| Screen printing also called silk screen print also called | | | | fifteen minutes. After the screen has been exposed |
| serigraph was invented in the Far East around 2000 | | | | it is taken to a wash out area usually a metal bathtub |
| years ago. No supplemented data on when or where | | | | like trough or large sink. The screen is set in the |
| exactly it originates, but originally used to make the | | | | trough and sprayed with a garden hose. Rinsed with |
| screen printer's screen. A paper stencil was stiched | | | | water, after a second the design will be visibly lighter |
| onto the screen to control the print area. | | | | in the emulsion. After a minute or so of rinsing the |
| Around a hundred years ago screen printing was | | | | design area should be free of emulsion. Rinsing is |
| reinvented in the west and it has become a common | | | | continued for another minute or so to wash away |
| method of printing on textiles. Most common, the | | | | emulsion scum that if allowed staying in the screen |
| custom t-shirts. The screens used for screen printing | | | | and dry will clog printing areas. The washed out |
| custom t shirts, are made with a mono filament | | | | screen is then allowed to dry. |
| mesh. Photopolymer emulsion is used to make the | | | | After it has dried the screen must be taped off. This |
| stencil. Thus, silk screen is coated with the liquid | | | | is usually done with masking tape. The areas around |
| emulsion, and allowed to dry and harden. The | | | | the edges not coated with emulsion are taped front |
| emulsion is light sensitive. The stencil is made in the | | | | and back. The screen printer applies tape liberally |
| "silk screen" by placing a positive of the print over | | | | over the frame and screen areas. The screen is then |
| the coated silk screen then exposing the screen to | | | | "pin holed". Sometimes imperfections in the screen |
| light. The areas of the screen shielded from the light | | | | printing process cause tiny "pin holes" in the emulsion |
| remain water soluble and can be washed out of the | | | | that's why these must be taped over or blocked |
| screen. The light affects the emulsion in that once | | | | with emulsion or block out fluid. This is done on the |
| the dried emulsion has been exposed to light, water | | | | bottom of the screen. |
| will not dissolve it. Take a look at the photograph to | | | | The emulsion can be removed from the screens so |
| the left. In this case the positive for the screen print | | | | that the screens can be reused. This is called |
| is hand drawn. | | | | "reclaiming" the screen. After the print run the ink is |
| The availability of the screen printing products can be | | | | scraped out of the screen and mineral spirits or ink |
| purchased locally from screen printing process supply | | | | wash is used to clean the ink from the screen. All the |
| stores. An "emulsion cup" is used to coat the silk | | | | masking tape is pulled off the screen and the screen |
| screens with emulsion. The emulsion cup is a trough | | | | is sprayed with "emulsion remover." This chemical is |
| like cup that holds the liquid emulsion and allows it to | | | | left on the screen for 2 or 3 minutes and a high |
| be spread evenly across the screen. The screen is | | | | pressure sprayer or even a garden hose can be used |
| held vertically and the emulsion is spread from | | | | to wash away the emulsion. After the emulsion has |
| bottom to top with one smooth motion. After the | | | | been removed the screen must be degreased. There |
| silkscreen has been coated with emulsion it will be left | | | | are degreasing liquids available also ivory soap works |
| to dry. Ambient or soft light can expose the screen | | | | well. The screen is scrubbed thoroughly on both sides |
| but it would take hours or days. Even so care should | | | | and then rinsed. It can now be dried and if kept clean |
| be taken that the silk screen is kept in a dark place. | | | | reused. The screens must always be clean and |
| To "burn" a screen, the positive must make tight | | | | degreased and dry before they can be coated with |
| contact with the screen. A four inch thick foam | | | | emulsion. |
| rubber pad is placed under the screen with the glass | | | | These procedures may sound very difficult but the |
| placed on top. Sunlight can now expose the silk | | | | application is totally easy. See and try the screen |
| screen. It can take anywhere from around two to | | | | printing yourself! |