Screenprint a Leather Warriors Vest

I wanted a vest from the 1979 movie The Warriors, so I decided to make one out of leather and screen print the design.

IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080120/

Materials:
20"x24" Screen 110 mesh or equivelent (12XX)
Ink (Black, Red, Yellow, White)
Photoemulsion (I used Speedball Diazo)
Squeegee
6 Inkjet Transparencies
Leather
Leather lace

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Step 1: Trace design

I found several photo's of the vest from the movie and photoshopped them to have only 4 colors. I then used MagicVector to convert it to vector and tweaked the result in illustrator.

i have included the JPG and the vectors as SVG, AI, and PDF

http://vectormagic.com/home

WarriorsFinalVectored.svg(612x792) 197 KB

WarriorsFinalVectored.ai(612x792) 195 KB

WarriorsFinalVectored.pdf(612x792) 189 KB

riverpirate says: Aug 30, 2009. 11:31 PM

dude that is awful close to an HA colors..... Youd only be lucky if one took it cause if an outlaw mistook that here in IL youd be dead before questions are answered. Other wise nice job.

Thoth in reply to riverpirateApr 26, 2010. 11:25 AM

Don't look much like HA colors at all, Warlocks or Misfits maybe.

Though the vest does look like MC colors, so you may need to be aware of where you are wearing it. Some clubs don't take kindly to another groups colors being worn in there turf, particularly the 1%ers.

recyclebicycle says: Nov 21, 2009. 11:16 PM

Hey i was curious on how long that stayed on? i did belt with water based textile ink and it seams to be coming off, not right away but when i touch it and just rub it a little bit, it starts to come off. i don't have a heat gun just a hair dryer and a iron, it dry's really fast and looks great and like it on there but it doesn't seam to have sustainability . any ideas ?

RobbGodshaw (author) in reply to recyclebicycleNov 22, 2009. 9:00 AM

the ink has been saying on my vest, mostly i think because i only wear it a few times a year. water based ink is pretty worthless, it eventually comes off whatever you put it on. Plastisol textile inks are oil-based and stick around forever. however they require a heat gun and harsh chemicals to clean up.

an easier option would be to spray the piece with some sort of matte spray coating. I've had some luck with that when painting belts.

postman_ says: Aug 8, 2009. 4:56 PM

That's pretty sick dude. I made a vest about 6 years ago now but I used felt for the logo on the back and sewed it on. It's always badass to wear to a halloween costume party!

crackjr says: Aug 3, 2009. 8:16 PM

dude be carful in az around H A some got made and took mine and distroid it

crackjr in reply to crackjrAug 7, 2009. 3:57 PM

I ges or they just don't like me

RobbGodshaw (author) in reply to crackjrAug 3, 2009. 9:08 PM

I'm confused. So I need to be careful in Arizona around Hell's Angels? I think I'd be careful anyway. You had a vest and they stole it from you and destroyed it? Because the vest is similar?

mrlunna13 in reply to RobbGodshawSep 15, 2010. 1:31 AM

Not only can they take it and destroy it. They will beat the #%@! out of you if they are nice, but if they had a bad day they will off you. I can assure you it is not a joke to wear colors in somebody's territory.

MetalShredder says: Aug 3, 2009. 8:10 PM

badass-est movie ever... and yes, I can dig it!

Ward_Nox says: Jul 28, 2009. 11:37 PM

Warriors!...COME OUT AN PLAYAAAY! some one was gunna say it i just figured id get it out of the way cool idea be fun to go to a convention w a group as the warriors

rustlabs in reply to Ward_NoxJul 30, 2009. 5:06 AM

damn, i was about to do it!

Ward_Nox in reply to rustlabsAug 1, 2009. 8:15 AM

yea well i was first poster o this and ppl STILL did it

sc0ped91 says: Jul 30, 2009. 9:37 PM

Very nice, one of my fav movies

maruawe says: Jul 29, 2009. 7:56 AM

Very nice But I have to object on the mistake of the lighter vest, where as the mistake gives the appearance of wear (used) an it looks neat. good job

RobbGodshaw (author) in reply to maruaweJul 29, 2009. 9:40 PM

i like the darker one also. it looks more grungy.

maruawe in reply to RobbGodshawJul 30, 2009. 5:42 AM

The lighter one is more like a mastery of the process, I have made mistakes that add new dimensions to an old process . The darker one is more like machine made, and while both are very good I will still go with my choice for the reasons already given....

Ward_Nox says: Jul 29, 2009. 7:03 PM

idk if I'm gonna screen print vest but w your reference graphics i think i can make a fabric patch

RobbGodshaw (author) in reply to Ward_NoxJul 29, 2009. 9:37 PM

that would be really cool. be sure to post a pic when you're done!

Eye Poker says: Jul 29, 2009. 5:46 PM

Cyrus says, "Can you dig it?!? Can you dig it?!?"

hailtothkngbby says: Jul 29, 2009. 2:29 PM

I have to say, I think I just found what I want to be for Halloween. Awesome!

As soon as I saw this, I knew 'Come out to play-ee-ay!' was going to be the quote of the day. I have but one thing to add:
CAN YOU DIG IT!?!

Ginger Magnus says: Jul 29, 2009. 6:26 AM

Last year at a halloween party there was a group of five furies. They won first place, now its time to bring them down! 'You guys are good' "We're the best"

Skyfinity says: Jul 28, 2009. 11:41 PM

Warriors... come out to play-e-ay!

You're eh...You're quite a devoted fan, aren't you...

Just kidding. Great job. Print came out great, even on the leather.