Your Guide To Print
HOW TO SCREENPRINT
SCREENPRINT
Screenprinting is a process of using a woven mesh material, using a ink blocked stencil, the stencil has open mesh areas so the ink can transfer through on to the stock placed below. A tool named a squeegee is used to move the ink across the mesh. The process can be printed on a number of different materials such as paper, card, fabric, vinyl, wood and many more.
STEP 1
(Getting the design)
101 Get your design ready and make sure that its blacked out, you can ether have a design blacked out on tracing paper (Shown in Stock Book) or just print a black and white image on paper.
STEP 2
(Selecting the screen)
Get your design and the screen, then expose your design on to the screen using the UV light box. This is dangerous and so should be done by a trained professional, or technician who’s there.
SCREEN ARTWORK
Get a screen that covers the size of your design, with extra space for movement with the squeegee, coat the screen in light sensitive emulsion and then leave to dry.
UV BED
STEP 3
(Exposing the screen)
STEP 4
(Wash)
Take your screen and place it on the screen bed, and then tighten the clamps on one side of the screen so it can be lifted. Then place a registration sheet under the screen.
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Wash the screen using washing up liquid after it has been exposed, this will then reveal the image. In the case above, 101. Then leave to dry in the drying room.
STEP 5
(Clamping)
STEP 6
Using the registration sheet, place your stock underneath, lining the design up so when it’s printed it fits neatly in the center. Then using masking tape mark out the corners of the stock so you can easily place the other stock in the same place.
(Registering)
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Put ink across the top end of the screen as you look at it, and use the squeegee to pull the ink across the screen, forcing the ink through the tiny holes and revealing the print on the registration paper.
STEP 7
(Registering)
STEP 8
(Inking up the screen)
Now using the squeegee pressing down firmly pull the ink across the screen, then lift the screen and push the excess ink back across to its starting position. Flood the screen.
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Now remove the registration sheet, put the screen down and spread your ink across the top of the screen.
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STEP 9
(Print/Flood)
STEP 10
(FINISH)
BENEFITS TO SCREENPRINTING
Finish printing then leave to dry on the rack.
Quick Process Economical Larger Designs Wide range of utility
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Sturdy and tough
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