During the past two weeks, I've been so much involved with talking to this group of people whose business is to run a silkscreen printing shops. The idea was that I will give a digital copy of the design to print on the T-shirts, which will be worn by fellow members of the student organization that I am a member of), and they will construct the silkscreen and paint the shirts.
While the additional cost to have the shirts printed via silkscreen isn't that much, it is still worthwhile to silkscreen print the shirts on my own--if only I had the time to do so.
For those who want to know how to print shirt designs using silkscreens, I suggest that you go and look at this web article on silkscreen printing. Apparently, there are a number of sub-ways by that one can use to print via silkscreen. As far as the article is concerned, there is the paper pencil method, the screen filler method, the drawing fluid-screen filler method, and, finally, the photographic emulsion method.
Aside from the different printing methods, silkscreen printing also varies with the kind of ink used. The inks differ when it comes to longevity, availability, and cost. Some of the more commonly used silkscreen printing inks are water-soluble inks, permanent acrylic inks, textile inks, and acrylic inks. I've tried on shirts with a rather "weak" ink, having faded away less than a year later.
So if you think you have enough time to spare for this kind of hobby, then don't hesitate to do so. Like what you have probably noticed above, silkscreen printing is a profitable endeavour that you may want to pursue, as long as you have the resources and the contacts to sustain it.
If not, well, you can always ask your local t-shirt sellers if they offer such services.
