Screen Printing Tutorial: How to Make Handmade Packaging

Discover basic tips to create packaging at home with Tatabi Studio’s screen printing technique

Using DIY techniques for your brand identity allows you to create an original and unique style. Among the techniques that help us achieve this aesthetic is silk-screen printing, a popular methods for brands to boost their designs.

That's why designer Elena Sancho, founder of Tatabi Studio (@tatabi), teaches us how to use this printing technique to create unique packaging with a lot of personality. You can watch the tutorial here:

1. Prepare the materials

To make a screen print, you'll need:

It is also a good idea to use an apron to avoid stains, and to have some tool or help to anchor the screen to the table. For more information on screen-printing and the necessary materials, you can look here.

2. Print the reference acetate

We will start by creating a reference element that will help us make the final print. To do this, place the acetate underneath your screen and put some ink on top of it. Note that you can reuse all of the excess ink by pouring it back into your bottle.

When we have the ink ready, we will fix our screen to prevent it from moving, press the squeegee on it at a 45º angle to the screen and drag it smoothly and quickly over our design. Once this is done, we will return the excess ink to its place in the same way. Following this process, our design will have been transferred to the acetate.

3. Transfer the design to the packaging

The last step will be to print our design on the box, while it is still dismantled. We will start by choosing the place in the box where we want to place the design and
fix the acetate over the chosen area with tape so that it does not move.

Once this is done, thanks to the reference we now have, we will place the screen on the box and carefully remove the acetate, as we no longer need it. Now we will repeat the previous process, dragging the water ink with the scraper over the screen and then removing the excess ink.

When we lift the screen, our design will be printed on the box

Now, all that remains is to assemble the box and let the handmade design speak for itself.

If you liked this tutorial, remember that you can learn how to create handmade stationery and packaging for a brand with Tatabi Studio on their online course Visual handmade identity.

You may be interested in:

- Textile Silkscreen Printing with Stencil, a course by Festela Store
- Packaging Design: Experience of Unboxing Products Sent by Post, a course by Tatabi Studio
- Creation of an Original Logo from Scratch, a course by Tatabi Studio