A Screenprinting Fix That Works

When Things Go Wrong… Go Darker: A Screenprinting Fix That Worked

Sometimes a screenprint just doesn’t go as planned. While printing the “Let’s Do This” design, I had already finished the silhouette—the “lady”—and wanted to layer text on top.

Here’s the catch:
I didn’t tape off the darker blue from the previous layer and didn’t align the stencil properly. (Note to self: next time, use a trick marker for a straight guideline.)

The result? A misaligned mess that I couldn’t see myself proudly wearing on my chest. But instead of tossing the piece, I pivoted to a creative fix.

The Fix: Layering with Purpose

Step 1: Go Darker
I reached for the background stencil again. It frames the silhouette and works perfectly for “restarting” a section.

To cover the flawed print, I needed a darker color. I reused the dark orange I already had open—and since I had a bit of rose mixed in from the background, I added that too. The result: a bold and unique color blend that covered the issue and gave the design new life.

Step 2: Realign and Print Again
Once dry, I added the final text in dark blue—this time, carefully aligning the stencil to the corrected background and the existing silhouette.

The result might not be what I originally imagined, but it turned out even better. The happy accident added depth, contrast, and uniqueness.

What This Teaches Us
Go darker when in doubt: A deeper color often saves a misstep.

Use existing stencil outlines: They can help mask errors beautifully.

Perfection is a myth: Sometimes a “fix” becomes a feature.

Next time a print doesn't go as planned, don’t toss it—adapt it. You might just end up with something even more original.