Three common challenges faced by screen printers: dye migration, curing, and ghosting. Dye migration occurs when heat causes dyes from polyester s to bleed into the ink, leading to unwanted color shifts. Curing plays a crucial role in achieving durable prints, as under-curing can result in poor adhesion and washability. Lastly, ghosting, an often frustrating problem, happens when residual heat or chemical interactions cause faint imprints of designs to appear on other areas of the garment or on stacked shirts. Don’t keep your head in the sand, these problems and are real and you have to deal with the sometimes simple, sometimes complicated answers. This session will explore practical solutions, from ink formulations to curing techniques, to help printers produce high-quality, lasting prints.

Speakers: Rick Roth, Mirror Image; Tim Pelletier, Avient; Michelle Moxley, Ink Kitchen

AI is revolutionizing design and print workflows, making them faster and more efficient. Tools like ChatGPT, Ideogram, Redraft AI, MidJourney, and Stable Diffusion accelerate concept creation, and generate high-quality visuals instantly. AI-driven ‘separation technology’ is also transforming processes in screen printing, improving art department automation. These advancements reduce manual effort, enhance accuracy, and streamline production.

Speaker: Michelle Moxley, Ink Kitchen

Focus points:
Printing on Performance Wear (dye migration, scorching)
Printing on Sublimated Fabrics (dye migration)
Embroidery on Trucker Caps (needle breakage, image torquing)
Embroidery on Thinner Materials (puckering)
Heat Application on Sensitive Fabrics (heat box, scorching) 
Embroidery or Heat Application on Challenging Bags
Decorating Waterproof Fabrics (adhesion, dye migration, cracking)

Speakers: Kyle Eslinger, SanMar; Carrie Terwilliger, Supacolor; Steve Palevich, Hirsch Solutions

Focus on investments in quality products and equipment for the screen room that make you money in the end. Saving a few cents in the screen room can cost you big time on the press.

Speakers: Gerry Charde, Ulano; Bill Smith, Saati

Even if you screen print, transfers can provide a whole lot of solutions for you as a supplement to your business. Numbers, difficult placements and on and on…. Come here of all the ways transfers can improve or expand your business.

Speakers: Jody Mazade, Howard Custom Transfers; Carrie Terwilliger, Supacolor; Greg Farmer, Instagraph; Josh Ellsworth, STAHLS’; Nathan Anderson, FM Expressions; Deric Hoch, 613 Originals

Join us near the Shop Talk stage for free beer and wine and networking!

Hiring and accomodating folks with “disabilities” isn’t just the right thing to do, Come hear all the ways it can improve your business and make you more profitable.

Speakers: Marshall Atkinson, Atkinson Consulting; Patrick Bardsley, Spectrum Design; Tim Howe, Spectrum Designs; Jed Seifert, Stakes Mfg.

Using Ideogram’s Batch Generation, NameDrops become unique yet cohesive. Unlike traditional static designs, AI creates diverse variations instantly, ensuring each NameDrop feels custom. This boosts efficiency in the art department, allowing rapid, design production for screen printing—enhancing efficiency, and scalability.

Speaker: Michelle Moxley, Ink Kitchen

Is it just a numbers game or can you really just go after the specific clients you want? Is it just who you know or can you just lower your pricing to beat the competitors?

If you build better pricing, will they come? And is it worth it? When you are constantly being sold the snake oil drenched magic bullet for everything in your business, it’s hard to stomach the hard truth of “It Depends”.

Results are over-determined, so start holding more than one truth. Sales needs to adapt to your clients perspective, and if that doesn’t work for you, change the clients that you are aiming for.

They’re gonna order from someone…

Speaker: Zach Corn, Barrelmaker

With the right planning and attitude and information you can turn your side-hustle into your main gig.

Speaker: Stan Banks, T-Shirt Side Hustle

DTG can still make you good money. Come hear real world how we do it and how you can do it.

Speaker: Shania Douglas, Shania Prints

Building a custom GPT streamlines price sheets and quotations, handling complex calculations like a transfer calculator with precision. While AI boosts efficiency, challenges include fine-tuning accuracy and handling unique pricing variables. Implementing AI reduces manual work, and optimizes quotation processes for faster pricing.

Speaker: Michelle Moxley, Ink Kitchen

There is nothing more awkward than a t-shirt that isn’t being worn. Come hear and see some creative display options.

Speaker: Dave Conner, Transfer Express

Come hear some ideas on how to get started or improve your business using Instagram.

Speaker: Shania Douglas, Shania Prints

Good art comes from a process, see some real world examples, a view into that process.

Speaker: Brian Potash, Devilfish Ink