| If you have been experimenting with the Yudu | | | | durometer), a medium (70), and a hard (80-90). While |
| Personal Screen Printing Machine by Provocraft, you | | | | the softer is used for laying down a larger volume of |
| may have run into several problems when trying to | | | | ink, the harder varieties are used to achieve more |
| print your images on Tshirts. One such problem is | | | | detail and also for depositing a thinner layer of ink. |
| getting thin lines or small type to come out right. | | | | If a screenprinter were to choose a most-purpose |
| Here are 3 of the biggest factors making it difficult | | | | squeegee blade for the kinds of screenprinting you |
| to get fine details with Yudu screens: | | | | are likely to do with the Yudu, he definitely would |
| | | | need one in the scope of the medium or 70 |
| 1. The mesh of the screen itself is simply too low | | | | durometer. If you want to be able to pull most |
| resolution to hold the image. | | | | general purpose inks through a screen holding most |
| 2. The squeegee used to pull the ink is poor quality. | | | | general purpose images, the medium is your best |
| 3. The frame of the screen is too flimsy to hold | | | | choice. What durometer is the Yudu squeegee? |
| adequate screen tension. Screen mesh comes in a | | | | Provocraft doesn't specify, but whatever it is, it's |
| variety of resolutions (known in the industry as | | | | less than 60 for sure, and 60 is not hard enough. |
| "mesh count") from 33 or less all the way to 300 and | | | | Finally, even if you re-stretched the screen with 160 |
| higher. Commonly, among screenprinters who don't | | | | mesh and bought a professional grade squeegee of |
| do a lot of specialty work, three mesh counts are | | | | medium durometer, there is still yet another problem |
| used: a low resolution, a medium, and a high. | | | | that hinders quality screenprinting with the Yudu |
| Low resolution (around 110 mesh) screens are used | | | | screen: screen tension. |
| for thick inks, light colored inks (like white and athletic | | | | While screen makers do have their own custom |
| gold), and for low detail prints. They are generally | | | | tensions for screens it may be sufficient to note that |
| easier to get the ink to flow through and less | | | | lower tension screens make for smeary imprints and |
| expensive than their higher resolution counterparts. | | | | lower quality images. They also make it tougher to |
| Medium resolution (around 160 mesh) is used for | | | | do multi-color imprints, which is somewhat moot |
| smaller type (down to about 12 point) and thinner | | | | because the Yudu is not designed for it in all other |
| lines (down to about 1 point). If you have a good | | | | aspects. Lower tensioned screens lead to a variety |
| method for making your stencils or a good burning | | | | of screenprinting issues because, if the mesh is loose |
| unit (used for exposing your screens), the medium | | | | enough, it snags and drags along with the squeegee |
| resolution can serve as a sort of most-purpose | | | | when the print is being executed. Even if the screen |
| screen. | | | | has a good stencil with thin lines in it, that line is |
| Higher resolution screens range from around 190 and | | | | smeared and dragged along when the squeegee |
| go up from there. They are able to capture very thin | | | | passes, causing a blurry image. How does the Yudu |
| lines and small dots, and when used in conjunction | | | | screen hold up when it comes to screen tension? |
| with automatic screen printing presses can even | | | | Even fresh out of the box, the Yudu screen is way |
| achieve photographic quality images. | | | | under-tensioned for even the most casual |
| So what kind of screen comes with the Yudu? Not a | | | | screenprinter. |
| medium resolution, but a low resolution mesh count, a | | | | Given the limitations described with the screens used |
| 110. Even if the screen was perfect in every other | | | | with Yudu Personal Screen Printing Machine, one may |
| way, a 110 mesh simply does not hold thin lines and | | | | wish to limit the types of imprints they choose to try |
| small type. | | | | using the system. Many hobby screenprinters have |
| Like screen meshes, squeegee blades also come in a | | | | expressed a sense of success with the Yudu when |
| variety of types. While there are many aspects of | | | | they stick to thick lines (3 points or more) and large |
| squeegees, including handle characteristics, blade | | | | typefaces (20 point and up) in their designs. It also |
| structure, and composition, our main point here has | | | | may be helpful to upgrade the squeegee to one |
| to do with flexibility. Since the Yudu is designed for | | | | using a professional grade squeegee blade. While your |
| manual screenprinting, and it is for general purpose | | | | results will vary according to your skill level, it |
| use, let's examine what makes a decently flexible | | | | certainly will be easier to get more crisp images and |
| most-purpose squeegee. | | | | achieve greater success. If you find the |
| The flexibility of a squeegee is known as durometer | | | | aforementioned limits unacceptable, however, you |
| within the screen printing industry. Most suppliers | | | | may wish to use a different system with more |
| carry three durometers of blade, a soft (60 | | | | versatility. |