Do It Yourself Screenprinting: How to turn your home into a T-shirt factory

by John Isaacson

An instrumental DIY resource, this guide is a fascinating comic-zine turned graphic novel that details the art and science of screen printing T-shirts. The book, which collects Isaacson’s previously self-published zines, is illustrated throughout with vivid illustrations and humorous commentary, and also includes additional new material made available for this special book edition. Here at last are the nuts and bolts to turning your home into a T-shirt factory: how to build a screen, burn an image, test a print, pull ink, wash out screens, and create unique prints. This is essential reading material for people who don't know how to screen print or those who are a bit rusty, and it has been expanded to include information about vending T-shirts on the street and working in a print shop.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2007

Reviews

[Caleb Silverberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book! I learned so much from him!! He is a born writer and teacher, I can't wait to screen print! John Isaacson is the best!!!!!!!

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer on screen printing and a super quick read. It's in comic-strip format, which is probably the best way to do a how-to guide. It doesn't hold your hand the whole way, but does go into a good amount of depth. Do It Yourself Screenprinting should give you enough knowledge to start printing at home. I appreciated that it had detailed info about printing at a shop, using professional equipment. Knowing how the pros do it will likely help me improvise better at home.

It's dangerous to let it become known that you screenprint. It's just like becoming the guy in the family who's "good with computers". Soon everyone will be asking you to print them a shirt or two. Next time someone tries to rope me into designing and printing shirts for them, I will recommend that they read this book and get a screenprinting kit from speedball.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

being kind of a know-it-all, i wouldn't have bothered with this book myself, but my brother gave it to me for my birthday, and i started going through it, and to my surprise, actually learned a few things. it's also probably a pretty great introductory how-to as well. and it's graphic-novel-style easy to read.

[Gavin Rehfeldt]

I wanna silkscreen and this seems like the most straightforward way to learn. Plus, I met John Isaacson and he was very cool and encouraging. We did my first silkscreen experience together and it was very rewarding.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isaacson visited Nashville this week, and I was in attendance at his silkscreening workshop. He's a born teacher, and this comes through in his graphic novel. Great style, approach, and knowledge. Accomplished guy, but very unpretentious. Read the book! Great way to learn this craft!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, and has at least something new that everyone could take away from it, I feel. I bought this for a professor of mine, and after reading it before I hand it off... I kind of want it to stay mine!

[Marlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is fun and pretty with pretty excellent instructions in screen printing. i really didn't think it would be this detailed. very amusing and informative.