How xTool Laser Screen Printer Reinvents Traditional Screen Printing

Screen printing is everywhere, from screen-printed 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 process of screen printing has remained complex and time-consuming for a long time. But don't be afraid. xTool has put forward the latest and fastest screen printing in the world! With xTool Screen Printer, it's no longer necessary to work with printing film, applying emulsion, and UV exposure; there is no more washing the screens with a high-pressure washer. It combines the fun of screen printing with modern laser technology. With just 3 steps, everyone can easily complete professional-quality printing in 1-3 hours and create unique works anytime, anywhere.

Overview of Traditional Screen Printing VS xTool Screen Printing with Laser

The Limitations of Traditional Screen Printing

Time-Consuming and Complex Process

Time-consuming and complex process: The traditional screen printing process involves printing film, applying emulsion, UV exposure, and repeatedly waiting for drying, which is very time-consuming. The entire process takes approximately 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 skills. Errors such as the emulsion is not evenly applied, the exposure time is too long or too short, or the screen is not thoroughly cleaned will result in poor printing.

A Beginner Tried Traditional Screen Printing with 100 Mesh Screen(There are serious problems such as blurred edges, incomplete printing, and uneven printing.)

Original Pattern

High Cost of Use

Traditional screen printing requires many tools, including screen printers, UV lamps, inkjet printers, high-pressure washers, light-sensitive emulsions, film, and UV-protective clothing, for about $1500 in total. Besides, there are ongoing expenses for purchasing screens with frames, films, and emulsions, resulting in a high overall cost. Moreover, the complex and time-consuming production process further increases the time costs.

Not Portable and can Only be Used in Specific Environments

You must have access to a place with a power source, a UV light unit, and a high-pressure washer. Some traditional screen printers are bulky. Usually, you can only use a traditional screen printer in a fixed area at home or in the 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 it to dry, UV exposure, and washing. This significantly simplifies the printing setup process and saves a lot of time.

Cut Any Shape Quickly and Accurately. When you need items cut to a perfect size, as you will have a laser machine for xTool Screen Printer, you can let the laser machine do this job; relying on the software, it can cut any shape accurately and quickly, improving your efficiency, no need to buy those Cricut tools or cut manually.

No Experience or Technical Skills Needed: The xTool Creative Space software offers standardized presets for perfect designs, so you don't need to worry about print quality. With the xTool Screen Printer, you can achieve high-quality prints without any particular skills or experience while enjoying a user-friendly experience.

Easy to Print with Multi-Color: xTool Creative Space software also makes it easy to print with multi-color. It allows layering by color and engraving by layer. No Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator skills are needed, and with the fixing frame you won't have to worry about alignment issues—creating stunning multi-color designs is now super easy! Learn how to print with multi-color here. 

Extremely High Precision and Accuracy

Laser Engraving with 0.01mm Precision: The xTool Laser Machines are incredibly precise, up to 0.01 mm precision. Besides, it can engrave lines as thin as 0.01mm. This means the xTool Screen Printer can print intricate patterns easily with amazing accuracy and detail.

Traditional Screen Printing with 100 Mech Screen (There are problems such as blurred lines, incomplete printing, and uneven printing.)

xTool Screen Printing with 100 Mech Screen (The printing is clear, accurate, complete, and detailed.)

Lower Cost of Use

xTool Screen Printer with Laser is a one-stop solution. No other tools are required except an xTool Screen Printer and an 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 of them can be done on one table, saving a lot of time and space!

Portable, Print Anywhere

 xTool Screen Printer does not need UV light for film exposure and the pressure washer to clean the uncured emulsion. So, it doesn't have specific operation environment requirements. And because of its small size, you can take it anywhere. 

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

How to Use xTool Screen Printer

Once you have an xTool Screen Printer and an xTool Laser Machine, it's easy to follow "Stretch, Engrave, Print " 3 steps to get the screen printing job done.

