WHAT IS SCREEN PRINTING?
Screen printing is a fascinating printing technique that can be applied to many different materials. Below we describe what screen printing is and how we do the Dallas screen printing and how you can practice it at home or in a small screen printing workshop.
WHAT EXACTLY SCREEN PRINTING IS AND WHERE IT IS USED
Screen printing is a stencil printing process. Unlike conventional stencils (e.g. on paper), this printing technique also makes it possible to represent highly detailed independent graphics. This is possible thanks to the screen through which the ink is pressed by the doctor blade during the printing process. To create such a stencil, you need a screen printing frame, a photographic emulsion and a UV light source, as well as a graphic model, printed entirely in black on a film for the insolation. The frame is then exposed using the created model. This finished frame having been the subject of an insolation with its own pattern then makes it possible to apply the screen printing process to different materials.
It’s easier than it sounds. In our screen printing manual, we explain exactly how to create your own screen prints with few accessories. No need for a large screen printing machine. A small screen printing table or screen printing frame clamps can, however, be an advantage when you want to produce larger series. Printing can take place with little equipment, even in small rooms, and even at home, thanks to our carefully selected Chemicals. A detailed list of necessary screen printing accessories is also available in our screen printing manual.
AREAS OF USE FOR SCREEN PRINTING
The screen printing process can be used for printing on a wide variety of media. In the artistic field, prints are most often made on paper, cardboard and canvas. This screen printing rose to popularity mainly thanks to Andy Warhol, who created many of his art prints directly and with few accessories through screen printing processes. Screen printing is used on a large scale today, mainly in textile printing. Textiles can be printed in small or large series with manual or automatic processes. Textiles are printed e.g. with a screen printing carousel or a large screen printing machine.
To access our screen printing kits
The screen printing process
WHAT YOU CAN PRINT YOURSELF AS A BEGINNER:
The screen printing technique allows even beginners to print on different materials. The simplest is printing on flat surfaces. It can be textiles (t-shirts, shirts and other fabrics), sheets of paper, posters, cardboard, metals, glass, stone, ceramics, even turntables (electronics). The important thing is to select the right color and the right screen for the corresponding use.
The most important accessory is first the stretched screen printing frame. The screen printing cloth is stretched over a basic wooden or metal frame. We offer it eg. in different finenesses. The screen printing fabric (also called gauze) is stretched tightly over the frame and glued firmly.
What is screen printing
OVERVIEW OF THE MOST COMMON FABRIC TYPES
The screen printing fabric (also called gauze) is stretched tightly over the frame and glued firmly. The type of fabric is indicated using numbers and letters. The number indicates the number of threads per square centimeter, the letters indicating the thickness of these threads.
In our screen printing manual “Make your own screen prints”, we explain the complete process step by step. We also show you exactly which screen printing accessories you need to create your own stencils with your own designs. Many of our customers already also operate a small screen printing workshop at home.
Access our step-by-step screen printing manual here to print it yourself.