For those who aren't accustomed with this process, screen printing is the process of transferring a
stencilled design onto a surface using a mesh screen, ink, and a rubber blade. The basic process of screen printing involves creating a stencil on a mesh screen and then pushing the ink to create and imprint the design on the below surface. The most common surface used in screen printing is paper and fabric, but metal, wood, and plastic can also be used. It is a very popular technique because of many reasons, but the most compelling reason is the vast choice of colours that can be used.
I haven't made pictures of all the process, as using the phone all the way through, might of been distracting and dirty. But here are some steps that I have remembered.
Step 1: The creation of the design
We've been asked to bring one of our sketches printed on acetate paper, which will then be used to create the screen or stencil. Step 2: Preparing the screen
Select the suitable mesh screen and then coat it with a light-reactive emulsion layer.
Step 3: Exposing the emulsion
The transparent acetate film is placed on the emulsion-coated mesh screen carefully under a bright light which causes the emulsion to harden and develop.
Step 4: Stencil creation
Exposing the screen for a specific time will harden the uncovered areas of the screen, and the remaining unhardened emulsion, if any, will be rinsed away to leave a clear imprint on the screen. The screen is then dried, and if there are any touch-ups required, it will be done by the printer to make the imprint as close to the original design as possible. Now, the stencil is ready to be used.
Step 5: Print preparation
The material to be printed is placed flat on the printing board, and the screen on top of the material in the desired position, ready to be printed.
Step 6: Applying the design
In this step, the printed design will come to life. The screen is lowered down to the printing board. The desired colour ink is added to the top of the screen. A squeegee will evenly distribute the ink along the length of the screen. The ink presses through the open areas of the stencil and transfers on the underlying silk, consequently printing the design on the product.
Step 7: Heat curing and finishing
Lastly, the printed product is heat-cured by passing through a dryer, creating a smooth design. This is done so that the design does not fade away.
Last steps, is of course CLEANING everything after and letting the paper to dry out.
Here is my first attempt to do the screen printing. I enjoyed it a lot! See bellow how I played with the colours on the layers, I think the prints didn't turn out bad at all :) Christmas presents idea ;)
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