Achieving a Vintage or Distressed Screen Print

There are several ways to achieve a distressed or vintage-looking screen print. Below we outline the two most common solutions.

Distressed Artwork

The easiest way to achieve a distressed look is to create artwork with a distressed effect. This can be done using graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. You can use grunge or distress filters and brushes to give your design a weathered, vintage look.

Ink Reduction

Instead of using the traditional 2 layers of ink, a single layer can be applied that will give the print some transparency and a more worn-out vintage look. However, the ink used in these types of prints can take on a shade of the garment. For example, when printing a single layer of white ink on a shade of red, the ink may take on some of the red garment color and look pinkish due to the transparency of the single layer. This can also work well if you are trying to achieve a tonal-looking print. Ink reduction could provide a softer feel depending on the ink type and garment.

Conclusion

Both methods above work great in achieving a vintage or distressed print. Distressing the artwork is like a fastball; right down the pipe and you pretty know what you are going to end up with. Ink reduction can sometimes throw a curve ball; you know it is coming but it can still surprise you sometimes in production.

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