Printing

TLE 50

“Graphics Science and Arts”

Silk Screen Printing

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas.

Screen printing is also a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of silk or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh onto the printing surface. It is also known as Screen Printing, silkscreen, seriography, and serigraph.

In addition to the materials supplied in the Silk Screen Kits, you may want to have the following items on hand:

. Water resistant masking tape, 1 "wide
. Screw driver
. Old newspapers
. Sheet of cardboard
. Small scrub brush
. House detergent (See pg.6)
. Scissors
. BBA No.1 Photoflood (preferred) or a clear 150W incandescent bulb
. Aluminum foil disposable pie tin with 10" or 12" diameter
. Cellophane tape
. Paper cups
. SPEEDBALL Technical Black Ink & SPEEDBALL Pens
. Old towels, rags, paper towels
. 9"x12" piece of glass, plexiglas, or lucite
. Rubber gloves
. Apron or smock

PREPARING YOUR TOOLS

Step A

Two hinges with screws and removable pins are included in Speedball kits (#4521 & 4522 only). These are easily attached by first joining the halves together with the hinge pins. It is best to mount the side of the hinge with two bearings to the base and the side of the hinge with one bearing to the screen frame.

Then, position the assembled hinges over the 11 pilot" holes on top of the frame and base and screw them in place. Be sure they are right side up. Follow this by screwing the kick leg to the side of the frame. A "pilot" hole has been provided for this also.

The kick leg should be "frees winging".

Step B

The next important step in preparation is to detach the frame from the base and scrub both sides of the screen fabric with a bristle or nylon brush and trisodium phosphate/water or dish washer powder/water solution.

Let it dry thoroughly after rinsing. For water-based inks, use 1 wide water-resistant masking tape. Lay the tape so it is divided equally-half on the screen fabric-half on the screen frame. Turn the frame over and cover the groove with tape. Be certain that the tape extends beyond the frame and onto the fabric. For solvent-based inks, use gummed water-soluble tape in the same manner.

Taping in this way helps to maintain a "tight" screen, and prevents ink from leaking under the screen frame during printing and will keep the edges of your prints clean. To get maximum adhesion of the tape, rub it with a spoon or wooden stirrer.

Step C

There are a number of ways to prepare a screen to print the picture or message you want. While the methods are different, the basic principle is to make a stencil on the screen fabric which allows ink to be forced through its "open" areas to produce a design.

Shirt Printing