TIL screen printing shops reuse their screens way more than I thought

I was at a garage sale in Eugene last weekend and this old guy was selling a stack of used screens for $5 each. Turns out he ran a print shop for 20 years and said he'd pull 300 prints off the same screen before even thinking about remaking it. I've been tossing mine after like 50 prints because I figured they were worn out. Has anyone else been wasting screens way too early on basic jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jessica7d ago

Heard a shop owner say they get 500 prints from a screen before noticing any quality drop.

troy_adams6d ago

500 really? I mean Ive seen screens hold up way longer than that before the detail starts going soft. Unless they are using super fine halftones or something I think they are being dramatic.