Co-Owner, Screen Printing & DTF Production Educator at Kolormatrix
Brian Toney is a screen-printing veteran, technical trainer and Kolormatrix co-owner with more than 30 years of experience helping printers improve production quality, solve difficult problems and build stronger businesses.
His experience spans screen printing, DTF production, equipment, prepress, color separations, production workflow, technical sales, employee training and hands-on troubleshooting. Brian works with everyone from first-time decorators to established production shops that need help improving consistency, efficiency and profitability.
More Than 30 Years in the Printing Industry
Brian entered the screen-printing industry in 1988 and has spent his career learning how equipment, artwork, screens, ink, curing and production decisions work together.
His professional background includes technical sales, account management, equipment evaluation, business ownership, production consulting and hands-on print education. He also co-founded Freedom Imaging Solutions and Colorburst UV before becoming a co-owner and instructor at Kolormatrix.
Before beginning his career in the printing industry, Brian served in the United States Navy as a Cryptologic Technician. That technical background helped shape the analytical approach he continues to use when diagnosing production problems: understand the complete system, identify the real cause and make controlled adjustments instead of guessing.
Teaching Printers How—and Why—the Process Works
Brian does not believe good training should consist of memorizing settings without understanding the process behind them. His goal is to help printers understand both what to do and why it works.
That approach allows students to make better production decisions when conditions, garments, artwork, equipment or job requirements change.
For more than a decade, Brian has taught classes and provided private and onsite instruction through Kolormatrix. Students have traveled from nearly 45 states, Canada, Austria and Trinidad to participate in Kolormatrix training programs.
His instruction includes entry-level fundamentals as well as advanced production techniques such as wet-on-wet printing, simulated-process printing, four-color process, press setup, registration, screen preparation, troubleshooting and DTF workflow.
Brian’s Areas of Expertise
- Professional screen-printing production
- DTF printing and transfer application
- Automatic and manual press workflow
- Simulated-process and four-color-process printing
- Artwork and color-separation requirements
- Film positives, screen preparation and exposure
- Ink selection, color control and curing
- Press setup and registration
- Production troubleshooting and quality control
- Equipment evaluation and shop workflow
- Employee development and operator training
- Startup and growing print-shop operations
Training Built Around Real Production
Brian’s teaching is grounded in practical production rather than theory alone. Students work with real artwork, screens, ink, garments, equipment and production challenges.
Kolormatrix training options include:
- 3-Day Professional Screen Printing Classes
- DTF Like a Pro workshops
- VIP private instruction at Kolormatrix
- Customized onsite shop training
- Production workflow evaluations
- Technical troubleshooting and consulting
Articles and Technical Reviews
Brian contributes to Kolormatrix articles about screen printing, DTF production, equipment, prepress, color separations, ink, curing, training and production troubleshooting.
When Brian is listed as the author of an article, the information reflects his production experience, professional judgment and personal perspective.
When an article is identified as expert reviewed by Brian Toney, Brian has reviewed the finished content for technical accuracy, practical value and consistency with professional production practices.
Technical recommendations are intended to help printers make more informed decisions. Actual settings and procedures may vary based on the equipment, ink, transfer, garment, shop environment and manufacturer instructions involved.
A Practical Approach to Troubleshooting
Production problems are rarely solved by changing several settings at once. Brian teaches printers to slow the process down, evaluate each variable and identify the actual source of the problem.
His troubleshooting approach generally follows four principles:
- Confirm the artwork and job requirements
- Inspect the process from beginning to end
- Measure important variables whenever possible
- Change one controlled variable at a time
This method helps shops move beyond guesswork and develop procedures that can be taught, repeated and improved.
Helping Print Shops Grow with Confidence
Brian understands that equipment alone does not build a successful print shop. Printers also need knowledge, repeatable procedures, trained employees, quality control and the confidence to recognize when something is going wrong.
Whether he is teaching a new printer, helping an experienced shop correct a production issue or evaluating equipment for a growing business, Brian’s goal is the same: give people practical knowledge they can continue using after the training is over.
Brian and Kolormatrix
Brian works alongside his wife, Kolormatrix founder and president Tanya Toney. Together, they combine technical experience, business leadership, customer service and a shared commitment to treating customers like family.
Meet Tanya Toney →
Read the Kolormatrix Story →
Train with Brian
Brian offers hands-on instruction at the Kolormatrix Atlanta Training Center as well as customized training inside working production shops.
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