Printing is a process of producing images and text, normally utilizing ink, paper and a printing press. Printing has changed considerably and improved over time. Screen printing is among the most common printing techniques.
Screen printing, also called silk screening, is ideal for printing on flat and even materials. A thin screen is stretched taut around a wooden or metal frame, and ink is pressed through the uncovered areas of the screen to create an image. To create a print, the silk screen is placed on top of your material and the image is covered with a thick ink. The ink is then pressed with a heavy piece of rubber through the image and the screen. The print is created where the ink is pressed through the unmasked areas. A heated tunnel is then used to dry the wet print; the prints can then be stacked and packaged.
When more than one color is involved, the process is repeated, utilizing different screens. So, four screens would be necessary for a four-color print; they can be placed on a rotary press or done by hand, allowing each color to print in its proper place.
There are many different methods for masking a screen. For simple projects, a masking fluid may be applied directly on the screen. Two-color graphics work best with this method; more complex multi-colored jobs will look better with a photosensitive emulsion process.
Screen-printed T-shirts using plastic inks are often stiflingly hot if you aren’t sure of what you’re getting as you order. For more subdued and vintage-looking screen-printed apparel, inks with a water base might be preferable. For a bold and heavy printing, application of plastic-based inks using heat might be a wise choice.
Many printers prefer the plastic-containing inks for several reasons: they are easier on the printing equipment, their colors are brighter, they are heavier and more visible, and they are more durable than thinner inks. Plastic inks may begin to show cracking after only a brief period of time. Natural inks look better and last longer than synthetic ones.
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