Do-It-Together Screenprinting

Do-It-Together Screenprinting reviewed by Anonymous (midnightfiction.com)

August 1st, 2010

This 192-page book collects what appears to be three issues of Isaacson's zine of the same name, plus some bonus material. Actually, the first two issues carried the same name, the third one was changed to Do It Together Screenprinting, but we'll get to that later.

The first issue provides a wealth of information about low budget screen printing at home in your bedroom, living room, or garage. Isaacson does a terrific job covering even the most technical details in this hand drawn, how to guide.

Okay, once you've learned all about color separation, screen mesh, building frames, burning screens, ink, substrate, and squeegees—and you've successfully printed a few dozen T-shirts—what's next? Issue two explores the ins and outs of street vending. A few details may be unique to San Francisco, but Isaacson shares not only his personal experience getting started, but connects with apparently everyone in sight and unearths at least a dozen street savvy lessons learned the hard way by true veterans of street vending.

Issue three is a double-sized issue. In this one Isaacson lands a job in a T-shirt factory and learns how the pros do it. He shares the whole learning experience with his readers. The basic principals are the same as the homemade lessons, but in the factory everything is geared toward production, efficiency, and volume. He also learns how working together can accomplish more than working alone—hence the title change in issue three.

When I was starting out, one of my first jobs was working as a production artist in a T-shirt factory. I went through a training process similar to Isaacson's, and I can tell you from first-hand experience, he's done a terrific job covering the subject. He really gets into the nitty gritty of printing multiple colors on T-shirts and shares everything he learned.

Between chapters he presents several two to three page interviews with different screenprinters, probing for useful information to share with his DIY readers. Their websites are all listed so you can check out their work online. And speaking of resources, Isaacson covers sources for screenprinting supplies and equipment as well as a full page list of other reference material on the subject. The book ends with a glossary of terms.

Like Scott McCloud's landmark books, this is a textbook written in comics form. Isaacson tells the story using an autobiographical approach, as if he's learning right along with his readers. His personality and enthusiasm for the subject comes through to add extra interest to all the instructions and details.

Isaacson's artwork matches the tone of the narrative perfectly. It's as light and entertaining as an instruction manual can be. And when the material calls for it the author amps up the tightness of the detail and moves from chatty dialogue to straight documentation. If you're serious about learning how to screenprint, I can't imagine a better book to help you get started.

Do-It-Yourself Screenprinting (Dec. 2007, Microcosm) is 192 b&w pages, plus cover. 7" x 8.5", perfect bound, paperback book. First edition, 5000 copies. It's available for $10 from Microcosm Publishing, where you can find other comics by Isaacson like Feedback, Pyromania, and Ride the Lightning. For more about John Isaacson visit his website Unlay, his webcomic Feedback, and his Comics Lifestyle page.