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Introduction
An explanation of screenprinting, and the benefits of learning the process.
How To Screenprint Explanation and instructions on how to screenprint in general, explaining both the process of cleaning and producing a screen, as well as the process of printing.
Silk Screen Printing Standard Acrylic Ink p10
Neon Ink p13
Metallic Printing p14
Fabric Screen Printing Foiling p15
Flocking p10
The ‘Wow’ Factor Phosphorescent Ink p18
Thermochromatic Ink p20
Interviews Neil Owen - Technician p22
Will Bryant - Designer p25
Glossary
A glossary of screenprinting related words & terms.
Scratch Card Printing p21
“Before printing was discovered, a century was equal to a thousand years.� Henry David Thoreau 1817 - 1862
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print prÉŞnt/ verb 1. To produce (books, newspapers, etc.), especially in large quantities, by a mechanical process involving the transfer of text or designs to paper.
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How To Screenprint
This section will teach you the process of screenprinting (both silk and fabric screen). Not only will you learn how to physically print, but also essentials such as cleaning, exposing and safety precautions.
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1. Preparation Screen The first step with screen printing is to find a screen. When working with paper, you generally would use a silk screen. However this is different for foiling and flocking, where a fabric screen is used. In order to have enough room to print, you should find a screen with a border of 10 centrimetres or more. The easiest way to measure this is a rough ‘hand sized border’ around the image you intend on printing.
Print Out You should print out your image in greyscale, and solid colour. If you want to use gradients, the image should be converted into a half - tone. The area which will expose and then print, is the area printed black. Believe it or not, but a badly printed image before exposure can ruin your print. If your print has defects or not printed properly, this directly be seen after exposure.
Ensure you work with print marks when using more than one colour printing. This can help align each layer or print perfectly. 5
COMMON MISTAKES The use of an incorrect screen. It’s common to pick up a fabric screen, and prepare it for printing, when a silk screen would be more appropriate. You can still use a fabric screen, however much less detail can be achieved. Too much detail. Unlike digital print, less detail can be achieved when printing. Ensure that you do not use an ultra - thin typeface, or stroke. In terms of a typeface, nothing below 8pt can be easily printed. Similarly, strokes that are below 1.5 pt size can prove difficult to print.
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2. Stripping The Screen More often that not, you will have to strip a screen that had already been used, in order to exposure your design onto it. There are two chemicals involved in stripping: B- Solve & B - Strip.The process of stripping a screen is as follows: 1. Sponge on the B - Strip onto the screen, both sides of screen. Rinse with the hose, then thoroughly rinse with a power hose. 2. Sponge on B - Solve, then leave for 10 minutes. After waiting, rinse screen with a hose, then thoroughly rinse with a power hose. 3. Use washing up liquid to clean each side of the screen. This is done to remove grease, and vital.
Top: The tubs of B Strip and B Solve.
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Top: Emulsion on screen, being removed with B - Strip. Mid - Left: B - Solve being left on the screen for 10 minutes. Mid - Right: Degreasing using washing up liquid. Bottom: The clean and blank screen.
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FORGETTING SOMETHING? There are some serious safety precautions that have to be taken to use these chemicals. As the chemicals are used to strip emulsion, a similar effect could be replicated on your skin. The fumes are also equally as bad for you. The use of the water jet can be loud, and can damage hearing. In summary, everything can cause some sort of damage. It is vital to wear rubber gloves, a coat, goggles, and a respiratory mask.
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3. Applying Emulsion Due to the emulsion being photoreactive, it will react to light. Applying emulsion should be done in a dark room, with no direct exposure to light. The emulsion is extremely difficult to get out of clothing, and it’s suggested to wear an apron when performing this task. The process goes as following: 1. Pour emulsion generously into the scoop, spreading it up and down the width of the tool. 2. Hold the scoop next to the propped up screen, and slide upwards. 3. After reaching the top, go over your emulsion coated screen, scraping excess. 4. Clean the scoop, and leave your screen to dry in a heated cupboard for 30 minutes.
4. Exposing the Screen You should ask for help when exposing, unless you know exactly what you’re doing. The result of an over - exposed screen means you would have to repeat the last 2 steps again. Inversely, an under - exposed screen will result in nothing being printed through the screen. Different exposure times are given for either fabric or silk screens, as well as the stock you have printed onto to expose (light could pass through thinner paper easier, and vice versa). Make sure the exposure screen is clean before using it. Exposure times can be seen on the right. After exposure, you need to wash the screen with water, then remove grease with washing up liquid and water. Ensure the screen is left to completely dry before screen printing.
EXPOSURE TIMES
1 Light Unit = Approx 3 Seconds
80 Gsm Paper (Regular Printer Paper)
Fabric Screen
Silk Screen
Laser toner - solic black image
110
170
Laser toner - greyscale image with tones
100
170
Inkjet toner - solid black image
110
170
Inkjet toner - greyscale image with tones
100
170
Photocopier toner - solid black image
110
170
Photocopier toner - greyscale image with tones
100
170
Laser toner - solid black image
12
11
Laser toner - greyscale image with tones
12
11
Acrylic paint
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Indian Ink
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13
Pen Drawing
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Laser toner - solic black image
12
11
Laser toner - greyscale image with tones
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Inkjet toner - solid black image
12
11
Inkjet toner - greyscale image with tones
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11
Photocopier toner - solid black image
12
11
Photocopier toner - greyscale image with tones
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Tracing Paper
Acetate