Thanks to a great silk screening system, John Smith’s Graphic Design students at Peoria Heights High School cannot only picture their designs; they can actually wear them, too!

Late last school year, P.E.R.F.E.C.T. purchased a silk screening system for the Industrial Technology Department. As the coordinator of the department, Mr. Smith knows the importance of hands-on experience when it comes to learning how to work with any tool, whether that tool is a band saw, a computer or a silk screening station. The two-station, four-color silk screen machine provides the Graphic Design students the opportunity to see an entire project through, from an idea to a finished product.

The first project idea was to simply create a personalized t-shirt for some of the players on the football team. Students researched different designs and then experimented with colors on their computers using Photoshop software. When the design was agreed upon, they began their silk screening training. To prepare for printing, the class used two full class periods (about 90 minutes) to prep each station’s screen and to get the colors ready on the transparencies. They had to work together and follow every step correctly in order for their product to be quality work. Even though this part of the process is time-consuming, it is critical that everything is done as the manual directs. The design’s integrity depends on the screens being properly prepared.

The first color is applied at Station 1. After this color is properly applied and allowed time to set up, the t-shirt is taken to Station 2 for the second color. The number of colors used determines how many steps and/or stations that will be in use. After the initial prep work is done, a number of t-shirts can be processed in just one class period. The productivity will certainly improve with every project. Each step, as in any job, is a learning experience. There is a certain amount of time, planning, and following through that must take place for a successful outcome.

Mr. Smith was quite pleased with the first few t-shirts that the class created, and his goal is to involve more students in new silk screening projects for school events, including other sports teams who want their own personalized team shirts. While the players provided the t-shirts and the Graphics Design class provided the artwork and the tool, it was definitely real teamwork that took that first design project off the ground.