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Screenprinting



Work method in my screen shop

• Artwork: From photo, scanned drawing, or digital art. Modify with GIMP, Trace bitmap to Inkscape

• Print on acetate. Canon Pixma ix6820

Screen:
If clean, degrease and dry. Coat with emulsion in a subdued-light environment, e.g. red or yellow.
If not clean, strip emulsion; de-haze any residues (using appropriate chemicals and a pressure-washer for both;) degrease and dry. Coat with emulsion.

• Dry emulsion in dark, print side down.

• Exposure: Tape artwork in four corners to print side of screen. Turn this assemblage upside-down onto the UV exposure unit. Place foam pad atop, and block of weight atop that. Expose to tested amount of UV light. Yellow-mesh screens take about 25% longer than white.

• Spray out screen from print side with pressure washer.

• Dry screen, tape around inside perimeter. Repair pinholes.

• Set up screens: Tape representative artwork to platen, register each screen to that, using consistent registration marks.

• Gather squeegies, inks, spatulas, test fabric, printstock

• Apply pallet adhesive

• Print.

Cure to temperature specified by ink manufacturer. Test with IR thermometer