effectiveness – unlike screen printing where there is a minimum to the number of apparels that can be printed on to save ink and costs, DTG allows for the printing of a t-shirt at an affordable rate. In essence, they are cost-effective for small batches. As well, DTG printing does not require a whole lot of upfront investment.