Screen printing has never been easier at home

In a world where personalization and craftsmanship are increasingly valued, the xTool Screen Printer represents a great innovation that promises to revolutionize screen printing. By integrating laser technology, the company aims to simplify the traditionally complex process and make it accessible to a wider audience, from hobbyists to professionals.

Buy an xTool screen printer

Subscribe to du Geek magazine

Unboxing and Features

The xTool Screen Printer is compatible with a wide range of laser engravers, both xTool brand (models P2, S1, F1, M1, D1 Pro) and other brands (however, compatibility will need to be checked especially for frame size). Priced from €349, it is positioned as an affordable option given its promises. The basic kit includes everything you need to get started: an EasyStretch frame, three screens, four inks and various other accessories (squeegee and screen supports). The stated engraving accuracy of up to 0.01 mm promises fairly accurate printing.

The screen printer’s frame measures 30x40cm, allowing it to handle a wide range of medium-sized projects. To create unique creations, you need to use special screen printing inks, available in several colors, including fluorescent and phosphorescent options.

Upon unpacking, you will find careful and secure packaging in which each component is individually protected. The quality of the materials is immediately evident, promising durability and reliability. The Basic Kit offers everything you need to get started with screen printing with laser technology, including detailed documentation to help users take their first steps. Obviously what’s missing is a laser engraver, which is sold separately if you don’t have one.

Use

We used the xTool screen printer with the xTool S1 laser engraver. Ultra-complete, easy to use thanks to the manufacturer’s software, it above all provides a fairly accurate feed down to 0.01 mm.

Different steps to create a screen print

Installing the xTool Screen Printer is surprisingly easy. The EasyStretch system allows you to mount stencils onto the frame in seconds, a welcome ease of use that greatly reduces the barrier to entry for those new to screen printing.

So, start by installing the EasyStretch frame at your work station. This frame allows you to easily stretch your screen print, ensuring even tension. Then choose one of the included pre-coated screens, specially designed to resist laser engraving.

Then use the xTool app or any graphic design software of your choice to create or import your design. The design must be tailored to the size of the stencil and take into account screen printing features such as line thickness and detail complexity.

Once your design is ready, use a compatible laser engraver to record it on the screen. The etching process removes parts of the screen coating, creating a stencil. Engraving time varies greatly depending on your design and its complexity: from a few minutes to several tens of minutes.

Then select the appropriate ink or ink from those included. xTool ink provides good adhesion to various materials, be it fabric, paper or other materials.

Place the engraved screen onto a printable substrate (t-shirt, paper, etc.). Pour the desired amount of ink onto the top of the screen, then use a squeegee to spread the ink onto the engraved screen stencil, which will transfer the design to the backing. We recommend that you conduct tests on samples to adjust squeegee pressure, ink amount, and drying time before committing to final printing.

Depending on the type of ink and the substrate used, a drying step is necessary to fix the ink.

After printing, clean the stencil thoroughly with water or a suitable solvent to remove any remaining ink. This allows you to reuse the screen for future projects.

Huge time savings

The essence of the innovation is the use of laser technology for screen engraving. The process begins with selecting or creating a design using a dedicated application, which proves to be a valuable tool in both design and engraving. There are many options, but the interface is quite intuitive.

The precision of laser engraving is excellent and allows complex patterns to be reproduced with great precision. This step, although longer for some engraver models, opens up creative possibilities previously unavailable with traditional screen printing.

While the xTool Screen Printer is great for creating detailed designs and producing small batches, the size of the screens will limit the maximum size of your projects.

Results

Here are some examples we created. As you can see, the precision is there, but what surprised us most of all was the speed of production. The cost will be attractive if you frequently use it for small projects or short runs where traditional screen printing may not be available. It’s also the pleasure of being able to do it at home from A to Z, discover the different mechanisms and, in the end, get a finished product that you’re completely satisfied with.

Price and availability

The xTool Screen Printer is available from €349 for the classic package (1 frame, 3 screens, 5 inks and accessories) and €599 for the set of 4 frames, 12 screens, 11 inks and accessories. You can also buy it in a set with the xTool S1 20W laser engraver from 1899 euros.

Buy an xTool screen printer