Screen Printing

Materials

We typically have these items at the space:

• 500w bulb
• Photo-Emulsion
• Water based Silk screen ink
• Squeegee
• Heat Press
• Wax Paper

You may need to provide these items yourself:

• silk screen
  • prestretched or stretch your own
• transparencies
• one color digital design

Making A Screen

Note: this is a light sensitive process.

1. Print design on multiple transparencies -- The goal is to block all light from shining through.
2. Align the multiple transparencies and use scotch tape to keep them aligned.
3. Evenly coat Screen with photo emulsion
4. Allow for the photo emulsion to dry
5. Use scotch tape to place transparencies flat on the screen
6. Position the 500w bulb 18 inches away from the silk screen
7. Turn the light on for 10 minutes.
8. Remove the transparencies and rinse the screen with warm water.

You should now see the design in the screen

The photo emulsion will cure in any area that the light touches. Your design should be blocking the light from the photo emulsion.

Printing a Shirt

1. Shirt should be on a flat surface
2. Pour some ink onto the outer area of the screen (try to avoid the design for now)
3. Lift the Screen off the shirt at a 45 degree angle
4. Flood the ink into the design by spreading the ink evenly over the screen (use the squeegee.)
5. Place screen flat on shirt (it might be a good idea to have a buddy hold the screen down)
6. apply pressure and drag the squeegee across the screen (your goal is to get this right in one pass.)
7. Remove the screen and celebrate your awesome new shirt by dancing.

Curing the ink

1. Place wax paper on the design and on the inside of the shirt to avoid bleed through
2. Use the Heat Press for about 45 seconds to cure the ink

(need to look up what temperature works best)

--Dfire (talk) 17:49, 16 June 2014 (EDT)