At Home Screen Printing | Common Technique For Silk Screen Printing

Silk screen printing, also commonly known as screen printing

, is a technique that is simple to learn and apply in a short period of time. Using this technique, it is possible to print on a variety of materials like fabric, plastic, metal and many other surfaces. There are several methods that can be used to create silk screen stencils but the printing technique remains the same regardless of the method used to produce the stencil.

Silk screen printing today has become an attractive medium to earn extra money as it involves low cost with minimal investment in equipment and supplies even for producing huge sizes. With this technique, it is possible to create transparent, glossy and even opaque colors which helps in creating your own unique styled custom printed t-shirts.

Photo Emulsion Method

This is one of the most common methods for producing a silk screen stencil. A wooden frame is stretched firmly with synthetic screen mesh instead of using actual silk. The screen is cleaned using soap or a degreasing agent and then dried. The next step is to spread a thin even layer of photo sensitive emulsion on both sides of the screen and to scrape off any excess emulsion. The coated screen is then kept away from light in a dark place to dry.

Preparing a Design for Printing

The use of photo emulsion method requires the design to be created on a clear vellum piece or acetate. A common way of creating the design is by using a computer software program like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, etc and the design is then printed on clear vellum. Another way of creating the design on the vellum is by using opaque ink directly on the surface to draw or paint the design. The design created on the vellum or acetate is known as "film positive". This is used to expose the photo emulsion coated silk screen.

Exposing the Photo Emulsion Silk Screen

Once the photo emulsion dries, the silk screen should be placed on a foam rubber piece that fits within the frame. The film positive is then placed on top of the silk screen facing downwards and a heavy object is placed over it so that the film positive and the silk screen remain in close contact. The next step is to suspend a bright light over the silk screen based on the instructions given for the distance to be maintained between the light and the screen and also the exposure time.

Once the screen is exposed for the given time, remove the light and develop the screen using warm water. The area of the screen that was not exposed to the light does not harden and can be washed using warm water. The parts that were exposed harden and this in turn closes the mesh of the screen. Blot either side of the screen with a newspaper and leave it to dry.

Using a Squeegee to Silk Screen Print

Once the silk screen stencil completely dries, it can be used for printing. The screen is placed on the surface that needs to be printed. The next step is to place the screen print ink in the screen that is opposite the person printing. The person printing needs to then hold the squeegee at an angle facing towards him and pull the ink towards him above the image area applying pressure.

Initially the use of oil based inks was common but today water based inks are a more popular choice as they are less toxic. One can greatly profit in silk screen printing business as it gives you the flexibility to create fun unique prints and earn extra income. It is possible to churn out a wide hue of colors with just a few screens and set your business going with your exclusively printed t-shirts.

by: Bob Mongiello

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