How the xTool Laser Screen Printer Reinvents Traditional Screen Printing

Screen printing is everywhere: from T-shirts, bags, silk scarves, placemats, pillows, packaging boxes and art paintings, to all kinds of home decorations, crafts and fashion, adding creativity and uniqueness to our lives.

The screen printing process has remained complex and time-consuming for a long time. But fear not. xTool has introduced the latest and fastest screen printing in the world! With xTool screen printer , you no longer need to work with printing film, apply emulsion and UV exposure; you no longer need to wash screens with a pressure washer. It combines the fun of screen printing with modern laser technology. With just 3 steps, anyone can easily complete a professional-quality print in 1-3 hours and create unique works anytime, anywhere.

Overview of traditional screen printing vs xTool laser screen printing

The Limits of Traditional Screen Printing

Long and complex process

Long and complex process: The traditional screen printing process involves printing the film, applying the emulsion, exposing it to UV light, and waiting for it to dry repeatedly, which is very time-consuming. The whole process takes about 1 to 2 days from start to finish.

Image Credit: Step 1©CatspitProductions - Youtube;
step 2~7 ©ILiketoMakeStuff – YouTube

High Skill Requirements: Traditional screen printing is complex and requires high skill. Mistakes such as unevenly applied emulsion, too long or too short exposure time, or not cleaning the screen thoroughly will result in poor printing.

A beginner tried traditional screen printing with a 100 mesh screen (with serious problems such as blurry edges, incomplete printing and uneven printing).

Original model

High cost of use

Traditional screen printing requires a lot of equipment, including screen printers, UV lamps, inkjet printers, high-pressure cleaners, photosensitive emulsions, films, and UV protective clothing, for a total of about $1500. In addition, there are ongoing expenses for purchasing screens with frames, films, and emulsions, resulting in a high overall cost. In addition, the complex and time-consuming production process further increases the time costs.

It is not portable and can only be used in specific environments

You need to have access to a place with a power source, a UV light unit, and a pressure washer. Some traditional screen printers are bulky. Typically, you can only use a traditional screen printer in a fixed area at home or in a studio.

How xTool Screen Printer with Laser Reinvents Traditional Screen Printing

Quick and easy process

Simplified production process: xTool Screen Printer uses laser engraving technology to quickly engrave patterns onto the provided pre-coated screen, skipping the messy and time-consuming steps of applying emulsion, waiting for drying, UV exposure, and washing. This greatly simplifies the print setup process and saves a lot of time.

Cut any shape quickly and accurately. When you need objects cut to a perfect size, because you will have a laser machine. For xTool Screen Printer, you can let the laser machine do the work; by relying on the software, you can cut any shape accurately and quickly, improving your efficiency, without having to buy those Cricut tools or cut manually.

No Experience or Technical Skills Required : xTool Creative spac e offers standardized presets for perfect designs, so you don't have to worry about print quality. With xTool Screen Printer, you can get high-quality prints without any special skills or experience, enjoying an intuitive experience.

Easy to Print with Multi-Color: xTool Creative Space Software also makes it easy to print with multiple colors. It allows for color overlay and layer engraving. No Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator skills are required and with the attachment frame you won't have to worry about alignment issues - creating amazing multi-color designs is now super easy!

Extremely high precision and accuracy

Laser Engraving with 0.01mm Accuracy: xTool laser machines are incredibly precise, with an accuracy of up to 0.01mm. Additionally, they can engrave lines as fine as 0.01mm. This means that the xTool screen printer can easily print intricate patterns with incredible precision and detail.

Traditional screen printing with 100 mechanical screen (problems such as blurry lines, incomplete printing and uneven printing occur).

xTool screen printing with 100 mechanical screen (the printing is clear, precise, complete and detailed.)

Lower usage costs

xTool Screen Printer with Laser is a one-stop solution. No other tools are required except a xTool Screen Printer and a xTool Laser Machine. Only 3 steps are needed: mounting the screen into the frame, engraving and applying ink, which takes about 1-3 hours, and all can be done on a table, saving much time and space!

Portable, print anywhere

xTool Screen Printer does not require UV light to expose the film and pressure washer to clean the uncured emulsion. So, it has no specific operating environment requirements. And thanks to its small size, you can take it anywhere.

Some laser machines are really big and inconvenient to carry. However, if you want to take xTool screen printer to other places for use or display, you can engrave the pattern on the pre-coated screens in advance. You just need to bring the screen printer and the engraved screens to the place, which is very easy. Imagine you are a small business owner; having your customers see your printed products on site and offering free trial opportunities will attract more customers and greatly improve your business!

How to use the xTool screen printer

Once you have an xTool Screen Printer and an xTool Laser Machine, it is easy to follow the 3 steps " Iron, Engrave, Print " to complete your screen printing job.

