SCREEN PRINTING AND IT'S FUTURE
Modern screen printing is moving into another phase of growth due to the different format of graphics, printing textiles and optical discs.
The 21st century has offered another change in screen printing. The current surge of the method is due to its adoption in modern applications where controlled films of material are deposited over precisely defined areas. The printing process is very consistent, controllable and measurable. For many years, screen printing has been used substantially as a graphics production method. But techniques have been developed to make it ideal for processes which are crucial in the advanced development and production. To this day, t-shirt screen printing in Northern Beaches is considered to be a mass imaging technology.
Basic Items Stencil: It is a structure consisting of a frame on which a mesh is attached firmly with tension. A photosensitive material coats and covers the mesh. The image which needs to be printed is created on the stencil. Open areas on the mesh are left through which ink passes. The stencil is the screen in the printing process.
Squeegee: It is a flexible polyurethane blade, which is held in a rigid mount or handle. It helps the ink to flow into the mesh while removing excess ink from the stencil top.
Printing medium or ink: A wide range of dyes are suspended in a fluid to make various designs. On the contrary, if it is an ink, there are varieties of ink formations available to suit a vast range of clothing and prints.
Machine: The base of the machine provides a surface to the logo or print so that it can be printed. The upper section secures the screen.
Ink and substrate relationship A temporary relationship is formed between the surface energy of the substrate and the tension of the ink. The ink wets the substrate first. When the squeegee moves away, the tension of the mesh forces the stencil to pull away from the ink film. The temporary relationship between ink and substrate helps the ink to draw out from the mesh openings and leaves the desired mark (print) on the substrate.
A small percentage of the ink always remains on top of the mesh. If the substrate is dirty anyhow or if the material is of poor quality then this amount of ink on the mesh can increase which causes poor quality of prints. Even in some cases, ink may not come out of the mesh at all.
Can you print only one shirt or do you have to do it in a bulk? Screen printing is generally profitable if you place a bulk order. All the costs and time are included in the setup. This is the reason why cost per shirt goes down. The more you order, the cheaper it is.
This information makes it clear enough that screen printing is the best solution for customised outfits and it will surely become more advanced in the future.
Julies Embroidery www.julies.info