Prepare a T-shirt design on a computer and print each color from the design, in black only, on a piece of clear vellum. These are called film positives. Beginning silk screen printers should start with a one-color design for their first projects.
Coat a silk screen with water-resistant photo emulsion and let it dry in a dark area. Once dry, place the silk screen over a piece of foam rubber that fits inside the silk screen frame. Place the film, positive face down, over the silk screen frame. Put the heavy glass on top of it.
Hang the halide light 18 inches above the glass and expose the silk screen frame for the time recommended with the emulsion instructions. Develop the image with warm water. Blot each side of the screen with newsprint. Make a separate silk screen for each color in your design.
Place each screen in the clamps of a screen printing press, or print your project on a flat, even surface with screen printing clamps mounted on it. Place a piece of newsprint or test fabric on the printing surface. Bring the silk screen down over it. Add a thick line of water-based ink to the end of the screen by the clamps. Use the squeegee to print the test fabric, pulling the ink towards you. Hold the squeegee at a 45-degree angle toward you while printing.
Lift the silk screen to check your test print. Still holding the squeegee at a 45-degree angle toward you, push the ink back over the image area. This is the flood stroke. Remove the test print and place it aside.
Place a T-shirt on the press or the printing surface. Bring the silk screen down over the shirt and print it, again pulling the squeegee toward you from the opposite end of the silk screen. Lift the silk screen and do a flood stroke. Remove the shirt from the print area. Hang the shirt or lay flat to dry. Repeat for multi-shirt runs. Add ink as needed for multi-shirt runs.
Remove excess ink from the screen when finished. Clean the screen immediately with soap and water.