Screen Printing
What is Screen Printing
Screen printing is a process of transferring designs using ink medium onto paper, fabric, glass, plastic or wood. It happens by forcing ink through a design on a stencil attached to a mesh screen, producing the image onto the paper or fabric underneath.
Screen printing evolved from stenciling and which has been known since the ancient times. With limited basic tools and supplies, and a small space you can make prints of quality efficiently. The process
The process for screen printing is simple really. First you need to have a graphic or design you intend to use for transfer. The idea is to transfer your design to the screen leaving opened the areas of your design in which you intend the ink to be transferred through. Any areas where ink is to be blocked for transfer should be sealed so the ink does not move through. The item being printed is then placed under the screen, ink applied and squeegeed through.
Screen prints are created one layer of color at a time. Screen printing works by forcing ink through a screens as you pull a squeegee across it. Depending on your image you may choose many colors, however you must create a screen stencil for each color transfer. |
Examples of screen printed items. Screen printing can be done on fabric, paper, wood, glass or plastic. Different ink and curing procedures are used depending on the product being printed.
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Watch this demonstration on how to create a simple stencil and make a basic print.
screen filler method
Watch this video on the screen filler method.
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Making a Paper Stencil
2. Print your image. 3. Cut a piece of freezer paper to fit inside of your screen. 4.Turn your drawing over, so you will be working with the reverse image and transfer the image using carbon paper to the freezer paper. 5.With a sharp utility knife cut away the areas you wish to print. Make clean cuts and do not pass the corners. Other stencil techniques
There are many kinds of stencils. Different stencil techniques work for different projects. Paper stencils are great for basic prints in big areas of a single color. Brushed stencils can give a hand-painted quality to the print. Photo-emulsions can provide a lot of detail but expensive tools are required.
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Screen Printing tools
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Tools required for screen printing.
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