Step 1: Stretch and Fix the Screen on the Frame

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

Step 2: Engrave on the Pre-coated Screen 

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

xTool Creative Space

xTool S1 Laser Engraver & Cutter

Step 3: Spread the Ink to Print

Mount the engraved frame onto the xTool Screen Printer. Adjust the height based on the material you’re printing on. Then, apply ink to the screen with a spatula. Then, use the hair dryer to dry it for one minute.

Note: different inks have different drying times.

If you are interested in the whole process for this T-shirt, please click here to watch the whole video.

What Can You Do with xTool Screen Printer and Laser Machine

xTool Screen Printer and laser machine are versatile tools that allow everyone to create high-quality designs using various materials. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, artist, small business owner, or anyone else looking to unleash creativity, you'll find value in these tools. We will introduce some applications below, but they are not all.

DIY Made Easy

The creation possibilities of the xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Machine are unlimited. You can DIY anything, like clothes, jewelry, home decor, woodworking, gifts, puzzles, or personal cards. 

Small Business Boost

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

Screen Printed Bags

xTool Laser Engraved Jewlery

Screen Printed Shirts

Artworks Made by xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Engraver

Screen Printed T-shirts and Posters

Worry about design and creativity? the xTool DesignFind platform provides 6000+ project ideas! You can also use the AI tool in xTool Creative Space software to create your design quickly.

We know that many printing customization business owners may choose a DTF printer, but it is more expensive and limited to a single type of ink. It doesn't offer the versatility of laser engraving and cutting. Compared with the DTF printer, the 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 to street art. With the xTool Screen Printer, anyone can extend artistic creations to various objects such as clothing, jewelry, walls, lamps, and canvases, enhancing their artistic value and showcasing your personal style and aesthetics. In art exhibitions, vibrant screen printing artworks often catch viewers' eye. Many street artists use this technique to create lively graffiti and make the city more colorful and energetic.

Education

The xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Machine are fantastic family education tools. Screen printing is a class in art schools that enhances students' creativity, imagination, and aesthetics. Now, its portability enables you to bring the classroom right into your home. Parents and children can work together to make unique family souvenirs, such as parent-child outfits, toys, and holiday decorations, leaving beautiful childhood memories.

Better Community Creation

The xTool Screen Printer and xTool Laser Machine are not only tools but a meaningful way to allow people to connect, create, and contribute to their communities. It can also be used to repurpose vintage or old clothes, create reusable shopping bags and wooden storage boxes for daily use, or donate to charitable organizations.

xTool Screen Printers and laser machines are ready to assist you throughout life's journey.

Introduce the xTool Screen Printer and Laser Machine

The xTool Screen Printer is is completely different from traditional screen printing. Here's how it works: The laser engraves the pattern onto the screen with a laser-safe coating. The laser burns away the coating in the engraved area, exposing the high-density mesh underneath. So, the ink can sink onto your printing surface through the exposed mesh, while the unengraved areas block the ink, resulting in your desired design.

xTool Screen Printer provides two kits for different demands: a basic color kit and a multi-color kit. The difference is the quantity of screen frames, screens, and inks. If you buy a multi-color kit, you can easily replace different screen frames to print different colors for a multi-color print. Of course, if you buy a basic color kit, you can buy additional screen frames in the future to screen print with multi-color. How many screen frames you have means how many colors you can make; there is no color limitation! By the way, they also don't have material limitations, so they can screen print anything.

Basic Color Kit

Muti-Color Kit

Now, let’s talk about the laser machine that reinvents the screen printing technology. The laser machine, also called a laser engraver or laser cutter, uses a focused, high-energy light beam to engrave and cut various materials intricately. Common desktop laser machines include：

Diode Laser Machines: Cost-effective, able to work with various materials, suitable for beginners.

CO₂ Laser Machines: Higher laser power can handle more complex materials.

Fiber Laser Machines: Best for engraving metals with extreme detail and depth

xTool laser machines include these types and are popular for their high quality, user-friendliness, high precision, one-stop accessories solution, and powerful software, making xTool a top choice for beginners and small business owners. The prices of xTool Laser Machines typically range from $400 to $4000, catering to various needs.