Step 1: Stretch and fix the screen on the frame

Insert the pre-coated screen into the EasyStretch™ frame. Stretch the screen evenly across the frame. Secure it with the provided fixing pins and clamps.

Step 2: Engraving on the pre-coated screen

Place the frame with the pre-coated mesh into the laser engraver. Load the design into the xTool Creative Space software and use the preset parameters to start engraving.

xTool Creative Space

xTool S1 Laser Engraver and Cutter

Step 3: Distribute the ink for printing

Mount the engraved frame on the xTool screen printer. Adjust the height according to the material you are printing on. Then, apply ink to the screen with a squeegee. Then, use the hair dryer to dry it for a minute.

Note: Different inks have different drying times.

If you are interested in the entire process for this shirt, click here Here to watch the full video.

What can you do with the xTool screen printer and laser machine?

xTool Screen Printer and Laser Machine are versatile tools that allow anyone to create high-quality designs using a variety of materials. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast, an artist, a small business owner, or anyone else who wants to unleash their creativity, you will find value in these tools. Below we will introduce some of the applications, but they are not all.

Do it yourself made easy

The creative possibilities of the xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Machine are limitless. You can make anything DIY, such as clothing, jewelry, home decor, woodwork, gifts, puzzles or personal cards.

Stimulus for small businesses

With xTool Laser Machine and xTool Screen Printer, you can mass produce personalized items such as T-shirts, silk scarves, pillows, notebooks, business cards, posters, skateboards, as well as pet clothes, pet beds, pet tags, and various holiday decorations and greeting cards. These personalized products, improved by screen printing and laser engraving, make ordinary items more attractive, and the price can be increased by at least 5 to 10 times, helping you get more orders and higher profits.

Screen printed bags

xTool Laser Engraved Jewelry

Screen printed shirts

Artworks made by xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Engraver

Screen printed T-shirts and posters

Are you concerned about design and creativity? The DesignFind platform provides over 6000 design ideas! You can also use the AI ​​tool in xTool Creative Space software to quickly create your design.

We know that many personalization print business owners may choose a DTF printer, but it is more expensive and limited to one type of ink. It does not offer the versatility of laser engraving and cutting. Compared to DTF printer, xTool screen printer and laser machine are cost-effective solutions for small batch production.

Artistic freedom

Screen printing is widely applied in art, from pop art to street art. With xTool Screen Printer, anyone can extend their artistic creations to various objects such as clothes, jewelry, walls, lamps, and canvases, enhancing their artistic value and showcasing their personal style and aesthetics. In art exhibitions, vivid screen printing artworks often catch the attention of viewers. Many street artists use this technique to create lively graffiti and make the city more colorful and energetic.

Instruction

xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Machine are great educational tools for families. Screen printing is a subject in art schools that enhances students' creativity, imagination and aesthetics. Now, its portability allows you to bring the classroom right into your home. Parents and children can work together to create unique family souvenirs, such as parent-child clothing, toys and party decorations, leaving beautiful childhood memories.

Better community building

The xTool screen printer and xTool laser machine are not just tools, but a meaningful way for people to connect, create and contribute to their communities. They can also be used to repurpose vintage or old clothing, create reusable shopping bags and wooden boxes for everyday use or donate to charities.

xTool screen printers and laser machines are ready to assist you on your life's journey.

Presentation of the xTool screen printer and laser machine

The xTool Screen Printer is completely different from traditional screen printing. Here's how it works: The laser etches the design onto the screen with a laser-safe coating. The laser burns away the coating in the etched area, exposing the high-density mesh underneath. Then, ink can penetrate the exposed mesh onto the print surface, while the unetched areas block the ink, resulting in the desired design.

xTool Screen Printer provides two kits for different needs: a basic color kit and a multicolor kit. The difference is the amount of screens, screens, and inks. If you buy a multicolor kit, you can easily replace different screens to print different colors for multicolor printing. Of course, if you buy a basic color kit, you can buy additional screens in the future for multicolor screen printing. The number of screens you have means how many colors you can make; there are no color limits! By the way, they don't have any material limits either, so they can screen print anything.

Basic Color Kit

Multicolored kit

Laser machine, also called laser engraver or laser cutter, uses a concentrated, high-energy beam of light to intricately engrave and cut various materials. Common desktop laser machines include:

Diode laser machines: affordable, capable of working with various materials, suitable for beginners.

CO₂ laser machines: Higher laser power allows for processing more complex materials.

Fiber Laser Machines: Ideal for Engraving Metals with Extreme Detail and Depth

xTool laser machines include these types and are popular for their high quality, ease of use, high precision, one-stop accessory solution and powerful software, making xTool the best choice for beginners and small business owners. The prices of xTool laser machines typically range from $400 to $4000, meeting various needs.