Screen Printing Supplies
Silk screening (or screen printing) is a printing technique that still confuses people, when in fact with just a few tools, some simple rules and practice even the most novice designer can print professional quality prints in no time.
But first you must get the supplies and equipment for screen printing. Don’t let this intimidate you, the supplies are readily available. For those of you who would like get all your supplies at once, our experts at All American will put together a starters kit for you. This can get pretty messy so when you set up you will want to protect any surface that you don’t want ink or emulsion on with heavy plastic
You will need:
- A printing screen and frames
- A light source for exposing the screen (exposure unit) or with some effort a task light and a 150-250 watt photo flood bulb or even the sun may work for you.
- A table to print on – the printing surface differs for different substrates.
- A piece of glass to fit the inside dimension of your screen less 1/2” or photo spray adhesive
- Photo Emulsion
- A film positive (made from your artwork)
- Silk screen inks
- Emulsion Scoop Coater (please call All American at 215-634-2235)
- Rubber gloves
- Dishwashing soap
- A water source with a garden hose attachment or a sprayer attachment and a sink or tub large enough to wash out your screen
- A rubber spatula
- Black bristol board, or black cloth or black felt
- A timer
- Masking Tape
- Heavy plastic for covering any surface you don’t wish to get ink or emulsion on.
Optional
- fan (not heated)
- Photo emulsion remover (if you want to clean your screen of an old stencil and start over)
- There are many other accessories you can use for screen printing, but just for the basics you may be okay with the above. If you’re looking for more supplies or equipment for your silk screen projects, please visit www.screenprinterschoice.com
What to Do First…
Get a printing screen:
You have a few options here. You can build your own screen from scratch or make it from an old picture frame or you can buy one. All Americans frames with mesh or screens start around $26.
No matter where you buy your screen, online or at your local screen printing supply store or even at your local arts and craft store, there are a few things you need to look for when you are searching out a screen that will be right for the project you wish to undertake.
The screen size:
Generally you’ll likely start out with a small screen that is ideal for t-shirt making and other small projects, ideally that would be 20”x24” (outside dimensions). For information using larger screens, look for a future article on that.
The screen mesh:
Different mesh styles are used for different applications in the screen printing process. If you plan on printing on fabric, a 110 mesh count is recommended and if you are working with paper you could start with 160 mesh count. Try to buy a screen with white monofilament polyester mesh (this is generally standard with most pre-made screens). If you are going to make you own screen with curtain sheers the thread count should not be too low. in other words the weave of the sheer should be fairly tight.
The Frame Type:
You’ll want to purchase either a wood screen frame or an aluminum frame. Aluminum frames are more stable and won’t warp like a wood frames- although the larger ones will not maintain their straight edges either if they are stored upright instead of flat.
After you have gotten your screen the next step is to:
NuArc FL2532 Exposure Unit
Set- up your Exposure Area:
A very effective and economical way to expose a screen is to use a task lamp and a 150 or 250 watt bulb which will enable you to harden your photosensitive emulsion once you get it onto your screen. This method is ideal for screens that are less than 20”x24” OD.
However you set up your light source, desk mounted or ceiling mounted the lamp should be approximately 12- 15” above your screen and the table should have a piece of black cloth, smooth poster board or felt on it slightly larger than your screens outside dimensions. All American sells exposure units for a more controlled and evenly distributed method to expose your screen.
Brown Mfg. SS-2024
Organize Your Wash Out Area:
You will need a place that you can wash out your newly exposed stencils, clean your screens that have ink on them or reclaim your screens that you would like to reuse. This part can get pretty messy so when you set it up you’ll want to protect any surface that you don’t want ink or emulsion on with heavy plastic. You can go to your local craft and fabric store and buy the plastic they sell on bolts and tack that around the walls or find some old shower curtain liners and use those. You’ll either want to get a garden hose attachment, one with multiple spray patterns is best and attach it to your water source. Alternatively, All American provides wash out booths.
Create a Darkroom:
All you really need here is a place where you can block out natural light and install a photo-safe bulb for getting your screen ready with the wet emulsion. Since photo emulsion uses light to harden, until we get it to the point where we want to expose it with our artwork, you need to work with it in an environment where there is no natural or artificial light. You can install a yellow bug light to see what you are doing- I use a 25 watt bug light in my darkroom.
Get a Printing Table:
If you want to print onto fabric then you may need to find a specific table or build your own. If you will be printing paper then all you need is a smooth flat surface like a table top (you can use the fabric printing surface for paper printing as well if you’re going to build one anyhow).
Also, if you want to print paper with multiple colors or a large series of the same print you will want to use hinge clamps for your screen.
Now you should have the basics to get you started. Look for future blogs on further instruction including designing tips.
Follow Us!